Herringbone Pattern
The herringbone pattern lays rectangular tiles at a 90° angle to each other, so each tile's short edge meets the long edge of its neighbor, forming a repeating zigzag rather than a straight grid. 2"x8" is the most common size for this layout, closely matching the proportions of the wood parquet planks the pattern was originally designed for.
Last updated: 2026-07-05
Herringbone Pattern
Opuslay — tile layout worksheet- Room:
- 3 m × 2.5 m
- Units:
- Metric (cm / m²)
- Anchor:
- Left · Top
- Layout angle:
- Straight
- Tile colours:
- Single colour
Material breakdown
| Format | Qty / Pattern | Share | Qty / Room | Area / Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.08x20.32 cm | 2 | 100.0% | 790 | 7.50 m² |
| Total | 2 | 100% | 790 | 7.50 m² |
What you'll need to buy
Tiles to buy
| 5.08x20.32 cm | 775 tiles | 8.00 m² |
Total 775 tiles · 8.00 m² (incl. 7% cuts & breakage)
Adhesive & grout
- Thin-set adhesive: ≈ 24.4 kg (2 × 50 lb bags) — recommended trowel: 10mm notch
- Grout — the tile sets the joint width, not you:
- ≈ 8.4 kg (1 × 25 lb bag) — 3mm joint, rectified / tight-set tile
- ≈ 14.0 kg (2 × 25 lb bags) — 5mm joint, natural or non-rectified tile
Adhesive: allow a little over on an uneven substrate, or if you back-butter large tiles — both eat more than a flat bed.
Grout: the 25 lb bag is the usual size (10 lb for small jobs). Buy it in one go and stick to a single bag size: bags from different batches can dry to slightly different shades.
It's the tile that decides the joint, not the setter — dry-lay a section to find your width. Assumes 9.5mm tile depth; adjust for your product — thicker tiles need more.
Share & export
Save the Herringbone Pattern layout to your moodboard, or send the link to your tiler — it reopens with your room dimensions.
About the Herringbone Pattern
Herringbone takes its name from the bone structure of a herring fish, and the layout dates back centuries as a flooring technique for wood parquet, prized for the visual movement its zigzag joints create compared to a straight grid.
As wood-look porcelain and ceramic tile became widely available, 2x8 emerged as the standard size for reproducing the classic parquet herringbone look in wet areas like bathrooms and entryways, where real wood flooring isn't practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is herringbone tile laid at a 45-degree angle?
Not by default — the herringbone tiles themselves are laid at a 90° angle to each other, forming a zigzag. The whole pattern is often additionally rotated 45° relative to the room's walls for a more dynamic look, but that rotation is optional and separate from the 90° tile-to-tile angle that defines herringbone.
What is the standard size for herringbone tile?
2"x8" is the most common and most searched size for herringbone tile, closely matching traditional wood parquet plank proportions.
How much waste should I allow for a herringbone pattern?
Herringbone typically needs a higher waste allowance than a straight layout — commonly 15-20% — because of the extra angled cuts required at room edges and corners.
Is herringbone tile harder to install than a straight pattern?
Yes, generally — the layout requires more precise cutting and planning at the perimeter of the room, and installers often charge more labor for herringbone than for a simple grid or running bond pattern.
What's the difference between herringbone and chevron tile?
Herringbone sets standard rectangular tiles at a 90° angle to each other, so the joints step in a staggered zigzag. Chevron instead uses tiles pre-cut at a 45° angle on their ends, meeting in a single unbroken point with a clean vertical seam. See the chevron pattern for the mitered version.
See the 4x12 herringbone layoutSee the 6x24 herringbone layoutSee the 3x12 herringbone layoutSee the double herringbone (two 3x12 planks per arm, same weave at twice the scale)See the triple herringbone (three 6x36 planks per arm, the widest weave)