Flying the American flag at half-staff: rules, dates, and etiquette

By Patriot Merch editors · Updated October 25, 2026

Flying the American flag at half-staff is a sign of national or state mourning governed by 4 U.S.C. § 7(m). To place a flag at half-staff, hoist it briskly to the peak for an instant, then lower it halfway down the staff, and raise it to the peak again before lowering at sunset. The President, state and territorial governors, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and federal agency heads for their own facilities may order half-staff display.

American flag flying at half-staff on a tall white flagpole against a clear morning sky

Flying the American flag at half-staff: rules, dates, and etiquette tool

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What flying the flag at half-staff means

When you drive past a post office, firehouse, or town green and see the Stars and Stripes flying halfway down the pole, the community is marking a death or a solemn national anniversary. In our American flag history and etiquette hub, one of the most frequent questions readers ask is why the flag is lowered on a given day and what rules apply to a flagpole at home.

The custom of lowering a flag to show mourning dates back centuries to maritime warfare and naval ceremony, when a vessel lowered its colors to leave space above for the invisible flag of death. In the United States, those rules were standardized initially by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Proclamation 3044 on March 1, 1954, and later written directly into the United States Flag Code at 4 U.S.C. § 7(m).

According to 4 U.S.C. § 7(m), the term “half-staff” means “the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff.” On shorter poles where dropping the flag to the exact midpoint would cause the bottom stripe to brush a shrub, roof, or porch rail, the flag is positioned clear of the obstruction while remaining visibly below the peak.

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How to raise and lower the flag to half-staff

Proper flag etiquette calls for two distinct movements whenever you place a flag at half-staff or take it down for the evening. You never clip the flag onto the halyard, pull it halfway up the pole, and tie it off directly.

Hoist the flag briskly to the peak first. Attach the flag to the halyard and raise it all the way to the top of the flagpole for an instant.
Lower the flag ceremoniously to half-staff. Slowly bring the flag down to the midpoint between the top and bottom of the pole, then secure the halyard to the cleat.
Raise the flag back to the peak before lowering at sunset. At the end of the day, untie the halyard and hoist the flag all the way to the top of the staff again for an instant before lowering it slowly into your arms.
Fold the flag for storage. Once unclipped from the halyard, keep the cloth clear of the ground and use the traditional 13-fold triangle method to put it away.

What if other flags fly on the same pole or nearby?

Under 4 U.S.C. § 7(c) and § 7(f), no other flag or pennant should be placed above the flag of the United States or to its right. That rule creates an important sequence when a state flag, municipal flag, or POW/MIA flag flies alongside the national colors:

Same halyard: When a state or POW/MIA flag flies directly beneath the U.S. flag on the same rope, both flags rise to the peak together and drop to the half-staff position together. If the pole is not tall enough to hold both flags at half-staff without the lower flag touching the ground or bushes, remove the lower flag so the U.S. flag can fly at half-staff alone.
Adjacent flagpoles: When the U.S. flag and state or organizational flags fly on separate poles in a group, the U.S. flag should be hoisted to the peak first and lowered last. Because no flag should be placed higher than the U.S. flag, any adjacent state, city, or company flags should also be lowered to half-staff (or removed temporarily) whenever the U.S. flag is at half-staff.

Who can order the flag to half-staff?

Under 4 U.S.C. § 7(m), Congress designated three categories of executives who hold the legal authority to order the U.S. flag to half-staff on government buildings and grounds:

The President of the United States: Issues national proclamations directing that the flag be flown at half-staff on all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide upon the death of principal federal figures, foreign dignitaries, or after national tragedies.
The Governor of any State, Territory, or Possession: Authorized by Congress (including under the 2007 Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act and the 2018 Honoring Hometown Heroes Act) to proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of a present or former official of that government, a member of the Armed Forces from that jurisdiction who dies while serving on active duty, or a first responder working in that jurisdiction who dies while serving in the line of duty. When a governor proclaims half-staff because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, all federal installations and facilities within that area are also required to fly the flag at half-staff.
The Mayor of the District of Columbia: Holds the same authority within the District of Columbia upon the death of a current or former District official, a member of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia who dies on active duty, or a first responder working in the District of Columbia who dies in the line of duty.
Heads of Federal Departments and Agencies (under Proclamation 3044): Section 5 of Presidential Proclamation 3044 also authorizes the heads of the several departments and agencies of the federal government to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction on occasions they consider proper.

Local mayors, county commissioners, school superintendents, and private business owners cannot issue official proclamations for the U.S. flag on federal facilities, though they may lower their own municipal or organizational flags. Because the Flag Code carries no penalties for private citizens, homeowners and businesses follow presidential and gubernatorial proclamations voluntarily out of respect.

Mourning periods in 4 U.S.C. § 7(m)

Beyond sudden proclamations, 4 U.S.C. § 7(m) and Proclamation 3044 set specific durations of mourning when national leaders pass away:

30 days from the day of death: For the President or a former President of the United States.
10 days from the day of death: For the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
From the day of death until interment: For an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department (a member of the Cabinet), a former Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate, or the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Governor of a State, territory, or possession (within that jurisdiction under Proclamation 3044).
The day of death and the following day: For a Member of Congress (a United States Senator, a Representative, a Territorial Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, and from the day of death until interment on federal facilities in the Member’s own state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth under Proclamation 3044.

