Commercial Flagpole Buying Guide

When you begin your search for a commercial flagpole, you may feel overwhelmed. There seem to be countless options out there, that mostly look alike.

So how do you choose the best flagpole for your unique situation? We've written this guide to make the process simple and to give you confidence that you've purchased the perfect pole, without spending too much or buying too much pole.

This guide is broken down into three key sections:

• Height Selection
• Strength Selection
• Budgetary Considerations

Let's get started...

1. Flagpole Height

The height of your flagpole is a crucial factor in its visibility and the overall aesthetics of your property. Consider the following when choosing your height:

• Nearby Buildings: Your flagpole should generally be taller than nearby buildings, up to a point. A general guideline is that the flagpole height should be 1.5 to 2 times the height of the building. Of course, if you have a 50-story building this might not be reasonable. At that point a 40ft, or taller, flagpole would probably be ideal. (See below)
• Surrounding Landscape: Trees, other structures, and landscape features can affect your flagpole’s visibility. Choose a height that ensures the flag can be seen from your intended viewpoints.
• Local Regulations: Check your local regulations regarding flagpole height by visiting Municode <- Link opens in new window. On the Municode site, find your municipality and then search for keywords like "flag", "flagpole" and "flag pole" to find your local regulations, if any. If your municipality has a maximum allowed height, you'll want to take that into consideration as you choose your flagpole.
• General Recommendations for Flagpole Height:
• Residential or single-story commercial buildings: 15-30 feet
• Two-three story commercial buildings: 30-40 feet
• Multi-story commercial properties or government buildings: 40 feet or taller

2. Wind Speed Rating (Strength)

Flagpoles must withstand local wind conditions to avoid damage. The wind speed rating is a measure of the pole's durability against wind forces. Here’s how to determine the appropriate rating for your installation location:

• Local Wind Data: Check local wind speed data or consult our windspeed map below. Looking at our map, you can quickly see the recommended wind speed rating for your location. Buy a flagpole that meets or exceeds that rating.
• Desired Flag Size: Common flag to flagpole size ratios are 1:4 to1:6 (flag height : pole height). For example, a 20-foot flagpole could fly a 3'x5' or 4'x6' flag. Larger flags create more wind resistance. So, if you want to go with a larger size flag than the ratio mentioned above, i.e. 1:6 or more, you should get a pole that exceeds the minimum recommended windspeed for your area.

• Standard Duty: Suitable for areas with light to moderate winds, typically rated up to 85 mph.
• Medium Duty: Suitable for areas with higher wind speeds, typically rated up to 120 mph.
• Heavy Duty: For coastal or high-wind areas, with ratings up to 150 mph or more.

3. Staying Within Budget

The cost of a commercial flagpole can vary widely based on height, material, and wind speed rating. Here are some factors affecting the cost:

• Material: Aluminum is hands-down, the most popular choice for its balance of durability and cost. Steel and fiberglass are also good options but are usually used in more specialized applications and can often cost more. Fiberglass works well in salt-water environments. Steel is usually chosen for flagpoles over 110ft in height because of its strength. 
• Features: External halyard flagpoles (where the halyard (rope) is on the outside of the pole) are the most affordable and popular design. Internal halyard flagpoles (where the halyard winds up inside the pole) offer much better security and superior aesthetics, but at a higher cost.  
• Finish: Flagpoles are available in a variety of finishes. These, too, can have a significant impact on the cost of your flagpole. Here are the most common finishes:
• Satin finish is the most popular, and least expensive finish. It is the bare aluminum with a textured finish. But it is quite durable and is the most common choice. Of course, being aluminum, it doesn't rust.
• Clear Anodized - this finish looks almost identical to satin, except it is slightly less shiny. It is recommended for coastal areas to help protect the aluminum from the corrosive effects of salt water and salt air. 
• Bronze Anodized - this is a chocolatey brown finish that has a very upscale appearance. Recommended for country clubs and other upscale properties where a luxurious look is wanted.
• Black Anodized - this is an absolutely stunning black that we recommend for memorials or other areas where a solemn, majestic appearance is desired.
• Powder Coat - powder coating is a type of painting that allows you to choose any color you want, although white is the most popular. These flagpoles are usually made to order.
• Lighting: flagpole lighting comes in two varieties - solar and hardwired. The US Flag Code states that the American flag should be lighted, if it will be flown after sunset. Although this is not a law (no one is going to come arrest you if your flag isn't lit up at night), it is still an important measure of respect for the American flag. 
• Solar flagpole lights can be of two sub-varieties - those that point upward from the bottom of the pole, and those that point downward from the top of the pole. Either is an affordable option, although we prefer those that point upward, because it is easier to service them or replace the battery should it ever stop charging. A light on top of your pole could eventually stop working and getting up to the top of the pole to replace or service it could be a challenge. 
• Hard-wired flagpole lights are the other option. For important commercial and governmental installations, this type of lighting is absolutely the way to go. For smaller businesses, or residential settings, solar is usually a more attractive option.
• Installation: Installation costs can be a significant consideration, especially for taller poles that may require specialized equipment or foundation work. Below you can see what you might expect to pay for installation of your flagpole. These are just ballparks. If budget is a make-or-break concern for you, you may wish to consult with a local sign company to get an installation estimate, prior to purchasing. Also, note that flagpoles up to 30 ft can usually be installed by a few able-bodied adults, with no specialized or mechanized equipment needed.:
• 20-25 feet: $500 - $1,500
• 30-40 feet: $1,500 - $4,000
• 50 feet and above: $4,000 and up

And that's pretty much all there is to it!

Still unsure? Give our all-star team of customer service professionals a call at 404-409-9737. We're here to help!

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Our Windspeed Chart