By Luke Dalton. Updated 10 July 2026.

In 30 seconds: the Union Jack has a correct way up. In the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider white diagonal stripe must sit above the red diagonal, because St Andrew's Cross takes precedence over St Patrick's. Flying it upside down is considered improper and disrespectful, though the famous claim that it is an official distress signal is a myth. You need no permission to fly the national flag in the UK, it can fly every day of the year, and at night it should be illuminated. Everything below comes from the Flag Institute, the College of Arms and the government's own guidance.

The Right Way Up: One Rule to Remember

The Union Jack looks symmetrical from a distance. It is not. The two diagonal crosses, St Andrew's white saltire and St Patrick's red saltire, are deliberately offset, and that offset gives the flag a top and a bottom. The rule, straight from the Flag Institute's UK flag protocol: in the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe, because Scotland's St Andrew's Cross takes precedence over Ireland's St Patrick's Cross.

The two second check: find the corner of the flag nearest the pole, look at the top of it, and ask whether the fat white stripe sits above the thin red one. Broad white on top, you are flying it correctly. Red riding above the broad white, the flag is upside down. That is the whole skill, and once you can see it you will spot upside down flags everywhere, forever. We apologise in advance.

Upside Down: Disrespectful, Yes. Distress Signal, No.

The Flag Institute's protocol guide says it plainly: it is most improper to fly the flag upside down. An inverted national flag reads as carelessness at best and disrespect at worst, and since 1801, when the asymmetric St Patrick saltire made an upside down flag possible in the first place, spotting one has been a national sport.

But the claim you will hear most often, that an upside down Union Jack is an official distress signal, does not survive contact with the sources. Historians who have checked note that no such rule appears in Flying Flags in the United Kingdom, the authoritative protocol guide, and that anyone genuinely in distress would want a clearer signal than a subtly offset diagonal that most people cannot read at distance. Upside down is a mistake, and in Britain it is treated as a disrespectful one. It is not a coded message.

Do You Need Permission to Fly the Union Jack?

No. This one is refreshingly clear across every authority. The Flag Institute confirms no permission is needed to fly the national flags, which are excluded from most planning and advertising regulations, though a permanent flagpole may need its own consent depending on where and how it is installed. The College of Arms confirms individuals and organisations may fly the Union Flag whenever they wish.

The government's own position goes further. The official guidance opens by saying the government wants to see more flags flown, particularly the Union Flag, calling it a symbol of national unity and pride. In England flags sit inside the planning regime as advertisements, and any country's national flag is in the category that needs no consent at all. One detail worth knowing: if two flags fly on one pole and one of them is the Union Flag, the Union Flag must take the superior position.

When Can You Fly It?

Every day of the year, if you like. Flags may be flown on every day of the year, and government buildings are actively encouraged to do exactly that. Flags are traditionally flown from sunrise to sunset, but they may fly at night too, when they should be illuminated. The one hard courtesy rule: never fly a flag that is worn, damaged or dirty. The Flag Institute treats a tatty flag as disrespect for the nations it represents, and frankly so do we.

Half Mast, Briefly

For completeness, because it comes up: half mast means the flag is flown two thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole. If several flags are flown together, all go to half mast or none are flown. Half mast days are directed for national mourning, and the everyday flyer will rarely need the rule, but now you have it.

How We Fly Ours

We are a veteran owned coffee company founded by Royal Marines, and this month we put the Union Jack on more than 40 digital billboards and street screens across Great Britain. Every screen shows the flag the right way up, all day, every day, illuminated by definition, never faded and never tattered, which as flag protocol goes is about as compliant as it is possible to be. If you spot one of our screens, check the diagonals yourself, then send us the photo on Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which way up does the Union Jack go?

In the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider white diagonal stripe must sit above the red diagonal stripe. If the red diagonal sits above the broad white in that corner, the flag is upside down.

Why does the Union Jack have a right way up?

Because the design is asymmetric. The white saltire of St Andrew and the red saltire of St Patrick are deliberately offset, with St Andrew's Cross taking precedence, so the flag reads differently depending on its orientation.

Is flying the Union Jack upside down a distress signal?

No, that is a persistent myth. The authoritative protocol guide, Flying Flags in the United Kingdom, contains no such rule. An upside down Union Jack is simply a mistake, and in the UK it is considered improper and disrespectful.

Is it illegal to fly the Union Jack upside down?

No. There is no law against it, and no Flag Act exists in UK law at all. It is considered most improper by flag protocol, but the consequence is embarrassment rather than prosecution.

Do I need planning permission to fly the Union Jack?

No. Any country's national flag, including the Union Flag, can be flown without consent under the advertising regulations in England, and the College of Arms confirms individuals may fly it whenever they wish. A permanent flagpole may need its own consent depending on height and location, so check with your local authority for the pole itself.

Can you fly the Union Jack at night?

Yes. Flags are traditionally flown from sunrise to sunset, but protocol allows them to fly at night provided they are illuminated.

Can you fly the Union Jack every day?

Yes, every day of the year. Government guidance actively encourages more flag flying, particularly of the Union Flag. The only firm courtesy rule is never to fly a flag that is worn, damaged or dirty.

What does half mast mean?

Half mast means the flag flies two thirds of the way up the pole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole. It is used as a mark of mourning, and if several flags fly together they all go to half mast or none are flown.

Related Guides

• The Union Jack Billboard Campaign: They took the flags down, so we put ours on more than 40 digital screens across Britain. The full story.
• Union Jack or Union Flag? The Argument, Settled: Both names are correct, and they have been since 1902. The history and the receipts.
• Best Military Coffee UK: The veteran and forces coffee brands actually worth buying.
• The Red On Range: Our strongest line in every format: coffee, brew bags, cans and caffeine pouches.

References and Further Reading

• The Flag Institute: British flag protocol (Flying Flags in the United Kingdom)
• GOV.UK: Flying flags, a plain English guide
• College of Arms: Union Flag FAQs
• Tastes of History: Dispelling some myths, upside down Union Flags