Union (United Kingdom)
The Union flag, often referred to as the Union Jack Flag, was adopted in 1801, and represents the national crosses of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland in the United Kingdom. It is widely recognised internationally and its commonly referred to as the Union Jack flag, the name most people use today. The design combines the St George’s Cross, the St Andrew’s Cross and the St Patrick’s Cross to form a symbol frequently used on public buildings, commercial sites and ceremonial occasions across the UK. The absence of Wales in the design reflects historical context, as Wales did not have an officially recognised national flag when the Union flag UK was created. At Flagmakers, we supply both handsewn woven polyester and printed woven polyester versions of the Union Jack flag. Our flags are suitable for indoor, outdoor and ceremonial use.
Key Features
- Made from highest-quality MOD grade flag fabric
- Produced in accordance with official Flag Institute guidelines for accurate proportions and correct construction of the British flag union
- Specifically designed and manufactured for long term outdoor flying, with fabric options selected to deliver strong colour retention and reliable performance
- Finished with hemmed edges on all exposed sides using reinforced double stitching for additional durability
- Supplied with a robust heading, rope and toggle so each Union Jack flag is ready to fly immediately on delivery
- Available in a full range of sizes, including options suited for large Union Jack flag display
- Manufactured in the UK by Flagmakers with reliable workmanship and quality control
Product Description
At Flagmakers UK, we manufacture the Union Flag in both hand sewn woven polyester and digitally printed woven polyester variations. Each Union Jack flag is supplied ready to fly from a flagpole and produced to a high standard for reliable indoor or outdoor display.
We strongly advocate for hand-sewn national flags as the optimal selection for your flag. Crafted from Ministry of Defence-approved 155gsm woven flag material, this fabric ensures exceptional durability and has a longstanding history of use by the Navy and other military branches.
Hand-sewn Union flags
Made to MoD & and Flag Institute standard patterns by cutting panels of the required colours from a roll of fabric, before being sewn together by our skilled flagmakers to create the official Union flag UK (United Kingdom) pattern.
National flags with intricate crests or badges are produced by adding a printed panel to the main field where required, following established guidelines.
Woven Polyester Union Flags
Created using our state-of-the-art textile print systems and woven polyester flag fabric in our UK manufacturing facility. Chosen for strength and durability, knitted polyester is an ideal choice for anybody looking for a good value national flag finished ready to fly from your flagpole.
Each Union Flag is finished with a reinforced heading, rope and toggle as standard, allowing immediate attachment to flagpole.
All exposed edges are finished with reinforced double stitching, with a triple sewn hem on the fly edge for additional durability during outdoor flying.
Choosing the Right Union Flag Size
Selecting an appropriate size ensures clear visibility and a balanced appearance on a building or flagpole.
- For taller poles or prominent buildings: A large Union Jack flag provides better visibility and maintains correct proportions for the British flag union in open or high-level settings
- For smaller poles or indoor use: A 1.5yd or 2yd flag offers a balanced presentation and is suitable for offices, public buildings and ceremonial environments where space is limited or viewing closer.
These guidelines support accurate representation of the British flag union in a wide range of settings. They also help customers who wish to buy a Union Jack flag for professional, commercial or public use.
Why Choose Flagmakers
With more than 180 years of British flag making expertise, we continue to produce national flags to recognised standards for public, commercial and ceremonial use.
Trusted heritage and UK manufacturing: At Flagmakers, every Union Jack flag is produced with durable materials, reinforced stitching and aaccurate construction to ensure reliable and respectful Union flag UK display for government, heritage and commercial settings.
Support with size, fabric and display decisions: Guidance is available from our team on choosing between hand sewn woven polyester and printed woven polyester to help customers achieve aa consistent British flag presentation across indoor, outdoor and ceremonial environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Flag Do I Need?
National flags are available in standard sizes. For fling from a flagpole, this table provides the usual guidance:
|
Flagpole height |
Flag Size |
|
4m |
1.5 yd |
|
5m |
2yd |
|
6m |
2yd |
|
7m |
2.5yd |
|
8m |
2.5yd |
|
9m |
3yd |
|
10m |
3yd |
How Much Does A Custom Flag Cost?
The cost of a custom flag is influenced by several factors such as size, material, and production method. If you're considering creating your own flag, we suggest consulting with one of our flag experts for specialist personalised and cost-effective guidance.
How Much Does The Union Jack Flag Cost?
At Flagmakers UK, we offer a handcrafted Union Jack Flag, ready to be hoisted on to a pole, available for purchase from £57.82. Additionally, printed flags are available starting at £17.64.
Is it ‘The Union Flag’ or ‘The Union Jack’?
