How to Install A Flagpole

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Before you install your flagpole

INSTALLING YOUR FLAGPOLE

You may want to learn how to install a flagpole if you are considering purchasing a flagpole or have already purchased one but don't have any mounting instructions handy. We'll take you through the steps. You may also be interested in our Commercial Flagpole buying guide.

You can also call our incredibly helpful customer support team at: 404-409-9737, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5:30 Eastern Time for learning how to put a flagpole in the ground.

Materials You'll Need

This list of materials for installing a flagpole can vary. And the amount of certain materials will vary depending on the size and number of poles you are installing.

For flagpole assembly, you'll need:

• Concrete
• Gravel
• Clean, dry sand (play sand from Home Depot or Lowe's works great)
• Wooden shims (to keep your pole plumb)
• Outdoor caulk
• A mixing tray for concrete
• Post hole digger or auger
• Standard shovel
• Plumb line
• Level
• Optionally a rubber mallet and liquid soap for joining flagpoles sections together. Read on to learn more about how to install a flagpole in your residential or commercial property!

Step 1 - Select A Location For Your Flagpole

The first step in flagpole installation is about choosing the location. The area in which you install your flagpole can, of course, have a large impact on how much enjoyment you get from it. Before committing to a spot for your installation of your flagpole, you may want to check out our guide on how to choose a flagpole location. Consider the balance between being able to see it from your window and having it be visible to others as they walk or drive past it. Additionally, you should consider putting your flag pole in a location where it is accessible to wind. By that we mean, that if your flag pole is too close to a stand of trees or a large building, it might not get enough wind to make your flags fly. Much of the beauty of flagpole ownership comes from seeing your flag waving majestically in the wind. So try to choose an installation location that will allow the wind to reach your flagpole and flag. from multiple directions.

Lastly, consider lighting. Again, placing your flagpole a good distance from other trees or buildings will allow maximum natural light to reach the flag. This will also enhance your flag's beauty when it is flying.

Step 2 - Make Sure It's Safe To Dig There

Digging a flagpole foundation is one of the most important steps and the one most likely to be ignored - with unpleasant and even dangerous consequences. In our modern world there are so many important wires and pipes buried under the ground that it's easy to accidentally cut through one of them while digging a hole for a flagpole (or a tree, or fencepost - whatever). And usually, once you "find" that buried wire, it's too late. Understanding how to install a flagpole in the ground begins with cognizance of your dig site.

Consequences can range from loss of services like power, cable TV or telephone, to more serious consequences like broken water pipes, to broken electrical power sources which could lead to serious personal injury. And there can be significant costs associated with paying for the repairs needed after you've damaged one of these utilities.

Fortunately, there's a simple solution than can eliminate the risk of causing damage or suffering personal injury as a result of digging. Just call 811 - "Call Before You Dig". (Their number is easy to remember it's just one digit off from 911 and many states have laws requiring you to call this number before you dig.) They'll send out a technician to survey the area where you've decided to place your flag pole and make sure that there are no wires or pipes under the ground in that spot. You can find more information on Call Before You Dig here before selecting a flagpole foundation site.

Step 3 - Dig A Hole For Your Flagpole

Knowing how to put up a flagpole begins with creating a secure foundation. Once you've selected your flagpole location and gotten the go ahead from Call Before You Dig, you're ready to start installing a flagpole. The best tool for digging this kind of hole manually is a post hold digger. If you really want to get it done fast, you can use an auger. These are available for rent at many Home Depot stores for a nominal fee. And, if you are going to be installing several flag poles, an auger will really save you some time and effort.

When you dig your hole, you should make it about 4 to 6 times the butt diameter of your flagpole. If you know your conditions tend toward the very windy side, you may want to go with 6 times the butt diameter. Also, if your ground conditions are sandy, a bigger foundation hole is better. With hard packed soil and generally mild wind conditions, you can go with a slightly smaller foundation - i.e.4 times the butt diameter. In the end, it's a judgement call and you can't go wrong by digging a slightly larger hole.

As for depth, you should dig your hole to the length of your ground sleeve ( a plastic or steel sleeve that should have come with your flagpole) plus 6". The reason you add this extra 6" is so that you can put drainage gravel in the bottom of the foundation hole and then set your ground sleeve on top of this gravel. When the footing is complete, your ground sleeve should be about level with grade. We'll tell you how to set that up in the next step toward total flagpole installation.

Step 4 - Create a Strong Foundation

Understanding how to put a flagpole in the ground beings with a strong foundation. Once you have your hole dug, place about 6" of gravel in the bottom of the hole and then stand your ground sleeve on top of it. If the top of the ground sleeve isn't at grade, i.e. level with the surface of the soil around the hole, then adjust the amount of gravel in the hole until it is.

Now that you have your hole dug to the proper depth, it's time to set the ground sleeve in place and prepare to add cement to the flagpole foundation. To do this, first set your ground sleeve in the center of the hole. Using shims or other pieces of wood and a level, make sure that the sleeve is plumb (level on two axes) and then secure it in place. It doesn't have to be strongly secured. Just enough that it won't move when you add cement to the hole. Stuff a wadded up piece of newspaper or other paper into the top of the ground sleeve (or otherwise cover the ground sleeve opening) so that no concrete of other material falls inside the ground sleeve.

Whether you’re learning how to install a residential flagpole or a commercial one, your next step is to mix your cement. The amount of cement you will need will vary depending on how big your flag pole and hole are. Associates at stores like Home Depot and Lowe's can assist you in calculating how much you will need. We like to buy more than we need to be safe and then return any unopened bags after the installation is competed. It's best to mix one 80lb bag of cement at a time so that you don't waste money by mixing too much.