Scheduled calendar days for flying the flag at half-staff

Even when no special proclamation has been issued for the passing of an official, Title 4 and Title 36 of the United States Code establish standing annual dates on which the flag is flown at half-staff across the country:

Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15): Established in 4 U.S.C. § 7(m) and 36 U.S.C. § 136. The flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in honor of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty, unless May 15 happens to fall on the third Saturday in May (Armed Forces Day), in which case it flies at full staff.
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May): Governed by 4 U.S.C. § 6(d) and § 7(m). On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the peak from noon until sunset.
Patriot Day (September 11): Codified in 36 U.S.C. § 144. The flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in memory of the individuals who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7): Codified in 36 U.S.C. § 129. Federal agencies and citizens are directed to fly the flag at half-staff all day to honor the service members and civilians killed in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Note that while 36 U.S.C. § 127 originally requested half-staff display on National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27) “each year until 2003,” that temporary half-staff provision expired in 2003, and the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-41) added July 27 to 4 U.S.C. § 6(d) as a regular full-staff display day. Likewise, on Veterans Day (November 11), Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day (July 4), Presidents’ Day, and Constitution Day, the flag is flown at full staff all day unless a coincidental mourning proclamation is in effect. While Memorial Day remembers those who died in uniform, Veterans Day thanks all who served honorable military terms, which is why the flag stays at the peak on November 11.

Half-staff vs. half-mast: why the two terms exist

In everyday conversation, many Americans say “half-mast” when pointing to a flag outside a courthouse or elementary school. Technically, the two phrases reflect the divide between land and sea:

Half-staff is the statutory term used throughout the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 7) and by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Department of Veterans Affairs, and civilian agencies for any flagpole anchored in the ground or attached to a building.
Half-mast is the traditional maritime term used by the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and merchant vessels. Because ships carry masts rather than staffs—and because shore-based U.S. Naval stations are commissioned and run like ships in naval tradition—Navy regulations use “half-mast” both afloat and ashore.

If you are talking about a flagpole in your front yard or at your local post office, “half-staff” is the exact term used in federal law.

How to handle a fixed porch pole and respectful attire

Millions of households display a 3-by-5-foot flag from a five-foot pole mounted at a 45-degree angle on a porch column or garage frame. Because the flag is clipped to rotating rings at the top of the pole, sliding the flag halfway down the shaft is impractical and leaves the fly dragging against the railing.

While the U.S. Flag Code in 4 U.S.C. § 7(m) does not specify a procedure for fixed wall-mounted poles that cannot be lowered, The American Legion defines half-staff broadly as lowering the flag some distance (not necessarily halfway down) from the top of the staff as a sign of mourning, and some homeowners attach a black mourning ribbon or streamer near the top of a fixed pole when the flag itself cannot be repositioned.

Finally, visitors attending memorial services on half-staff days sometimes ask whether wearing flag-themed clothing complies with the Flag Code. Under 4 U.S.C. § 8(d) and § 8(j), an actual flag should never be cut or draped into wearing apparel, bedding, drapery, or an athletic uniform. Those provisions apply to physical flags rather than printed or embroidered apparel. For solemn observances like Memorial Day or Patriot Day, understated American flag shirts or classic embroidered flag hats worn neatly are a common and respectful choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between half-staff and half-mast?

Both terms describe flying a flag below its peak in mourning, but their use depends on location. The U.S. Flag Code and the Department of Veterans Affairs use 'half-staff' for flags flown on land-based flagpoles. The U.S. Navy and maritime custom use 'half-mast' for flags flown aboard ships at sea and at naval stations ashore.

Who has the authority to order the U.S. flag to half-staff?

Under 4 U.S.C. § 7(m), the President of the United States, the governor of a state, territory, or possession, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia have statutory authority to proclaim that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff. In addition, Section 5 of Presidential Proclamation 3044 authorizes the heads of federal departments and agencies to direct half-staff display on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction. Private citizens and businesses follow these orders voluntarily.

How do you fly a wall-mounted porch flag at half-staff?

Most residential porch flags hang from a fixed-angle wooden or aluminum pole where the flag cannot be slid halfway down the staff without dragging against a porch rail or bush. While the U.S. Flag Code in 4 U.S.C. § 7(m) does not prescribe a special method for fixed wall poles, some homeowners attach a black mourning ribbon or streamer near the top of the pole when a flag cannot be lowered.

Why is the flag only at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day?

Under 4 U.S.C. § 6(d) and § 7(m), and as summarized by the Department of Veterans Affairs, on Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, and then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset in honor of the nation's battle heroes. This half-day mourning schedule is unique to Memorial Day among federal holidays.

Can a flag be left at half-staff overnight?

Yes, under the same condition that applies to any nighttime flag display in 4 U.S.C. § 6(a): the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if it is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. If your flagpole does not have a dedicated light, raise the flag to the peak and lower it at sunset.

Is it against the Flag Code to wear a flag shirt on solemn days?

No. While 4 U.S.C. § 8(d) and § 8(j) state that the flag should never be used as wearing apparel or an athletic costume, those rules apply to cutting or sewing a physical flag into clothing. Wearing a clean shirt or hat bearing a flag graphic is a respectful way to observe national days of remembrance.