How big should the stars be on a wood American flag?

Each star's diameter is 0.0616 of the flag's height, measured point to point. On a 3-foot flag about 19 inches tall, that's roughly 1.17-inch stars. On a 5-foot flag about 32 inches tall, about 1.95-inch stars.

From the Garage

Wood Flag Star Size: How Big Should the Stars Be?

Q: How is star size measured?

Point to point — the diameter of the circle the star fits inside, from one outer point straight across to the opposite point, not the width of a single arm.

Q: Do all 50 stars need to be the same size?

Yes. All 50 stars are identical in size. The simplest way to guarantee that is a single correctly-sized stencil used at every position, or a full-size template with all 50 already drawn.

Q: What size star stencil do I need?

Match the stencil to 0.0616 of your flag's height. Off-the-shelf stencils come in fixed sizes that rarely match an odd flag exactly, so for a custom size most builders use a template drawn to their flag.

By Jonathan Averett · American Wood Flags · Trussville, Alabama

Close-up showing the size of the stars on a handcrafted wood American flag

Star size is one of those things that looks like a judgment call and isn't. There's an exact ratio, the same one on every American flag, and once you know it you never have to guess again.

The One Number

Each star's diameter — measured point to point — is 0.0616 of the flag's height. That's it. Height, not width: the star is tied to how tall the flag is, because the blue field's height is set by the stripes.

So for a flag that's 19 inches tall: 0.0616 × 19 = about a 1.17-inch star. For one 32 inches tall: about a 1.97-inch star. Same formula, any size.

Star-Size Chart

Here are the common wood-flag sizes worked out. "Height" is the flag's short dimension; if you only know the width, height is roughly width ÷ 1.9.

Flag width	Approx. height	Star size (point to point)
17" (tabletop)	~9"	~0.55"
24" (2-foot)	~12.6"	~0.78"
36" (3-foot)	~19"	~1.17"
48" (4-foot)	~25"	~1.56"
60" (5-foot)	~31.6"	~1.95"
72" (6-foot)	~38"	~2.33"

Measure point to point. Star size means the diameter of the circle the star fits inside — one outer tip straight across to the opposite tip — not the width of a single arm. Off-the-shelf stencils are usually labeled this way too.

Building a size that isn't standard? Type in your flag's width and height and my free tool draws a printable, true-size 50-star template (PDF, SVG, or DXF). Get the free star template for any size →

Why It Matters

Stars that are a hair too big crowd each other and lose the crisp spacing. Too small and the blue field looks empty and cheap. Worse, if you eyeball each star freehand they end up slightly different sizes, and the whole field looks off even when you can't say why. Consistency is the thing your eye rewards — all 50 the same size, evenly spaced.

The Simplest Way to Get It Right

Rather than hunt for a stencil that happens to match your flag, get the whole field drawn to your exact size — every star already the right size and in the right spot.

See Your Star Field — Free

Enter your flag size and see the exact 50-star layout, sized right, before you pay a dime. The full-size template is $25, and if it's ever not right I fix it or refund it.

Size My Stars →

For the full layout and spacing (not just the size), see how to space the 50 stars. Building a standard 3-ft or 17-inch flag? The $12 SVG cut-file pack has those stars sized and ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big should the stars be on a wood flag?

0.0616 of the flag's height, point to point. A 3-foot flag (~19" tall) uses ~1.17" stars; a 5-foot flag (~32" tall) uses ~1.95" stars.

How is star size measured?

Point to point — from one outer tip straight across to the opposite tip. That's the diameter of the circle the star sits inside, not the width of a single arm.

Do all 50 stars need to be the same size?

Yes — all identical. The easiest way to guarantee it is one correctly-sized stencil at every spot, or a full-size template with all 50 already drawn.

What size star stencil do I need?

Match it to 0.0616 of your flag's height. Off-the-shelf stencils come in fixed sizes that rarely match an odd flag, so for a custom size most builders use a template drawn to their exact flag.

Keep Building

More free guides and tools in the Build Shop, including wood flag dimensions, how to build a wood American flag, and the free build plan. Rather have one built by hand? See the handcrafted flags.