Chevron vs
Herringbone Flooring

Both patterns are timeless. Both suit period and contemporary interiors. The differences are real, and the choice matters — to the look of the room, the cost of the installation, and the amount of material you will need. Here is an honest comparison from a team that installs both every week.

Short answer: Herringbone uses rectangular blocks with square ends laid at right angles, creating a staggered zigzag. Chevron uses blocks with angled ends that meet in a continuous V. Herringbone suits period and modern rooms alike; chevron is more formal and directional, and costs more to lay because of extra cutting and waste. Updated October 2026 by the LIGNORA flooring team

Visual DifferenceInstallation CostRoom SuitabilityMaterial Waste

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The Visual Difference

What You Actually
See

Herringbone

Rectangular blocks laid at 90° to each other — one horizontal, the next vertical. The joint between each block lands at the midpoint of its neighbour. The result is a zigzag that reads as movement when you look along the room's length.

The pattern has directionality — it pulls the eye along its axis. Laid lengthways in a hallway, it draws you forward. Laid diagonally in a large room, it centres the space. The angle of the diagonal (usually 45°) is set at the outset and determines how the pattern reads from the room's entrance.

Herringbone is forgiving of rooms that are not perfectly square. Because each block is independent, the pattern adjusts at walls and transitions without the precision cuts that chevron demands.

Original Victorian Pattern • More Forgiving to Install

Chevron

Blocks are cut at 45° so their ends meet in a continuous V-point. Unlike herringbone — where block ends are square — chevron blocks are parallelograms. The joint runs straight across the floor, creating a clean, unbroken arrow that points in one direction.

The result is sharper and more geometric than herringbone. Where herringbone reads as warm and characterful, chevron reads as precise and architectural. It suits rooms with strong visual lines — large open-plan spaces, double-height entrance halls, formal reception rooms.

The continuous V-joint means any misalignment is immediately visible. Chevron demands a flatter subfloor, more precise installation, and more waste at the edges than herringbone.

More Geometric • Requires More Precision

Side by Side

Four Factors That
Determine the Choice

Installation Cost

Chevron costs more to install. The angled cuts at every block edge produce more waste — typically 10–15% more material than herringbone in the same room. The installation is also more labour-intensive, adding to the overall cost.

In most rooms chevron costs a little more than herringbone in material and labour. We can quote both so you can compare side by side.

Herringbone: Lower Cost

Room Size

Both patterns work in rooms of any size — but the block size matters more than the pattern type. A 90×450mm herringbone block in a small room (under 20m²) can feel fussy. The same room in a 70×280mm block reads more comfortably.

We advise on block size as part of the consultation — the right block for the room is more important than which pattern you choose.

Both: Scale to Block Size

Property Type

Herringbone is the historically correct pattern for Victorian and Edwardian properties — original parquet floors from this period are almost always herringbone. It suits period proportions and traditional interiors without appearing to try.

Chevron reads as a deliberate contemporary choice — it was not the standard domestic floor pattern before the 20th century. In a Georgian townhouse, it can look slightly forced. In a 2010s new build, it looks exactly right.

Herringbone: Period • Chevron: Contemporary

Subfloor Demands

Both patterns require a flatter subfloor than straight-lay boards — typically no more than 3mm deviation over 1800mm. Chevron is less tolerant of any variation because its continuous V-joint makes irregularities immediately visible.

We assess and prepare the subfloor before any patterned installation. In older properties where the subfloor has significant variation, herringbone is often the more practical answer.

Chevron: Higher Tolerance Required

Our View

What We Recommend
& When

We install both patterns every week and have no preference between them — the right answer depends entirely on the room and the client's brief. That said, there are clear patterns in what tends to work.

Herringbone is usually the stronger choice for: period properties (Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian); rooms where warmth and character matter more than geometric precision; projects where budget is a consideration; kitchens and hallways where a more relaxed pattern reads better than a formal one.

Chevron tends to work better for: contemporary and new-build properties; large open-plan spaces where a clear directional line organises the room; formal reception rooms and entrance halls where precision is part of the brief; clients who have seen chevron in a specific reference and know that is what they want.

The honest answer is: come and see samples of both in your property under your actual light, with your furniture. That is the only test that matters.

Relevant Pages

Herringbone or Chevron,
Answered

The questions we are asked most often.

Ask Us Anything →

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron flooring?

Herringbone uses rectangular blocks laid at 90 degrees to each other, creating a zigzag pattern where block ends are square. Chevron uses blocks cut at 45 degrees so their ends meet in a continuous V-point, creating a sharper, more geometric arrow pattern.

Which is more expensive — herringbone or chevron?

Chevron costs more to install. The angled cuts at every block edge produce 10–15% more material waste than herringbone in the same room, and the installation is more labour-intensive.

Which flooring pattern suits a period property?

Herringbone is the historically correct pattern for Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian properties — original parquet floors from these periods are almost always herringbone. Chevron reads as a contemporary choice and can look slightly out of place in older period homes.

Can herringbone and chevron be installed on underfloor heating?

Yes. Both patterns are available in engineered oak formats that are fully compatible with all underfloor heating systems. The key requirement is using the correct adhesive specification for the UFH system present.