Herringbone tile laying: the complete tutorial

Herringbone and chevron · 7 min read · updated 5 November 2026 · Written by Tilelico

Pieces are laid at right angles in pairs, forming a continuous zigzag. Here the pattern is built straight, with planks staying parallel to the walls.

Real example · calculated by Tilelico

Dining room of 4.90 × 4.20 m, 15 × 60 cm, 2 mm joint

WholeCutCut under 100 mmFixed unit

Many planks stay whole, which limits waste despite a sophisticated pattern. Cuts are very varied, though, and several are narrow along the walls and the unit: shifting the grid may improve them, which is easy to test in the editor.

Calculated result

Room area: 20.58 m²
Area covered: 18.08 m²
Whole pieces: 148
Cut pieces: 98
Actual need: 246
To order (+12%): 276
Waste with no offcut reuse: 18.4 %
Narrow cuts: 19

Most frequent cuts

98 cuts in 75 different sizes.

C01 · 600 × 150 mm× 2
C02 · 150 × 600 mm× 2
C03 · 150 × 591 mm× 2
C04 · 150 × 585 mm× 2

Setting out and products

Starting point 18 mm from the west wall and 294 mm from the north wall, then a 152 × 602 mm repeat. Estimated products: 63 kg of adhesive and 3.9 kg of grout.

Reproduce it in Tilelico

1Draw a 4.90 × 4.20 m rectangle, then add in the centre: Fixed unit.
2Choose the covering: 15 × 60 cm, 2 mm joint.
3Select the “Herringbone” pattern.
4Set the distribution to “Centring” and the margin to 12%.

Open this example in the editor

When to choose it

It makes a strong decorative statement and suits clearly elongated sizes. On a square, the pattern disappears, so Tilelico only offers it on elongated sizes.

Best forSlim planks, such as 15 × 60 or 10 × 60, living spaces and wood-inspired looks.
Avoid ifYou want a fast job: laying is slow and every edge needs accurate cuts.

Continue with: 45° herringbone: the classic French presentation →

Preparing the job

Check the substrate’s flatness: with small planks in two directions, a defect soon shows.

Check the size tolerance of your planks: a dimensional difference repeats with each turn of the pattern.

Continue with: 45° chevron: the laying tutorial →

Step by step

Step 1 — Mark the pattern axisTransfer the reference line from the plan and check the square with a second line.
Step 2 — Build the first LLay one plank flat, then the upright plank at its end, on a square or jig.
Step 3 — Grow the patternAdd planks in a staircase, regularly checking the line of points.
Step 4 — Check the jointsIn this pattern, error accumulates diagonally: check several planks with a straightedge.
Step 5 — Finish the edgesAlmost every cut is unique: measure them in place, helped by the cut list.

Continue with: Laying wood-effect tile: offset, joint and direction →

Mistakes to avoid

Starting without a jigThe first planks decide everything: a square error becomes a crooked pattern at the far end.
Assuming a big allowance is always neededThe need depends on the size and the room: calculate it rather than applying a general figure.

These pointers describe common practice, not imposed rules. The data sheet for your covering and for your installation products always takes precedence, and measurements taken on site are the reference.

Frequently asked questions

Must the length be a multiple of the width?

Not for the pattern to close: it tiles the plane for any elongated size. But proportions noticeably change the look.

How does it differ from chevron?

Herringbone uses rectangles butted at right angles. Chevron uses mitred pieces that meet along a line.

Technical references

This guide describes common installation practices. It does not replace applicable technical documents, manufacturer instructions or measurements taken on site.