Quick answer
Choose herringbone if you want a classic, textured pattern that is a little more forgiving to install and usually a little cheaper. Choose chevron if you want a cleaner, more directional V that reads as more formal or contemporary, and you are happy to pay for careful set-out. Both are parquet patterns made from the same timber, and in solid oak both last for decades and can be re-sanded.
Herringbone is a parquet pattern in which rectangular blocks with square ends are laid at 90° to each other, so the end of each block meets the side of the next. Chevron is a parquet pattern in which the block ends are cut at an angle (commonly 45°), so the blocks meet point to point and form a continuous zigzag.
Herringbone vs chevron at a glance
| Herringbone | Chevron | |
|---|---|---|
| Block shape | Rectangle, square ends | Parallelogram, angled ends |
| How blocks meet | End of one block against the side of the next | Tip to tip along a straight centre line |
| Look | Staggered, textured, "woven" zigzag | Clean, continuous V or arrow |
| Direction | Directional, but softer | Strongly directional |
| Blocks needed | Left and right (A and B) blocks | Left and right (A and B) blocks |
| Set-out tolerance | More forgiving | Less forgiving – the points must line up |
| Supply cost | Benchmark: raw solid oak about $94.99/m² incl. GST retail | Often similar or a little higher (angled machining) |
| Labour | About $60–$100/m², $90–$120+/m² complex | Usually at the higher end of the same range |
| Best for | Period homes, living areas, bedrooms, irregular rooms | Hallways, long open-plan spaces, formal and contemporary rooms |
| Timbo range | Solid oak, 18mm: 710 × 123mm and 820 × 123mm | Solid oak, 18mm, continuous V |
How they look
Herringbone looks busier and more textured; chevron looks calmer and more graphic. Because herringbone blocks overlap at their ends, the zigzag has a stepped edge and the floor reads as a woven surface. Chevron's points line up exactly, so you see bold, uninterrupted V-shaped stripes.
Light plays a big part in both. In oak, each run of blocks catches the light differently because the grain changes direction, so a natural or pale finish shows the pattern clearly even without any colour contrast. That is one reason Prime grade oak – with its calm, even grain – is the usual choice for pattern floors: the pattern becomes the feature rather than knots and colour variation. Our guide to oak flooring grades explains the difference.
Block size changes the effect too. Timbo's herringbone comes in 710 × 123 × 18mm (standard) and 820 × 123 × 18mm (large); longer blocks give a bolder zigzag that suits big open-plan rooms. Timbo's chevron comes in the same two sizes: 710 × 123 × 18mm and 820 × 123 × 18mm.
Hardness and durability
There is no difference in hardness or durability between the two patterns when the timber is the same. Both are judged by the species, the finish and the wear layer, not by the shape of the block. European oak sits around 4.2–6.1 kN on the Janka scale (PFC, Flooring Expert) – softer than spotted gum or blackbutt, which is why the finish matters more than the pattern. See the Janka hardness chart.
Solid 18mm parquet of either pattern can be sanded back and recoated several times over its life. Engineered parquet can usually be sanded fewer times, depending on its top layer – see solid vs engineered herringbone.
Stability
Pattern floors are, if anything, more stable than wide boards. Each block is relatively narrow and short, and the blocks run in two directions, so seasonal movement is spread across many joints instead of accumulating across the width of a room. That applies equally to herringbone and chevron. What matters is that the timber is at the right moisture content for the site – Australian interiors typically sit at 8–14% equilibrium moisture content, and flooring should be installed within about ±2% of its in-service level (WoodSolutions). See acclimatising oak flooring.
Cost
Herringbone is usually the cheaper of the two to install, and supply costs are similar; chevron tends to sit at the upper end of each range. Indicative Australian figures (incl. GST):
| Cost item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Raw solid French oak herringbone 710 × 126 × 18mm, supply | $94.99/m² retail | SET Timber Supplies |
| Engineered oak herringbone, supply | about $79–$160/m² | Skov, Imperial |
| Engineered oak herringbone, installed | about $160–$320/m² | Artafloor, Artistic Wood Floor |
| Herringbone labour only | $60–$100/m² standard; $90–$120+/m² complex | The Flooring Guys |
| Sanding and coating (raw blocks) | $30–$70/m² | WhatsTheDamage |
Why chevron can cost more: the angled ends take extra machining, and the installer has to keep every point on a dead-straight line across the room, which takes more time at set-out and at the borders. Ask for quotes that separate supply, labour, sanding and coating, borders and waste. For a full breakdown see the herringbone flooring cost guide.