The terms ‘Union Flag’ and ‘Union Jack’ are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle distinction. The flag is formally referred to as the ‘Union Flag’ when it's flown on a ship or boat, and it becomes the ‘Union Jack’ when displayed on land. However, in common usage, people commonly use both terms regardless of the context, and both are widely accepted.
What is a Union Jack flag?
The Union Jack flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The flag combines the crosses of England, Scotland and Ireland to create the design widely recognised across the world. Although the term is the Union Flag UK, both names are commonly used to describe it and are widely accepted.
Which way up is the Union Flag?
The wider white diagonal must sit above the red diagonal nearest the flagpole. If the red sits uppermost, the British flag union is upside down.
How do you fly a Union Flag?
Attach the headband, rope and toggle, then raise the Union Jack flag smoothly until fully hoisted. It should stay clear of the ground and be lowered respectfully at the end of the flying period.
Our hand-sewn Union Flag, also known as the union jack flag, has been our trademark flag since 1872, having been used at some of the most historically significant battles, events, and state funerals since that time.
Each Union flag is made from individual coloured panels cut and sewn together to create the iconic design. Our method of using hand-sewn materials has been – and continues to be – the highest quality way to manufacture a national flag. The material we use is 155gsm woven fabric, giving excellent durability and a look of quality. The flag is stitched with a double sewn hem, and comes complete with a headband, rope, and toggle to ensure it can be flown immediately from any standard flagpole.
We manufacture every Union Flag here in the UK at the Flag Institute. Our flags are also produced to the standard 2:1 design ratio, meaning they will match any other national flags flown side-by-side.
You don’t have to take our word for how good our flags are…we have been supplying the Royal Navy and other military branches for many years. We pride ourselves on the quality and heritage of our flags.
Union Flag or The Union Jack?
The name ‘Jack’ had been used in the maritime world since the 1600’s. Historically, jacks were small flags flown from the masts of ships. In the early 1600s, a smaller version of the Union Jack was flown on ship masts. As a result of these changes, the flag would be referred to as the jack, the jack flag, or the King's jack. It wasn't until 1674 that this nickname was changed to His Majesty's Jack or the Union Jack.
Union Flag Trivia
The terms the “Union Jack flag” or “Union Flag” are equally correct and can be used in whatever context required. (This issue is discussed by The Flag Institute in a publication that can be found here.
Technical Specifications
Adopted: 1st January 1801
Proportion: 3:5 on land, 1:2 at sea
Design: A white-fimbriated symmetric red cross on a blue field with a white-fimbriated counter-changed saltire of red and white.
Colours: PMS - Red: 186, Royal Blue: 280
CMYK - Red: 76% Yellow, 91% Magenta, 6% Black. Royal Blue: 100% Cyan, 72% Magenta, 18.5% Black.
Brief History of the Union Flag
In 1606 King James proclaimed that there would be one flag that would represent the whole of the United Kingdom and it was created using the Saltire of Scotland and the St. George's cross. This was known as the Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
At this time Wales was considered to be part of England and it is therefore represented on the flag as part of the English St. George's cross.
In 1800 the Act of Union enabled the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland to join together and in 1801 the cross of St. Patricks was added to the Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain to create the Flag of the United Kingdom – the Union Jack we have and use today.
What Flags Make Up the Union Jack Flag?
As the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Flag is also known as the Union Jack. As its name suggests, it combines the crosses of the three kingdoms united under one Sovereign: England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
Why Is The Welsh Flag Not In The Union Jack?
When the three countries formed the United Kingdom, Wales was historically under England, as a principality, and was not incorporated into the flag’s design.
Unless one of the countries votes to leave the union, the Welsh dragon will not appear on the flag. With Scotland flirting with independence however, there may be a change to the Union Flag - we previously mocked up some designs of a Scotland-less Union Flag for your entertainment and intrigue here.
Other Uses of the Union Flag
The Union is one of the most distinctive flags in the world. It has formed the basis for many other countries' national flags and is often included as a canton or similar in deference to past histories and associations.
In the UK the Union is also used on civil and military / nautical flags too as a way of distinguishing the source of origin. The most common uses are shown below in the red, white and blue ensigns.
The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth II. They are used by her in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom.
Other members of the Royal Family have variants of the Royal Arms for their use as does the British government in connection with the administration and government of the country.
In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the Scotland Office.
Union Jack Flag Gallery
Whether hand sewn or dye sublimated, our union jack flags have been used on some of the UK's most iconic buildings.
Useful Links
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See a flag you like? We can manufacture any flag design in any size, speak to one of our experts to find out more.
Contact UsHow to Make a Union Jack Flag
Download NowDownload Our Brochure
Download our electronic brochure to check out the full range of products we can supply you with.
Download NowContact Us
See a flag you like? We can manufacture any flag design in any size, speak to one of our experts to find out more.
Contact UsHow to Make a Union Jack Flag
Download NowWorks Well With
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