The short answer
Set out herringbone from a centre line along the room's main view, square the pattern off that line, balance the cuts at opposite walls, and order the floor area plus a waste allowance of roughly 10–15% (rule of thumb) divided by the box coverage, rounded up. For Timbo's 710mm blocks, one box covers 1.397 m².
How herringbone geometry works
Herringbone blocks are laid at 90° to each other, so the zigzag's centre line runs at 45° to each block. The pattern advances in steps; each step adds one left-hand and one right-hand block.
Two consequences matter for layout:
- The pattern has a direction. The zigzag "points" along the centre line, so the centre line should run along the main view of the room.
- Every edge is a cut edge. Because blocks meet walls at 45°, every block touching the perimeter needs an angled cut – that's where most of the waste comes from.
Left and right blocks
Herringbone needs mirror-image left-hand and right-hand blocks, with tongues and grooves on opposite sides. Timbo's herringbone is supplied as left- and right-hand blocks. The pattern uses them in roughly equal numbers, but edge cuts, borders and doorways can use more of one hand. Check how left and right blocks are packed for your order (ask Timbo) and keep spares of both.
Step-by-step setout
Good setout is the difference between a floor that looks right from the doorway and one that drifts across the room.
- Find the main view. Stand at the main entry and note the longest sightline or focal point.
- Snap the centre line along that view, through the middle of the room or aligned to a key feature (fireplace, island bench, front door).
- Snap a perpendicular reference line and check square with the 3-4-5 method or a laser.
- Mark the pattern width. Dry-lay a short run of blocks to find the actual width of the zigzag and mark parallel guide lines.
- Balance the perimeter. Shift the centre line so cut pieces at opposite walls are similar – avoid slivers at the most visible wall.
- Check doorways and transitions. Make sure the pattern flows through openings or meets a threshold or border neatly.
- Lay a starter run of interlocked blocks along the centre line, fix it accurately, and work outward.
- Recheck regularly against the guide lines – small errors accumulate quickly over a large room.
Setout only works on a flat subfloor – slabs are commonly required to be flat within about 3mm under a 3m straightedge (Bowens). For gluing and slab preparation, see installing parquet over a concrete slab.
Borders
A border is one or more rows of blocks laid around the edge of the herringbone field. Borders hide out-of-square walls, frame the pattern and simplify transitions.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| No border (wall to wall) | Clean, contemporary; less labour | Angled cuts everywhere visible at skirting line; wall errors show |
| Single-row border | Frames pattern; absorbs wall errors | More cutting where field meets border |
| Double row or band | Strong, formal look | Most labour and waste |
Waste allowance
About 10–15% waste is a common rule of thumb for herringbone – treat it as a starting point, not a rule. Herringbone needs more than straight boards because every edge block is cut at 45° and offcuts are often too short to reuse.
| Factor | Effect on waste |
|---|---|
| Large, simple rectangular room | Lower end of the range |
| Small rooms, hallways, many doorways | Higher |
| Borders | Higher |
| Larger blocks (e.g. 820mm) | Often higher – longer offcuts, fewer reusable |
| Angled or curved walls, bay windows | Higher |
| Rejected blocks (on-site selection) | Add a little |
Your installer sets the final allowance after measuring the actual rooms. The same cutting work is why herringbone labour is priced above straight boards – about $60–$100/m² for standard rooms and $90–$120+/m² for complex jobs, incl. GST (The Flooring Guys).
Worked example: how many boxes?
Boxes = (room area × (1 + waste allowance)) ÷ box coverage, rounded up to the next whole box. Thickness doesn't come into it – only area.
Box coverage for Timbo's 710mm herringbone:
- One block: 0.710m × 0.123m = 0.0873 m²
- One box: 16 blocks × 0.0873 m² = 1.397 m² (sold as approx. 1.4 m²)
- Blocks per m²: 1 ÷ 0.0873 ≈ 11.5
| Room area | Waste | Area to order | ÷ 1.397 m²/box | Boxes (rounded up) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 m² | 0% | 20.00 m² | 14.31 | 15 |
| 20 m² | 10% | 22.00 m² | 15.74 | 16 |
| 20 m² | 15% | 23.00 m² | 16.46 | 17 |
| 24.5 m² | 10% | 26.95 m² | 19.29 | 20 |
| 24.5 m² | 15% | 28.18 m² | 20.16 | 21 |
| 35 m² | 10% | 38.50 m² | 27.55 | 28 |
| 35 m² | 15% | 40.25 m² | 28.81 | 29 |
820mm blocks: box coverage for the 820 × 123mm size isn't confirmed here – ask Timbo for current coverage before calculating. For a general method that works with any product, see how many boxes of flooring.
Tips to reduce waste
- Measure each room separately and add them up, rather than measuring one big rectangle.
- Plan doorways in the setout so cuts are reused where possible.
- Use offcuts in closets and under joinery where they won't be seen.
- Order from one batch so any extra boxes match.
- Keep a box or two spare for future repairs.
Layout around fixed features
Decide how the pattern meets fixed features during setout, not when you reach them.
- Kitchen islands and joinery – lay the floor under joinery where the builder's programme allows; otherwise plan the pattern so cuts at kickboards are tidy.
- Fireplaces and hearths – a border around the hearth looks deliberate and avoids awkward slivers.
- Stairs – match the nosing detail and decide whether the pattern stops at a border at the top step.
- Floor wastes, vents and penetrations – plan neat cuts or a frame of border blocks.
Expansion allowance at the edges
Leave the perimeter expansion allowance the adhesive and installation guidance require before cutting edge blocks. Skirting, scotia or a border covers the gap. See expansion gaps for solid parquet.
Where to get the blocks
Timbo's Solid Oak Herringbone Parquet is Prime grade European oak, 18mm solid, in 710 × 123mm and 820 × 123mm. Homeowners buy through a Timbo partner; flooring businesses can apply for trade pricing. For pattern basics, read the herringbone flooring guide.
Sources
Box coverage and block-per-m² figures are calculated from Timbo's published block dimensions (710 × 123 × 18mm, 16 blocks per box). The 10–15% waste allowance is a common industry rule of thumb, not a standard.
- The Flooring Guys – Herringbone flooring cost and complexity
- Bowens – Hardwood timber flooring (slab preparation)
Frequently asked questions
Why do some rooms need more herringbone waste than others?
Waste comes from the angled cuts at every edge, so rooms with more edge per square metre – small rooms, hallways, many doorways, angled walls, bay windows or borders – waste more. A large simple rectangle sits at the low end of the common 10–15% rule of thumb.
How many herringbone blocks are in a square metre?
For a 710 × 123mm block, about 11.5 blocks per square metre (1 ÷ 0.0873 m²) before waste. Larger blocks mean fewer per square metre.
Do I need equal numbers of left and right herringbone blocks?
Roughly, yes – the pattern alternates left and right. Edge cuts and borders can use more of one hand than the other, so check how the blocks are packed and allow some spare of each. Ask Timbo how left and right blocks are packed for your order.
Should a herringbone floor have a border?
It's optional. A border frames the pattern, hides out-of-square walls and simplifies transitions, but adds cutting time and waste. Many modern installs run the pattern wall to wall with skirting covering the edge.
Where should the centre line go in an open-plan space?
Usually along the longest sightline or the main axis of the space – for example from the entry to the main windows – so the pattern looks balanced from where people see it most. Check that it also lines up sensibly with key doorways and joinery.
Should I keep spare boxes after installation?
Yes. A box or two of spare blocks from the same batch makes future repairs – water damage, a deep gouge – much easier to match. Store them flat and dry in the house.