Custom flag printing: how to get your design printed as a 3x5 flag
Custom flag printing made simple: standard sizes like 3x5 ft, the pixel size and file type printers want, single vs double sided, and adding your own picture.
By the Flag Maker team
Flag Maker is a design tool, not a print shop. You make the flag here (free, with no account), download the file, and send it to the printer of your choice. That split is useful, since you can design once and get quotes from as many printers as you like, but it means the file you hand over has to be right.
This guide covers what printers ask for: the size, the shape, the file type, the resolution, and the choice between single and double sided. Get those right and your custom flag will come back looking the way it did on screen.
Start with the size, then match the shape
Most custom flags are sold by size in feet. Banners.com, a US flag and banner printer, says on its custom 3x5 flags page that 3 by 5 feet is the most common size for a custom flag, and it offers sizes from 1 by 1 foot up to 4.5 by 8 feet.
The size decides the shape. A 3x5 flag is a 3:5 rectangle, so design at 3:5. If you design at 2:3 and the printer fits it to 3x5, the image either gets stretched, cropped, or padded with blank space.
| Flag size (feet) | Ratio | Set Flag Maker to |
|---|---|---|
| 3 x 5 | 3:5 | 3:5 |
| 2 x 3 | 2:3 | 2:3 |
| 4 x 6 | 2:3 | 2:3 |
| 1 x 1 | 1:1 | 1:1 (square) |
If your printer’s size isn’t on this list, divide the height by the length and compare it to the ratios in the flag ratios guide.
One thing that surprises people: the US government’s official flag proportions are 10:19, set by Executive Order 10834, while NAVA’s design guide notes that US flags are usually made at 1:1.5 or 1:1.67, and 3x5 feet is a 1:1.67 shape. For a printed flag, match the printer’s size, not the official spec.
File type: PNG, JPG or SVG
Flag Maker downloads in three formats:
- SVG is a vector file. It stores shapes rather than pixels, so it stays sharp at any size. This is the best file for printing.
- PNG is a pixel image with sharp edges and no compression blur. It’s the safe choice when a printer won’t take SVG. Download the largest size offered.
- JPG is a smaller pixel image. It’s fine for sharing a preview by email, but its compression can blur edges, so avoid it for printing.
Printers vary in what they accept. Banners.com says the file that prints best for them is EPS with text converted to outlines, and it also accepts high resolution PDF or JPG. If your printer asks for PDF, EPS or AI, open the SVG in a vector editor such as Inkscape (free) or Adobe Illustrator and save it in the format they want.
Resolution: how many pixels you need
If you’re sending a PNG, the pixel count has to be big enough for the physical size. Banners.com says files of 300 dpi or more work best. Other printers accept less, so check the requirements of the shop you choose.
Here’s what that means in pixels for common flag sizes:
| Flag size | Inches | At 150 pixels per inch | At 300 pixels per inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | 24 x 36 | 3600 x 5400 | 7200 x 10800 |
| 3 x 5 ft | 36 x 60 | 5400 x 9000 | 10800 x 18000 |
| 4 x 6 ft | 48 x 72 | 7200 x 10800 | 14400 x 21600 |
Those are large files. It’s one more reason to send an SVG, or to ask whether the printer can work from a vector file. The FAQ has a short answer on what size a 3x5 flag is in pixels.
Single sided or double sided
This choice affects both price and design.
On a single sided flag (often called single reverse), the design is printed on one layer of fabric. Banners.com explains that the artwork shows through as a mirror image on the back. For stripes, crosses and most symbols that’s fine, since they look right from either side. Text and logos read backwards.
A double sided flag uses two printed layers with a blockout liner between them, so text reads correctly on both the obverse and the reverse. It costs more and the flag is heavier.
The design lesson is the same one flag designers give. The North American Vexillological Association’s “Good Flag, Bad Flag” guide warns that words are not reversible and force double or triple thickness fabric. If you can make your point with a symbol instead of text, you can buy the cheaper single sided flag and it will still look right from both sides.
Materials and finishing
Ask the printer what the flag is made of and how it attaches to the pole. Banners.com’s 3x5 flags, for example, are a polyester and nylon blend, which it notes is not the same material as a standard US flag. With its header and grommet finish, each flag gets two grommets on the left side, top and bottom, for hanging.
Finishing options vary by printer, but the common ones are a header with grommets (for a pole with clips or rope) and a pole sleeve (for a pole that slides through). Either way, they sit on the hoist side, so keep important detail a little away from that edge. NAVA’s guide also suggests keeping symbols away from the fly end, which frays first.
Custom flags with a picture or logo
You can add your own image in Flag Maker through the Uploads tab, such as a logo, a pet photo or a team crest. It stays in your browser and is never uploaded to a server. Move, resize, rotate and layer it like any other element.
A few things to know before you print a picture:
- An uploaded photo keeps its own resolution. Even in an SVG download, a small photo stays a small photo, so start with the largest version you have.
- A logo saved as a PNG with a transparent background sits more cleanly on a colored field than one with a white box around it.
- Photos and fine detail don’t carry far. A flag is usually seen from a distance and moving. A bold symbol reads better than a detailed picture, which is why the design guide recommends simple shapes.
The FAQ answers whether you can put a picture on a flag in more detail.
A print checklist
- Choose your printer and flag size first.
- Set the matching proportions in the flag maker top bar, such as 3:5 for a 3x5 flag.
- Keep important detail away from the hoist and fly edges.
- Avoid text if you’re ordering single sided.
- Download an SVG, or the largest PNG if the printer doesn’t take SVG.
- Ask for a digital proof before the order is printed. Colors on screen and on fabric can differ.
- Keep a copy of the file. Saved flags in My flags live only in your browser.
For a quick yes or no on printing your own design, see can I print a flag I design.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard custom flag?
3 by 5 feet is the most common size for custom printed flags. Printers usually offer smaller and larger sizes too, so check the list before you design.
What resolution do I need to print a 3x5 flag?
A 3x5 foot flag is 36 by 60 inches. At 150 pixels per inch that's 5400 by 9000 pixels, and at 300 it's 10800 by 18000. A vector file such as SVG avoids the question because it scales to any size.
What's the difference between single sided and double sided flags?
A single sided flag is printed on one layer, so the back shows a mirror image. A double sided flag uses two printed layers with a liner between them, so both sides read correctly. Double sided costs more but is the better choice for text.
Can I put a photo on a custom flag?
Yes. Most printers accept photos, but the image needs enough pixels for the flag's size, and fine detail in a photo is hard to see from a distance.