A decorative flag is one of the simplest ways to make a front porch feel like home, and one of the easiest to change with the seasons. The first decision is the type: a house flag on the porch or a garden flag by the walk. This guide covers the difference, the standard sizes, how to hang each one and how to keep your flags looking good from one year to the next.
House flag vs. garden flag: the short version
House flags are the large size. They hang from a pole mounted on a porch post, column or wall, and they are made to be seen from the street. Garden flags are the small size. They slide onto a slim metal stand pushed into the lawn or a planter, so they sit at eye level along a walkway, a mailbox or a flower bed.
Standard flag sizes
| Size | Type | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 12×18 in | Garden flag | Garden stands, planters, mailbox posts, front walks |
| 24×36 in | House flag | Smaller porches, entry columns, apartment balconies |
| 28×40 in | House flag | The most common house flag size; easy to read from the street |
| 36×60 in | House flag | Tall columns, wide entries and two-story homes |
Our flags use a vertical, portrait layout. Garden flags come in 12×18 inches, and house flags in 24×36, 28×40 and 36×60 inches; pick the size on each product page. If you are not sure, measure the space you want to fill: a 28×40 flag needs about 3.5 feet of clear height below the pole.
How to hang a house flag
- Pole and bracket: most house flags hang from a 1-inch wooden or aluminum pole in a bracket screwed into a porch post or the wall beside the door. Mount the bracket at about 45 degrees so the flag hangs clear of the siding.
- Sleeve: slide the pole through the sleeve at the top of the flag. Our flags are flag-only, so the pole and bracket are sold separately.
- Height: hang it high enough that it clears the door swing, railings and anyone walking up the steps.
How to set up a garden flag
A garden flag needs a garden flag stand, a thin metal frame with a top bar and a stake. Slide the bar through the flag’s top sleeve, push the stake firmly into soft soil, and add a stopper or clip at the bottom if your stand has one, so the flag does not wrap around the pole on windy days. Garden flags look best where people walk by slowly: next to the front steps, at the end of the driveway or in a planter by the door.
Double-sided printing: why it matters
A flag that is printed on one side only shows a mirrored, faded image from the back. Our house and garden flags are printed on both sides, so the design reads correctly from the street and from the porch, and nobody ever sees the “wrong” side. They are made of durable, weather-resistant polyester that stays light enough to move in a breeze.
A flag for every season
Rotating flags is the easiest way to keep a porch feeling fresh. A simple calendar many homeowners follow:
- Winter and Christmas (late November to January): cardinals, snowy cottages and sleds, like our Snowy Cottage Deer and Cardinal Christmas House Flag or the Winter Cardinal Vintage Sled Christmas Garden Flag.
- Late winter (January to February): quiet snow scenes that work after the holidays, like Winter’s Quiet Wonder Snowflake House Flag.
- Spring: flowers, birds and Easter designs.
- Summer: patriotic designs for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, then beach and garden themes.
- Fall: harvest, Halloween and Thanksgiving designs from September to late November.
Pro tipMatch a house flag on the porch with a garden flag by the walk in the same theme. Two sizes of the same season look planned, not random.
How to care for decorative flags
- Bring flags inside during storms and strong wind; it is the number one way to make them last.
- Let a wet flag dry fully before you fold it, so it does not mildew in storage.
- Rotate flags with the seasons. Less time in direct sun means colors stay bright for longer.
- Store them flat or loosely rolled in a dry closet or bin between seasons.
Flags also make an easy holiday gift for neighbors and new homeowners; you will find more ideas in our Christmas gift guide.
Flag FAQ
What size is a standard garden flag?
12×18 inches is the standard garden flag size, made to fit common garden flag stands.
What size is a standard house flag?
28×40 inches is the most common house flag size. 24×36 inches suits smaller porches, and 36×60 inches suits tall columns and wide entries.
Do your flags come with a pole or stand?
No. Our flags are flag-only. House flags fit a standard house flag pole through the top sleeve, and garden flags fit a standard garden flag stand.
