Flag Precedence & UN Order (Printable Guide)

U.S. Flag Precedence (Domestic Displays)

1. U.S. Flag (position of honor)
2. State Flags (host state first, then others A–Z by state name)
3. Territories (e.g., PR, GU, VI, AS, MP)
4. County / Municipality
5. Institutional / Organizational (schools, agencies, companies)
6. Personal / Ceremonial (e.g., unit guidons)

Rule of honor: The U.S. flag is at its own right (the flag’s right-hand side). From the audience view, that is typically the left end of a straight line, or the center of a semicircle.

U.S. Armed Services Order (Flag/Color Guard)

1. United States Army
2. United States Marine Corps
3. United States Navy
4. United States Air Force
5. United States Space Force
6. United States Coast Guard (moves ahead of Navy only when operating as part of the Department of the Navy in wartime)

POW/MIA: When flown on the same halyard as the U.S. flag, POW/MIA is directly below the U.S. flag. In a line of multiple poles, place POW/MIA next in precedence after the U.S. flag.

UN Order (Alphabetical, Equal Status)

For UN-style arrangements (e.g., academic/international events), member-state flags are displayed in English alphabetical order, all at equal height/size. There is no “superior” position. If including non-member observers (e.g., Holy See, State of Palestine) or supranationals (e.g., European Union), place them after member states per event protocol.

If the event is hosted in the U.S., you may still position the U.S. flag separately at a podium (speaker’s right/audience left) while keeping the line of nations strictly alphabetical and equal.

Podiums, Rooms & Processions

• Podium (U.S.): U.S. flag at the speaker’s right (audience left). State/other flags at the speaker’s left.
• Crossed staffs: U.S. staff in front, to its own right. Staffs should not be truly “crossed” at the finial.
• Procession: U.S. flag on the marching right; if in a row, centered front.
• Same halyard: U.S. flag always at the peak, except at half-staff (raise fully, then lower).
• Multiple poles: U.S. flag on the rightmost pole from the flags’ perspective (audience left) or centered higher if a dedicated central pole exists.

Half-Staff & Illumination

• Half-staff: Raise briskly to the peak, then lower to half-staff; retire by raising to the peak before lowering.
• Night display: If flown after dark, the U.S. flag should be properly illuminated.
• Weather: Use all-weather flags outdoors; in severe weather, consider temporary removal to preserve the flag.

Quick Examples

1) U.S., State, City (3 poles)

Audience view, left → right: U.S. — State — City

2) U.S. with Other Nations (5 poles, straight line)

Left → right: U.S. — Argentina — Australia — Canada — Japan
(Foreign flags in English alphabetical order; all equal height/size.)

3) Semicircle of Nations

U.S. centered on the arc; foreign flags arrayed left/right in alphabetical order.