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Hanging Flags Vertically

The rule is that when a flag is hung vertically the honour point (i.e., the top-left hand corner) should still be at the top-left. This means that most flags rotate 90 degrees and are then turned over. For example, the US flag has to be reversed to keep the canton in the top-left. The union flag just rotates, so as to keep the thick white stripe uppermost in the top-left corner. This all stems from heraldic practice, and basically mean creating new flags for many countries. More difficult are the aspect ratios - I modify the aspect ratios to 2:3 so that when hung in groups the flags are all the same height (I tried varying the widths but that looked daft, and having different lengths just doesn't work vertically).
Graham Bartram, 8-AUG-1996

Flags are often hoisted vertically, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (including Italy, Austria and Germany). Flags with symbols on them can be hoisted vertically in two ways - either the symbol can be left in the position as if the flag was 'normal' (as is done with the Croatian flag), or it could be rotated, so that it remains in a horizontal position, even if the flag is rotated (a well known example is the flag of Liechenstein).

It should be pointed out that normally the vertically hoisted flag is displayed from the reverse, so that the side that is seen when horizontally hoisted comes to the observer's left. The flag is therefore not just rotated 90 degrees, but also flipped around. There are, of course exceptions, which will be noted.

I believe that most of the flags when hoisted vertically should be displayed on their reverse side (i.e., that the upper part of the flag comes to the observer's left). With bi- and tricolours, there is no problem. The problem arises with the flags that have some symbol on them - whether they should be displayed rotated together with the flags or not. Here are some that do not change the emblem, i.e., the flag is the same as if it would be for normal hoisting:
Zeljko Heimer, 7-AUG-1996

Flags known to have variants for vertical hanging

Country	Flag variant in vertical position	Contributor
Australia	Union Flag in canton rotates so that thick white stripe remains on top edge	Graham Bartram, 96-08-07
Austrian state flag, Austrian subdivisions	arms are rotated	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Bosnia & Herzegovina	both normal and rotated shields have been seen	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
British Virgin Islands	shield with virgin is rotated so that she remains upright	Graham Bartram, 96-08-07
Canada	flag is hung with reverse showing (i.e., maple leaf stalk on right)	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Czech Republic	the white stripe should be on the left side	Ales Brozek, 96-08-07
Dominica	flag is hung with reverse showing, but parrot retains original position	Graham Bartram, Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Germany, and its subdivisions	flags with arms have the arms rotated	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Hungary	state flag with arms has arms rotated	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Liechtenstein	crown rotates	Graham Bartram, 96-08-07
New Zealand	see Australia	Graham Bartram, 96-08-07
Poland	state flag with arms has arms rotated	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Portugal	I believe the arms do not rotate	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
Saudi Arabia	The reverse of the flag is seen, so the shahada must be reversed on it, so that it can still be read. The sword, however, is left in a reverse position.
South Africa	flag is hung with reverse showing (i.e., red stripe on left)	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
United Kingdom	flag is hung with obverse showing (i.e., it rotates 90 degrees)	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07
USA	The flag is hung with the reverse showing. If it is outdoors (e.g., on the street, or at a scout camp), the blue canton should always be on the north or east side, never the west or south. If the flag is hoisted vertically indoors, or in a place where it is obvious what is the 'right side' for the viewers (e.g., just behind an outdoor stage) the flag should be hoisted with the canton to the viewers' left.	Zeljko Heimer, 96-08-07; Al Fisher, 96-08-08