Brass flag spreader holding an indoor flag fully extended

Brass Flag Spreader

SKU: Flag Spreader

Price range: $39.99 through $89.99

Holds a flag open so the design reads with no wind.

  • Material: brass or steel
  • Use: ceremonial, parade, indoor, outdoor
  • Sold individually

Product Description

A flag spreader holds an indoor or parade flag open so the design can be read when there is no wind to lift it. It fits behind the flag near the top of the pole and spans the hoist, pushing the fly end out at a slight angle. Without one, a fringed flag on a lobby pole hangs in folds and the seal or emblem disappears. With one, the whole flag shows.

We offer the flag spreader in brass, for a polished ceremonial look that matches gold finials and cord and tassel sets, and in steel, for a tougher, lower-cost option that stands up to parade handling and outdoor use. Each spreader is sold individually and installs on standard indoor and parade poles without tools.

Flag Spreader Features

  • Holds the flag open – the arm spreads the flag so a seal, rank stars, or an agency emblem is fully visible indoors.
  • Two finishes – polished brass for ceremonial poles, or steel for parade and outdoor use.
  • Fits standard poles – sized for the indoor, presentation, and parade poles we sell, from 1 IN to 1 1/4 IN.
  • Tool-free installation – slides onto the pole behind the flag and stays in place.
  • Sold individually – order one per pole.

Historical Background

Flags carried on parade and displayed in halls have always faced the same problem: no wind. Color guards solved it with a stiff arm behind the flag, and the flag spreader bar became standard equipment for honor guards, courtrooms, and legislative chambers where the flag must be read from the floor. The Flag Code asks that the flag be displayed so it can be seen clearly, and a spreader is the simplest way to do that on an indoor pole.

Brass spreaders match the brass and gold hardware traditional to ceremonial displays. Steel spreaders came later for units that carry flags outdoors, where weight and toughness matter more than shine.

  • Material: brass, or steel
  • Finish: polished brass, or plain steel
  • Fits: standard indoor, presentation, and parade poles
  • Installation: no tools required
  • Quantity: one spreader per package
  • Use: indoor, ceremonial, parade, and outdoor display

  • Courtrooms, council chambers, and lobbies where the flag on the pole should be readable from across the room.
  • Military and agency offices displaying rank flags and organizational flags whose emblem must show.
  • Color guards and parade units carrying flags that would otherwise wrap the pole between gusts.
  • Schools and auditoriums for stage flags during assemblies and graduations.
  • A practical add-on gift with any indoor flag set, especially a fringed flag with a central emblem.

Which should I choose, brass or steel?

Brass if the pole has gold or brass hardware and stays indoors. Steel if the pole travels to parades and outdoor events or you want the lower-cost option.

Does a flag spreader work with a fringed flag?

Yes. It sits behind the flag, so the fringe hangs freely along the edge and the design stays open.

What pole sizes does it fit?

It fits the standard 1 IN to 1 1/4 IN indoor and parade poles. If your pole is a different diameter, call us before ordering.

Do I need one for every flag on a multi-pole stand?

One spreader per pole. On a three-pole stand, order three.

Will it damage the flag?

No. The spreader bears on the pole and the heading, not on the printed or sewn field.

How do I install it?

Take the finial off, slide the flag onto the pole, set the spreader on the pole behind the flag with the arm running along the top edge of the flag toward the fly, then replace the finial. The flag hangs from the arm and stays open.

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