Once you have mixed your cement, begin to gently shovel it into the hole around (not inside) the ground sleeve. Continue filling the hole and packing the cement lightly with a trowel or your shovel. Stop adding cement when you have filled the hole to 1 or two inches below ground level. This will allow you to add top soil after the cement cures, which will allow grass to grow around your flag pole.

Wait for the concrete to setup. We find it best to let the concrete cure overnight and then complete the last steps the next day. But you can follow the concrete manufacturers recommendations on cure times if you are in a hurry and need to finish the job in one day. Now you’re ready for flagpole assembly!

Step 5 - Prepare Your Flag Pole For Standing

Before you stand your flag pole in its new foundation, there are a few more things you will want to do. Namely, you will want to fully assemble the pole and attach all ornaments, trucks (the part at the top of the flagpole that contains the pulley) and the halyards (rope). You can add snap hooks and the cleat later, but as long as you have the pole on the ground and you have your tools handy, you may want to go ahead and attach these items too.

If your flag pole is in sections, you'll want to go ahead and swedge (slide the end of one piece inside the end of the next piece) the sections of the pole together. After you've done this, you can attach the truck (if it isn't already attached) to the top of the pole. Screw in the top ball or eagle ornament. Then thread the halyard through the pulley. Don't trim your halyard at this point. We'll do that after we stand the pole and make sure exactly how much may need to be trimmed. Attach the cleat to the bottom section of the pole. The manufacturer should have pre-drilled holes for you. Loosely wrap and tie the halyard ends around the cleat.

You should now have the flag pole completely assembled and laying on the ground. Everything should be on the pole except the snap hooks and the flag. Your guide on how to install a flagpole is almost complete! 

Step 6 - Step or Stand Your Flag Pole

Warning: This final step of flagpole assembly can be dangerous. We advise having at least one helper for this step - maybe more, depending on the height of your flag pole.

Again, the primary consideration in knowing how to install a flagpole is safety first. So, before you begin to stand your flagpole, first be sure that there are no overhead power lines that could come in contact with the flag pole as you are standing it up. If the flag pole contacts a power line while you and your helpers are holding it, you could be electrocuted.

Once you are certain that all is clear and you can safely stand your flagpole, place the flash collar (if you purchased one) onto the bottom of the flagpole and push it up on the pole a couple of feet so that it will be out of your way as you place the pole into the ground. Move the butt of the pole near the opening in the ground sleeve. Remove the paper that you put into the ground sleeve in a previous step. Hold the butt of the pole over the opening in the ground sleeve and ask your helper(s) to begin lifting the pole from the top end. As they lift it, guide the butt of the pole into the ground sleeve. As the flag pole stands more and more upright, your helpers can slide their hands down the pole toward you. Be very careful that you have the butt of the pole inside the ground sleeve and that you keep a downward pressure on the pole to keep the butt inside the sleeve. Otherwise the pole could pop out of the sleeve and fall to the ground behind your helpers, potentially damaging the pole or injuring someone.

Eventually, the flag pole will slide all the way down into the ground sleeve. Hurray! The hardest part installing a flagpole is done.

Now you want to level or plumb the flag pole. Get a bag of sand and a level. Have one of your helpers hold the level against the flag pole and get it level on two axes. Since it has not been secured, they will be visually trying to maintain this level. Slowly start to add sand into the sleeve. Check level on to axes frequently as you slowly continue to add sand. As you add sand, the pole will gradually become less movable. That's why you add the sand slowly and continually recheck for level to ensure the flagpole foundation is level.

Fill the ground sleeve in this way until it is filled to within about 1/2" of the top. Check level again. Using a thin piece of wood, or other slim tool, pack the sand into the sleeve. Add more sand as needed.

Once you have filled the sleeve with sand to within 1/2" of the top and have fully packed it into the tube, you can add a layer of sealant around the pole and over the sand. This should fill in the sleeve the rest of the way and will provide a protective barrier against water getting into the sleeve.

Step 7 - Raise Your Flag or Flags

We're almost to the best part, and certainly the most emotional part of the flagpole installation project—raising the flag for the first time. But before we can do that, we need to tie up some loose ends, so to speak. We need to connect the two ends of our halyard rope so that it forms one giant loop.

It's very possible that your flagpole came with a halyard that's already the correct length. But in case it isn't (and it's too long) you can trim it to the perfect length. We recommend that the tied halyard hangs below your cleat by about 2 feet. This gives you plenty of room to wrap the halyard several turns around your cleat. So if you need to trim it, trim is so that the loop hangs about 2 feet below your cleat. Be careful not trim too much! It's easy to cut away some rope, but hard to put it back.

Once your halyard is cut to the proper length, you need to tie the two ends together. The double fishermans knot is a good knot for this purpose.

Once your two ends are tied securely, you can attach the snap hooks. Most snap hooks have a loop which is used to affix them to the halyard. The easiest technique is to fold a loop in the rope and then thread it through the loop in the end of the snap hook. Next bring the loop over the snap end of the snap hook and then pull tight. To make sure that everything works correctly when you raise your flag, we recommend that you put the top hook just above the knot where you joined the two ends of the halyard together. That way, you can be sure that the know won't ever keep you from raising your flag.

Next attach the top snap hook to the top grommet of your flag. Using your flag as a measuring tool, make another bend in the rope just below where the bottom flag grommet will connect. Thread this snap hook the same way you did the top snap hook. Attach it to your flag and raise it up!

Step 8 - Admire Your Good Work!

At this point, your flag should be up and flying. Congratulations—you learned how to install a flagpole in the ground! Good work. Now you can sit back and revel in it's beauty. And if you flagpole is where neighbors can see it, prepare for a lot of compliments. Have questions about how to install your flagpole? Contact us today!