Flag Fabric Material

A question that is always asked is How long will a flag last?

We can not give an exact answer to how long the flag will last, The government generally expects a polyester or cotton bunting flag to last approximately 180 days based on daily usage from sunrise to sunset - but not during periods of inclement weather. Tests have shown that in some cases a flag flown 24 hours a day will last only one-forth as long as one flown during daylight hours only.

Regardless of how well it is constructed, a flag is, after all, only a piece of cloth and will sooner or later succumb to the elements. However, it has been well documented that reasonably good care can contribute greatly to longer life.

There are many flag materials that can be used to make custom flags with, here at Australian Flag Makers we use 3 main materials and they are:

100D Polyester for the budget in mind.
120g Knitted Polyester for durability - longer life.
Trilobal/Spun Polyester for extra durability - longer life
it's the most durable flag material you can get.

Woven Polyester

Woven polyester - An inexpensive flag material, made of thin polyester to be used for special events and promo giveaways. The material can be used for outside but the life expectancy is limited.

Recommended printing techniques are silk screening and dye sublimation, the flag material is printed on one side and it bleeds through to the other side at about 98%, the image is then seen on the other side in reverse.

Woven Polyester Sample:

woven polyester flag

200D Knitted Polyester

Single ply a Hefty flag made out of shetty knitted polyester - this material will last longer than woven polyester, This material is one of strongest and most durable material in flag making one of the best choices if you are going to fly your flag 24/7 and this material needs very little wind to move it.

Recommended printing techniques are silk screening and dye sublimation and digital print, the print is done on one side and it bleeds through to the other side at about 95%, the image is then seen on the other side in reverse.

200D knitted Polyester Sample:

Knitted polyester flag

Spun Polyester

Spun polyester is the most durable flag material you can get. The open weave reduces fabric stress and resists high winds. This flag material is the best choice if you fly the flag 24/7 and your wind speed is higher.

As spun polyester flags are made from heavier fabric they require a higher wind speed to "fly" than knitted polyester flags. Also they require more effort to put up and take down.

Recommended printing techniques are silk screening and dye sublimation. the print is done on one side and it bleeds through to the other side at about 90%, the image is then seen on the other side in reverse.

If a design needs to be digital print then Spun polyester is not available.

Spun Polyester Sample.

Spun polyester flag

Final Summery:

The location of where the flag is to be flown will determine the materials best suited. Take into consideration the types of conditions your flag with endure example, weather and sunlight are big factors into the life of the flag. If you want your flag to last, there is no point in having your flag made with lower grades of polyester if your flag will be flown in extreme weather conditions.