Installation
Both are skilled, glue-down installations; chevron leaves less room for error. A herringbone installer snaps a centre line and builds the pattern off it, and small deviations are absorbed in the stepped pattern. In chevron, any drift shows immediately because the points no longer meet on the line. Both need:
- A flat, dry substrate – for slabs, flat within about 3mm over 3m with a moisture barrier or moisture-barrier adhesive (Bowens).
- A planned set-out, usually centred on the main line of sight, with even cuts at both walls.
- A waste allowance above straight floorboards. Plan this with your installer – see herringbone layout and waste.
- Expansion gaps at walls and fixed objects, as the adhesive and flooring manufacturers specify.
Maintenance
Maintenance is identical: sweep or vacuum, damp-mop with a timber-safe cleaner, use felt pads, and recoat when the finish wears. Oil finishes can be spot-repaired; polyurethane gives a harder film but repairs usually mean recoating a whole area. When it is time to re-sand, both patterns need an experienced sander because the grain runs in two directions. See oak floor care and maintenance.
Sustainability and provenance
The pattern makes no difference to sustainability; the timber's source and certification do. Ask any supplier for evidence of legal harvest and, where needed, FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody certificates. Australian importers must run a due-diligence system under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (DAFF). For Timbo's current documentation, ask Timbo.
Which suits which room?
| Room or situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Long hallway or corridor | Chevron | The V points along the space |
| Period home, terrace or villa | Herringbone | The traditional look, forgiving of old, out-of-square walls |
| Large open-plan living | Either – consider 820mm herringbone or chevron | Bigger blocks and bold direction suit big spaces |
| Small bedroom or study | Herringbone | Texture without a dominant arrow |
| Formal dining, entry or boutique retail | Chevron | Crisp, graphic and formal |
| Over underfloor heating | Either, with care | Pattern is irrelevant; keep the floor surface to about 27°C with a floor sensor (Solid Wood Flooring Co) |
Climate affects both patterns the same way. In humid regions such as Brisbane, or in NZ homes on new slabs, the moisture checks before installation matter more than the pattern.
Which should you choose?
- You want timeless and slightly more budget-friendly: herringbone, 710mm.
- You have a big open-plan space and want impact: 820mm herringbone or chevron.
- You want a calm, modern, directional look, or a hallway that leads somewhere: chevron.
- Your walls are out of square (common in older homes): herringbone hides it more easily.
- You can't decide: order samples of both and lay them out in the room. Homeowners can get samples through a Timbo partner; trade customers can request free samples.
Timbo is a trade supplier of Prime grade European solid oak herringbone and chevron parquet. Homeowners buy and install through a partner; flooring businesses can become a Timbo partner.
Sources
- SET Timber Supplies – raw herringbone French oak 710×126×18mm
- Skov – herringbone flooring prices Australia
- Imperial Flooring – herringbone flooring cost guide 2026
- Artafloor – engineered timber herringbone cost
- Artistic Wood Floor – timber flooring cost Melbourne 2026
- The Flooring Guys – herringbone flooring cost in Australia
- WhatsTheDamage – timber floor sanding cost
- PFC – Janka rating and Flooring Expert – European oak vs Australian hardwood
- WoodSolutions – moisture guide
- Bowens – hardwood timber flooring
- The Solid Wood Flooring Company – underfloor heating
- DAFF – illegal logging
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between herringbone and chevron flooring?
The block ends. Herringbone blocks are rectangles with square ends, so each block butts into the side of its neighbour and the zigzag looks staggered. Chevron blocks have their ends cut at an angle, so the blocks meet tip to tip and form a continuous V or arrow.
Is chevron more expensive than herringbone?
Often a little, but not always. Chevron blocks need angled end-machining, and the set-out is less forgiving, so both supply and labour can sit at the higher end of the herringbone range. Compare like-for-like quotes – same species, grade, thickness and finish.
Which pattern makes a room look bigger?
Both can lengthen a room when the pattern runs along its longest dimension. Chevron's continuous arrow is the more directional of the two, so it pulls the eye more strongly; herringbone has more texture and movement, which can make a large room feel richer rather than longer.
Is chevron or herringbone better for a hallway?
Chevron is a natural fit for hallways and long corridors because the V points along the space. Herringbone also works well in hallways and hides slightly out-of-square walls more easily at the edges.
Can herringbone and chevron be laid over a concrete slab?
Yes. Solid 18mm parquet of either pattern is normally glued directly to a flat, dry slab with a suitable adhesive or moisture-barrier system. See our guide to installing parquet over a concrete slab.
Which is more traditional, herringbone or chevron?
Both are centuries old. Herringbone is the more familiar pattern in Australian and New Zealand homes; chevron (sometimes called Hungarian point) has a slightly more formal, contemporary feel in modern interiors.