Hand Waving Flags for Events, Schools and Parades

Hand waving flags come in two main sizes: a 9x6in (22.5 x 15 cm) polyester flag on a 30 cm wooden pole, and a large 18x12in (45 x 30 cm) flag on a 60 cm pole. The smaller size suits children, crowds and table decoration, while the larger one stands out better at parades and in fan zones. As a rough guide, order one flag per person plus a few spares.

Hand waving flag sizes

Our stock hand waving flags come in two sizes. Both are light enough to hold for a long time, which matters at an event where people may be waiting an hour or more before anything happens.

The 9x6in size is the classic flag you see lining the route at a royal visit. It is easy for small hands, packs flat and costs little, so it works well when you are handing flags out to a large group. The 18x12in flag has four times the area, so it is much more visible in photos and from across a street or stadium concourse, but it is better suited to older children and adults. Our Union Jack wooden hand flag is a typical example.

Where hand waving flags are used

Hand flags are one of the simplest ways to give a crowd a shared look and a sense of occasion. Common uses include:

• Royal and civic events: visits, jubilees, mayoral events and local celebrations, where crowds line a route.
• Parades: carnivals, community parades and remembrance or veterans' events, both for participants and spectators.
• Sports days: giving each house or team its own colour or flag to cheer with.
• International days at school: pupils carry the flag of a country they are learning about, or of their own family's heritage. Our world hand flags cover a wide range of countries.
• Homecomings: welcoming back service personnel, teams or family members at an airport or community hall.
• Fan zones and watch parties: for international football, rugby and cricket tournaments.
• Weddings: guests waving flags as the couple leave, particularly at weddings that bring two countries together.
• Store openings and promotions: branded hand flags given to customers and staff.

For royal, national and county occasions, our British hand flags include the Union Jack, the home nations and many counties.

How many hand flags to order

A useful rule of thumb is one flag per person, plus spares. Spares cover people who arrive late, flags that get dropped or broken, and children who want one for each hand. As a tip, consider adding around 10% extra for a school or club event where numbers are known, and more for public events where the crowd size is uncertain. If you are giving flags away, it is usually better to have a few left over than to run out before the main moment.

For a school, think in terms of classes rather than the whole roll: work out how many pupils will actually be at the event, then add flags for staff and helpers. For a street party, count households and allow two or three flags per house, as children tend to want their own.

Hand flag packs

If you need a selection rather than lots of one design, our hand flag packs group flags together, which saves ordering each one separately. Packs are handy for international days, classroom displays and themed parties where variety matters more than matching. Browse the full hand flags range to see the single designs available.

Custom printed hand flags

For a school, club, charity or business event, a hand flag with your own design is a memorable giveaway. We offer two options.

Custom small hand flags

Our custom small hand flags are 9x6in on a 30 cm wooden pole, printed in our own UK workshop. You can order any quantity, from a single flag upwards, and bulk discounts apply from 5 or more. This makes them suitable for small groups as well as larger events.

Custom large hand flags

Custom large hand flags are available in four sizes from 18x12in up to 5x3ft. The minimum order is 50, the turnaround is about 7 days, and discounts apply at 50, 100, 250 and 500 or more. These suit marching groups, supporters' clubs and promotions where you want flags that can be seen from a distance.

Before you send your design, it is worth reading our custom printed flags guide, which covers artwork formats, resolution and design tips. Simple designs with bold colours and large text work best at hand flag sizes.

Safety with children

Hand flags are on sticks, so a little common sense goes a long way, especially with younger children:

• Supervise young children while they are holding flags on sticks.
• Encourage children to wave flags above head height and not to point the stick at others.
• Remind them not to run while holding a flag, particularly in a crowd.
• Collect flags at the end of the event, or check that any broken sticks are disposed of.

For the youngest children, the smaller 9x6in flag on a 30 cm pole is the easier size to handle.

Frequently asked questions

What size are hand waving flags?

Our standard hand flags are 9x6in (22.5 x 15 cm) on a 30 cm wooden pole. Large hand flags are 18x12in (45 x 30 cm) on a 60 cm pole.

How many hand flags should I buy for an event?

A good starting point is one per person plus spares. Allow a little extra for known groups such as a school, and more for public events where numbers are hard to predict.

Can I order custom hand flags in small quantities?

Yes. Custom small hand flags (9x6in) can be ordered in any quantity, with bulk discounts from 5 or more. Custom large hand flags have a minimum order of 50.

How long do custom large hand flags take?

Custom large hand flags have a turnaround of about 7 days.

Are hand flags suitable for young children?

Yes, with supervision. The 9x6in size is easiest for small hands, and children should be reminded not to run or point the stick at others.

Find the right flag for your crowd in our full range of hand waving flags, including British, world and county designs.