Iceland Flag

Description

The Iceland flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Iceland Flag

A red cross bordered in white sits off-centre on a blue field on the Iceland flag, following the Nordic cross pattern shared with Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The off-centre placement, with the cross shifted toward the hoist, is standard across all the Nordic flags and makes the design instantly recognisable when flying alongside its regional neighbours.

Colours and Symbolism

The blue is generally understood to represent Iceland’s mountains and the sea that surrounds the island, white stands for the ice and snow covering its glaciers and highlands, and red recalls the volcanic fire that has shaped the landscape for millennia. Together the three colours capture the natural forces most associated with Iceland, from its coastline to its active volcanoes.

History of the Iceland Flag

Before the current design, Icelanders had used an unofficial blue-and-white flag with a plain white cross from the late 1890s, a symbol tied to the growing movement for self-government. A red cross was added within the white one in the early twentieth century, partly to distinguish the Icelandic flag from similar Nordic designs, and King Christján X approved this version for use in Icelandic waters by decree on 19 June 1915. It became Iceland’s official national flag in 1918, when the country gained sovereignty while remaining in personal union with the Danish crown, and its use was formally set out in law when Iceland became a fully independent republic on 17 June 1944. That date is still marked as Iceland’s national day, and the flag law passed then continues to govern the proportions and use of the Iceland flag today.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

Icelandic law sets out specific flag days through the year, including the national holiday in June, and public buildings are expected to fly the flag on these dates. Private households are also free to fly it, and it is a common sight outside homes on birthdays and other family occasions, not only on official holidays. As with other Nordic cross flags, it should always be hoisted with the cross upright and the shorter arm toward the hoist.

Iceland Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Iceland flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Order Lead Times

Almost everything we make is freshly printed and made to order, just for you! So please allow 3–5 working days for us to prepare your order before it heads out the door. We’ll always try to get it to you sooner where we can. Some fast movers, like South African flags, ship quicker as they’re often in stock.

One quick thing to keep in mind: the “next working day” you see on your order confirmation is the courier’s delivery time from the day we dispatch — not from the day you place your order. So it’s really 3–5 days to prepare + next-day delivery.

Good things are worth the wait — we’re excited to get your order into your hands.

Additional information