Flag Calculator | USA
Table of contents
History of the American flag - American flag layoutMeasurements of the American flag - dimensions ratio and the flag calculatorStandard American flag sizes - American flag measurementsFlags and the 4th of JulyFAQsThe Fourth of July is right around the corner - are you ready to celebrate? 🌟 This year, let's try the greatest DIY project of them all - a hand-made American flag. Fabric, wood, painted picture? The possibilities are endless, so choose the one that suits you best!
Our US flag calculator allows you to calculate the size & proportions of the American flag - probably the best known banner around the world.
How do we help? This US flag dimension calculator computes the length of all the US flag elements based on any given single measurement. Would you like to find out more about the American flag dimensions, history, and the standard US flag sizes?
Read on to fully discover the most beloved symbol of America
History of the American flag - American flag layout
The US flag has over 245 years of history. Our flag size calculator presents only one of 44 designs that the official American banner has had over these years.
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It all started in December 1775, with the very first pattern that incorporated a Union Jack into a field full of red and white stripes.
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The second design in 1777 brought a very anticipated change - a union full of stars, each representing a US states (there were only 13 of them at the time). This US flag design consisted of 13 red & white stripes and the same number of stars.
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Each flag that followed didn't last long - the US was continually expanding, and new states (and stars ⭐) were constantly being added.
💡 Americans always aimed to introduce their new flags on Independence Day!
- The current flag was created in 1960 after the addition of Hawaii, the only island state located outside of North America. That was when the 50th star was finally placed in the union, creating the image we know today, with specified American flag proportions.
Want to know more about the United States of America? Apart from the flag calculator, we have a few other tools:
- Discover American time zones with our time zone calculator; and
- Find out what's the US GDP per capita.
Measurements of the American flag - dimensions ratio and the flag calculator
Our American flag calculator uses the American flag proportions presented in Title 4 of the United States Code, § 1 and § 2. These American flag measurements ratios are:
- (A) Height (hoist) of the flag = 1.0;
- (B) Width (fly) of the flag = 1.9;
- (C) Union height (Hoist of the canton) = 0.5385 (A × 7/13, spanning seven stripes);
- (D) Union width (Fly of the canton) = 0.76 (2/5 of the flag width B);
- (E) Distance between union stars - vertical = 0.0538 (1/10 of the height of the union C);
- (F) Distance between union stars - horizontal = 0.0633 (1/12 of the width of the union D);
- (G) Diameter of star = 0.0616 (4/5 of the stripe width H); and
- (H) Width of stripe = 0.0769 (1/13 of the flag height A).
💡 American flag layout should use the following colors in hex code:
- Red #B22234
- White #FFFFFF
- Blue #3C3B6E
The American flag layout calculator uses these American flag size ratios to compute the properties of a flag of a chosen height/width. If you already know these ratios and are just looking for the missing terms, you can use our ratios calculator, too!
How do we calculate US flag dimensions?
You have to multiply each of the above ratios by some coefficient, x. You can manually set the x value by checking the Show proportion coefficient (x) box at the bottom of our American flag dimensions calculator.
Standard American flag sizes - American flag measurements
The typical size of a home flag is 3 x 5 ft (91.44 x 152.4 cm). Casket (burial) flags are bigger: 5 ft x 9 ft 6 in (152.4 x 289.56 cm).
Thanks to the American flag size ratio calculator, you can compute all the values needed to create an official US flag of any size, for both private and public use.
Don't hesitate to discover other American standards:
Flags and the 4th of July
When the fireworks hit the sky, and the streets are covered in red, white, and blue - let's get ready for the astonishing dose of friendship, family, freedom and celebration! 🎆
The most important element of the 4th July preparations are, of course, the American flags. We all know we should respect our national symbols, but what are the exact rules we should obey?
- We shouldn't display flags when it's dark (unless they are properly illuminated).
- We shouldn't display flags during wet or rainy weather (unless it's an all-weather flag).
- We shouldn't use flags as a decoration of furniture, carpets, pieces of clothing or napkins.
- We shouldn't write on flags, attach or embroid anything on them.
- The flag shouldn't touch the ground or anything below it, and must be always in the upright position.
- The proper way to rise a flag is to do it quickly.
- The proper way to lower a flag is to do it slowly.
- Store your flag folded in a triangle, with stars showing on top.
- Dispose of your flag immediately if it's wore down or broken.
- Union hanging down? Someone's life must be in danger; there is no other reason or excuse to hang it like that.
💡 The proper way to dispose a torn, matted or faded flag is though burning. You may look for your local flag disposal ceremonies.
What is the aspect ratio of the American flag?
The height to width ratio of the American flag is 10:19.
The Union's dimensions are a little bit different and equal 5.385:7.6.
When was the current American flag adopted?
The current American flag was adopted on July 4, 1960, after the inclusion of Hawaii.
After Hawaii was welcomed into the USA, the total number of states reached 50; this fact is commemorated with the 50 stars present on the American flag.
How many stars and stripes does the American flag have?
The American flag has thirteen horizontal stripes alternating in red and white colors, which stand for the original thirteen colonies. It also has 50 white stars on the top left corner, arranged in alternating rows of 6 and 5 stars. Each star represents the state of the United States of America.
What size are the stars and stripes on the American flag?
The stars must have a diameter of approximately 4/5th of a stripe whereas each stripe itself must be 1/13 of the total height of the flag.
What do the stripes on the American flag denote?
The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from British rule. They were the first 13 states of the United States of America.
