Flag Fittings Explained: Eyelets, Rope and Toggle, Sleeves and Clips

The fitting on a flag needs to match your flagpole. Eyelets (two metal rings in the header) suit wall poles and many simple poles, where the flag is tied on with cable ties or hooked on. Rope and toggle suits flagpoles with a halyard, the rope that raises and lowers the flag, where the toggle and loop on the flag join a matching loop and toggle on the rope. Clips, sleeves and D-rings cover most other set-ups.

Flag fittings at a glance

Eyelets

Eyelets are the most familiar flag fitting. Our standard Flagtex flags are 100% woven polyester with a header band and two metal eyelets on the hanging side, one at the top and one at the bottom. Our nylon flags also use eyelets.

On a wall-mounted pole, the usual method is to fix the flag through the eyelets with cable ties or hooks, so that it hangs from the pole. On a flagpole with a halyard, eyelets can be attached using halyard clips. Eyelets are simple and cheap, and they suit the indoor or occasional outdoor use that standard flags are designed for.

Tips for eyelet flags

• Fix both eyelets securely so the flag cannot slide down or wrap itself around the pole.
• Check cable ties from time to time, as they can become brittle outdoors.
• Make sure there are no sharp edges near the eyelets that could cut the fabric in the wind.

Rope and toggle

Rope and toggle is the traditional fitting for proper flagpoles with a halyard. A length of rope is sewn into the header of the flag, with a toggle (a short wooden or plastic peg) at one end and a loop at the other. The halyard on the pole has a matching loop and toggle. You push the toggle through the loop at each end to join the flag to the halyard, then hoist it.

Our DuraFlag range comes with rope and toggle as standard, along with a reinforced header and four rows of stitching on the fly end. For example, the Union Jack DuraFlag is made from 150gsm knitted polyester for indoor or outdoor flying. Rope and toggle makes changing flags quick, which is useful if you rotate two flags or swap flags for different occasions.

Clips

Some flagpoles have snap clips on the halyard instead of toggles. A flag with eyelets can be clipped straight on, and some DuraFlag sizes are available with a clip fitting. Clips are quick to use and hold the flag firmly, so it is worth checking that they close fully each time you hoist.

Sewn sleeve

A sleeve is a tube of fabric sewn along the hoist edge. The pole slides through the sleeve, so the flag sits directly on the pole with no rope or ties. This suits poles that do not have a halyard and gives a neat look indoors.

Our satin table flags work this way: each 9x6in satin flag is sleeved and slides onto a chrome pole-and-base set. A pole sleeve is also one of the free fitting options on our custom flags.

D-rings

D-rings are metal rings, flat on one side, sewn onto the hoist. They give a strong point to attach clips or hooks. They are available as a free fitting option on our custom printed flags.

Plain sewn edges

Sometimes you want no fitting at all, for example if a flag is going to be framed, mounted to a wall in a particular way or fitted to your own hardware. Plain sewn edges are another free option on custom flags.

Custom flags: choose any fitting

If you are ordering a flag made to your own design, the fitting is included free. You can choose rope and toggle, metal eyelets, D-rings, clips, a sewn pole sleeve or plain sewn edges, so the flag arrives ready for your pole. See our custom printed flags for the options.

How to check what your flagpole has

1. Look for a rope. If your pole has a halyard (a rope running up to the top and back down), the flag is hoisted. Check what is on the rope.
2. Toggles and loops on the halyard mean you need a rope and toggle flag.
3. Snap clips on the halyard mean you can use a flag with eyelets or a clip fitting.
4. No rope at all, as on many wall-mounted poles, usually means an eyelet flag fixed with cable ties or hooks, or a sleeved flag that slides over the pole.
5. Check the old flag. If you are replacing a flag, the fitting on the old one is the simplest guide to what you need.
6. Measure the pole too. Fittings are only half the story. The flag also needs to be the right size for the pole.

For help with sizing, see our guide on what size flag suits your flagpole. If you are starting from scratch, our guide on how to choose a flagpole explains the main types, and you can browse our flag poles, from wall-mounted poles to telescopic and full-size poles.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between rope and toggle and eyelets?

Eyelets are two metal rings in the header, usually tied or clipped to a pole. Rope and toggle is a rope sewn into the header with a toggle and a loop that join to the halyard on a flagpole. Rope and toggle suits halyard flagpoles; eyelets suit wall poles and clip halyards.

Can I fly an eyelet flag on a halyard pole?

Yes, if the halyard has clips, or by adding clips. If the halyard only has toggles, a rope and toggle flag is the better match.

Which fitting do DuraFlags have?

DuraFlags come with rope and toggle, with clips available on some sizes.

Do table flags have fittings?

Our satin table flags have a sewn sleeve that slides onto a chrome pole-and-base set. The flag is sold separately from the chrome hardware.

Can I choose the fitting on a custom flag?

Yes. Rope and toggle, metal eyelets, D-rings, clips, a sewn pole sleeve or plain sewn edges are all included free.

Ready to fly? Browse our DuraFlag range with rope and toggle fittings, or find the right pole in our flag poles collection.