The pinwheel lay: four planks around a small square

Opus and multi-size · 5 min read · updated 5 November 2026 · Written by Tilelico

Four planks turn around a small square, and the design repeats from one module to the next. With two simple sizes, the floor gains a movement a straight lay does not have.

Real example · calculated by Tilelico

Dining room of 4.20 × 3.60 m, Pinwheel lay, 3 mm joint

WholeCutCut under 100 mmFixed unit

The module is small compared with the room and mixes planks with small squares: many edge cuts are narrow, and the plan flags them. This is the first thing to deal with, by shifting the grid or changing the module’s scale in the editor.

Calculated result

Room area: 15.12 m²
Area covered: 13.18 m²
Whole pieces: 140
Cut pieces: 98
Actual need: 238
To order (+10%): 263
Waste with no offcut reuse: 20.0 %
Narrow cuts: 60

Order by size

400 × 200 mm203
200 × 200 mm60

Most frequent cuts

98 cuts in 10 different sizes.

C01 · 299 × 197 mm× 14
C02 · 197 × 299 mm× 14
C03 · 197 × 99 mm× 14
C04 · 99 × 197 mm× 14

Setting out and products

Starting point 300 mm from the west wall and 300 mm from the north wall, then a 600 × 600 mm repeat. Estimated products: 46 kg of adhesive and 3.9 kg of grout.

Reproduce it in Tilelico

1Draw a 4.20 × 3.60 m rectangle, then add in the centre: Fixed unit.
2Choose the covering: Pinwheel lay, 3 mm joint.
3The module sets the pattern: there is nothing else to pick.
4Set the distribution to “Balanced cuts” and the margin to 10%.

Open this example in the editor

When to choose it

It suits entrances, dining rooms and floors where you want a visible pattern without moving to mitred pieces.

Best forA plank twice as long as it is wide, paired with a square of the same width, joint included.
Avoid ifYour two sizes are not modular: the joint would never land correctly.

Continue with: Alternating bands in 2 sizes: breaking regularity simply →

Preparing the job

Check that the plank length really is twice the square’s side. Names vary by manufacturer: “pinwheel” also refers to a large square surrounded by small ones.

Count planks and squares separately: they are not ordered in the same quantity.

Continue with: Roman opus in 3 sizes: a simple, economical band →

Step by step

Step 1 — Mark the axesTransfer the module pitch from the plan’s starting point and check the square.
Step 2 — Dry-lay a first modulePlace the square, then the four planks, always turning in the same direction.
Step 3 — Confirm the direction of rotationAssemble a second module beside it: a reversed plank shows from a distance.
Step 4 — Work module by moduleAdvance from the axis, without reversing the design.
Step 5 — Cut the edgesPrepare cuts from the sheet, reworking the grid if an edge remains too narrow.

Continue with: Roman opus in 4 sizes: laying a module within a square of three →

Mistakes to avoid

Changing rotation part way throughThe pattern breaks along a whole line and can only be fixed by lifting tiles.
Ordering by overall areaIt does not tell you how many planks and squares you need: order size by size.

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

Can this pattern use a single size?

No: the central square is part of the design. Without it, you are back to basket weave or herringbone.

Can I choose other dimensions?

Yes. The pattern is a proportion: in the editor, the side of the square sets the scale of the whole module.

Technical references

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