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Herringbone vs. Chevron Wood Floors: What's the Difference?
Herringbone and chevron look alike from across the room, but they are cut, ordered and installed differently. Here is how to tell them apart and choose.
Quick answers
What is the difference between herringbone and chevron flooring?
Herringbone uses rectangular pieces with square ends, laid in a staggered zigzag so each piece butts into the side of the next. Chevron pieces have ends cut at an angle, so the pieces meet point to point and form a continuous V.
Is herringbone or chevron more expensive?
Both cost more than a straight-laid floor because the pieces must be milled precisely and laid by hand. Chevron usually costs a little more, because the angled ends take extra milling and leave less room for error during layout.
Which pattern makes a room look bigger?
Chevron reads as a strong, continuous arrow and pulls the eye along the room, which suits long hallways and narrow rooms. Herringbone has a softer, woven look that works well in square rooms and open plans.
Can herringbone and chevron be engineered wood?
Yes. Both patterns are available as solid wood or as engineered wood, which is the better choice over concrete slabs and radiant heat.
The short answer
Herringbone and chevron are both classic European parquet patterns, and both zigzag across the floor. The difference is in the ends of the boards. Herringbone pieces are rectangles with square-cut ends. Chevron pieces are cut at an angle on each end, so they meet in a clean point. That one detail changes how the floor looks, how it is ordered and how it is installed.
How herringbone works
In a herringbone floor, the end of each piece butts against the long side of its neighbor. The result is a broken zigzag that looks almost woven. A double herringbone lays two pieces side by side in each row, which gives a bolder, more graphic look. Herringbone is forgiving in square rooms and open plans, and it can be laid with or without a border.
How chevron works
Chevron pieces are milled with angled ends so that each row meets the next in a straight seam down the center of the pattern. The eye reads one continuous arrow. Chevron is sometimes called French herringbone, and it shows up in many of the great chateaus of Europe. It suits long rooms, galleries and hallways, where the arrow can lead you through the space.
Why milling precision matters more than anything
With a straight-laid floor, a tiny size difference between boards disappears. With herringbone or chevron, it adds up. If the widths of the pieces are not exact, the pattern drifts and cannot be held across a room. That is why we hold our pattern flooring to a dimensional tolerance of no more than .005 inch in the width or profile of any one piece, milled on laser-guided precision equipment.
Herringbone vs. chevron at a glance
Herringbone | Chevron | |
Piece ends | Square cut | Angled cut |
Look | Woven, broken zigzag | Continuous V or arrow |
Best rooms | Square rooms, open plans | Long rooms, hallways |
Layout difficulty | High | Higher |
Waste allowance | Typically 10 to 15% | Typically 10 to 15% or more |
Sizes and construction
Pattern pieces come in many sizes. Our American walnut double herringbone is offered in sizes from 2 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches up to 6 x 36 inches, in 3/4 inch or 5/8 inch thickness. Our plainsawn white oak chevron comes in a 6 x 36 inch format as solid wood, 2-layer engineered or 3-layer balanced construction. Larger pieces read more modern; smaller pieces feel more traditional.
If your floor will sit over a concrete slab or radiant heat, read our guide to engineered vs. solid hardwood before you choose. Species matters too, so compare white oak, red oak and walnut.
How to choose
Pick chevron if you want a bold, directional look in a long or narrow room.
Pick herringbone if you want texture and movement that works in almost any room shape.
Pick double herringbone for a larger, more architectural statement.
Plan for more waste than a straight floor, and see how much flooring to order.
Talk to a wood flooring specialist
Not sure which option fits your project? Call 908-232-6600 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern), visit our showroom at 406B West Broad Street in Westfield, New Jersey, or book a virtual consultation. We work with homeowners, architects and designers across New Jersey, New York City and the East Coast, and serve clients nationwide.
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About the author
Joe Avila has 26 years in the wood flooring trade. He is an NWFA-certified wood flooring inspector, installer and sander, and for more than a decade he has taught accredited continuing-education programs for AIA, ASID and IDCEC audiences, training thousands of architects and design professionals in how to specify wood flooring correctly.
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