Herringbone or chevron: how to tell them apart, and what a patterned floor asks of you
Two zigzags that people mix up all the time. What makes each one, why a patterned floor takes longer, and which rooms it flatters.
By the Ajusteur team2 minute read
What is the difference?
Look at where two blocks meet. In herringbone the blocks are rectangles. The wood is not cut at an angle, so the pieces do not come to a sharp point and the zigzag is broken. In chevron each piece is cut at an angle and fitted to form a true point, so the zigzag runs on without a break. That angle is what makes a floor chevron.
HerringboneShort boards meeting at right angles, in a zigzag.
Wide planks, laid straightBoards of mixed lengths with staggered ends, in a darker tone.
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Source: The Solid Wood Flooring Company: The difference between herringbone and chevron parquet flooring
Why does a patterned floor take longer?
A straight floor starts at one wall and runs. A patterned floor starts from a centre line, because the eye catches a zigzag that drifts off square. Every block at every wall is cut to fit, and the offcuts are small, so more of the material ends up as waste than with straight planks. That is why herringbone is priced above the same floor laid straight, and why your quote lists the allowance for cuts.
Which rooms does it suit?
Pattern loves a room where you can see it: a living room, a hallway, an entrance. In a small bedroom full of furniture, most of it hides under the bed. A common choice is herringbone in the rooms guests see and the same floor laid straight in the bedrooms, joined at the doorways.
Can a click floor be laid in herringbone?
Yes. Click planks made for herringbone come in shorter lengths, and lock together the same way as straight planks. They float over your tiles in the same way too, so the same checks apply. Here is what your tiles need to pass first.
Tell us the rooms and we bring herringbone samples to your home, so you can lay a few blocks out on your own floor before deciding. See our floors.
Quick questions
Which is more traditional, herringbone or chevron?
Both are old parquet patterns. Herringbone is the one with plain rectangular blocks and a stepped zigzag. Chevron has angled ends and a continuous V.
Does herringbone cost more than a straight floor?
Yes. There are more cuts, more time and more offcuts. Your quote shows the difference on its own line.