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Teardrop, feather or rectangle flags: which shape for each event?
Published
Quick answer
Choose a teardrop flag when the job is a logo that has to be spotted from a distance, and a feather (blade) flag when you need a tall, narrow run for a brand name or a short message. Both stand on a flexible pole and a portable base, so they go wherever the foot traffic is. A rectangle flag is the classic shape for a fixed flagpole at a permanent site, such as a head office. Our catalogue flags are the teardrop and blade shapes.
Why promotional flags still earn their place
A flag puts your brand above head height, where it can be seen over a crowd, a fence or parked cars. It is also movable: if your site is mid-aisle or at the far end of a ground, a flag at the junction or gate points people your way.
Blade 2 Go flags and teardrop flags both come in three heights: 2.5m, 3.5m and 4.5m. Both are printed single or double sided and pack into a zip-up carry bag. Without the base, a flag in its bag weighs no more than 3kg, so one person can carry a set to the site.
Teardrop flags
The teardrop flag, also called a teardrop banner, has a rounded top that tapers to a point at the base. The widest part of the graphic sits at the top, which is where a logo or brand mark goes. Colour and logo do the work, so the flag is recognised at a distance even when the text is too small to read.
- Best for: logos, brand colours, a single short word.
- Weakest at: long messages, because the graphic narrows quickly.
- From: $208.90 excluding GST and freight, with a standard production lead time of 1.5 weeks from order and print-ready artwork.
Feather (blade) flags
A feather flag, which we sell as the Blade 2 Go flag, is tall and narrow with a curved top. It keeps much of its width down its height, so a brand name or tagline can run vertically. Our artwork templates pitch it as the shape for carrying more information, and you can choose a flat or scooped bottom edge.
- Best for: a brand name, a tagline or a short offer read top to bottom.
- Weakest at: wide logos, which have to shrink to fit.
- From: $199.80 excluding GST and freight, also with a standard lead time of 1.5 weeks.
Rectangle flags
The rectangle is the traditional shape. It flies from a fixed flagpole on a halyard, and a wide logo fits it naturally, so it suits a permanent site rather than a moving event. It isn't one of our catalogue flags, but the points below apply to any flag.
In light wind, a loose rectangle flag can wrap around its pole so the graphic can't be seen. The teardrop and blade shapes avoid much of this because the flag's webbing pocket slides over the pole, which holds the flag's edge in place. A flag that flies every day also wears faster. Our flag guidance puts a flag flown constantly at 6 to 9 months, up to two years with care, and under 3 months if severe weather damages it or it beats against a roof or wall.
Comparison: graphic size, wind and visibility
| Teardrop | Feather (Blade 2 Go) | Rectangle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Rounded top tapering to a point | Tall, narrow, curved top | Wide or tall rectangle |
| Best content | Logo, brand colours | Brand name or tagline read vertically | Wide logo |
| Graphic at 3.5m (template, per side) | 1,043mm W x 2,920mm H | 710mm W x 3,000mm H | Not in our catalogue |
| Graphic at 4.5m (template, per side) | 1,250mm W x 3,830mm H | 815mm W x 4,000mm H | Not in our catalogue |
| How it is held | Webbing pocket over a flexible fibreglass pole | Webbing pocket over a flexible fibreglass pole | Halyard on a fixed flagpole |
| In the wind | Sleeved on the pole, so less likely to wrap | Sleeved on the pole, so less likely to wrap | Can wrap around the pole in light wind |
| Typical use | Events, activations, shopfronts | Events, activations, shopfronts | Permanent sites |
Graphic sizes are the trim sizes on our artwork templates. They are bounding boxes: a teardrop tapers, so most of its usable space is in the upper section.
Wind and weather decide how long a flag lasts. If it's windy at ground level, it's windier still up a tall pole, and heavy rain makes the fabric heavier, which speeds up wear. Neither flag has a published wind rating, so if your site is exposed, such as a beach, headland or open ground, talk to us about the height and base before you order.
Best flag by event: sport, festivals, car parks and retail
Sport. Teardrop flags along a fence line or at the gate keep a sponsor's logo in view of spectators all day. Print them double sided if people will pass on both sides. On grass, the supplied in-ground stake may be an option. Check the site rules and conditions before relying on it.
Festivals and outdoor events. Use the 4.5m height so the flag clears the crowd, and put one or two at an entrance or path junction to send people to your site. Blade flags carry a short call to action, such as a sampling offer.
Car parks and hard ground. You can't use a stake on bitumen or concrete, so order a cross base, steel base plate or heavy cast iron base. For vehicle activations and dealer events, tow-ball mounts and tyre brackets let you set a flag up at the vehicle.
Retail and shopfronts. Movement catches the eye, so a line of flags at an entrance or car park turn-in gets noticed by passing drivers. If people will only ever see one side, a single-sided flag is enough. A single-sided print shows through about 95% on the back, so the reverse reads as a mirror image. Double-sided flags have a block-out core, so each side shows a correct image.
Before placing flags on a footpath or other public land, check with the local council. On private sites such as shopping centres, venues and showgrounds, check with centre or venue management.
Bases and accessories
Every flag comes with a full-colour dye-sublimation print, a fibreglass pole, an in-ground stake and a carry bag. We work with you to supply a water base for teardrop and Blade 2 Go flags; it isn’t listed on the product pages yet, so ask us for a price. Choose the other bases to suit the surface:
| Base or fitting | Use it on | Price |
|---|---|---|
| In-ground stake | Grass, sand, soft ground | Included |
| Cross base (cross feet) | Hard surfaces | $78.00 |
| Steel base plate | Hard surfaces such as concrete and paving | $105.80 |
| Heavy cast iron base | Hard ground where more weight is needed | Ask us |
| Wall bracket, 60° or 90° | Shopfronts and building walls | Ask us |
| Tow-ball mount or tyre bracket | Vehicles, dealer yards, vehicle activations | Ask us |
Prices exclude GST and freight. Assembly needs no tools: join the pole sections, slide the webbing pocket over the pole and fit the base. The hardware (everything except the printed graphic) carries a one-year warranty for the original owner. It doesn't cover misuse or normal wear and tear.
Looking after your flags
Event flags used periodically last far longer than flags flown every day, if they are looked after.
- Check the site. Keep the flag clear of walls, roofs, rough brickwork and anything else it could beat against or snag on.
- Wash it cold. Use a household machine on a cold cycle with a mild detergent. No soaking, dry cleaning or tumble drying, and keep soda and bleach away from it.
- Dry it straight away. Hang it up after washing rather than leaving it rolled. A cool or warm iron removes creases.
- Catch fraying early. A frayed edge can sometimes be trimmed and re-hemmed.
- Keep a spare. For a long campaign, rotate two flags so one is always ready while the other is cleaned or repaired.
The dye-sublimation process bonds the colour into the fabric, and our dyes are tested for UV stability. Pollution, salt and direct sun can still dull colours over time, so store flags in their bag between events. Our flag FAQs cover lifespan and maintenance in more detail.
Next step
Compare the shapes side by side on our promotional flags page, or see the full range of outdoor flags and banners. Send us your event date, the surface you'll set up on and your artwork, or call 1300 240 250, and we'll recommend the shape, height and base.