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Herringbone flooring calculator

Herringbone and chevron boards come as left and right (A and B) boards, and you need the same number of each. Enter the room and the board to get A and B packs, pattern waste and everything that goes under and around the floor.

The formula · Worked example · Frequently asked questions ↓

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1

Project settings

Units
2

Room geometry

Area 1 · Shape
4 m3 m

Net area 12.00 m² · perimeter 14 m · skirting 13.2 m

Exclusions (0)

Kitchen island, bathtub, shower tray, built-in wardrobe…

Doorways (1)
3

Floor build-up

Finish
4

Panels

%
Sold as
A and B planks
More options
kg
5

Extras

Skirting

Waterproofing (wet areas)

More options

Primer

L/m²
Fixing

8 packs

8 packsShow shopping list

How many packs of herringbone flooring?

Divide the floor area by the face area of one board — length × width — to get the boards, add pattern waste, then split the total into A and B boards and round each side to whole packs. Because each side is rounded on its own, you may buy one pack more than a single total suggests; that pack is what stops one side running out halfway across the room.

If both hands come mixed in each pack, the count is rounded up to an even number and stays one line. Glue-down parquet blocks without a left and right hand are counted as one board type.

A and B boards explained

Herringbone and chevron boards have a tongue on one long side and a groove on the other, and the short ends lock in one direction only. That makes left-handed (A) and right-handed (B) boards, laid alternately. You need exactly as many of each, and many makers sell them in separate packs, as the shopping list shows: one line for A and one for B.

The herringbone formula

N = A ÷ (L × W) × (1 + waste); packs A = packs B = ⌈⌈N ÷ 2⌉ ÷ boards per pack⌉

A is the floor area and L × W the face area of one board. With A and B mixed in each pack, N is rounded up to an even number and packs = ⌈N ÷ boards per pack⌉.

Worked example

  • Room 4.5 × 3.6 m = 16.2 m², herringbone vinyl 600 × 120 mm (0.072 m² each), 15% waste, A and B in separate packs of 24.
  • Net: 16.2 ÷ 0.072 = 225 boards; with 15% → 258.8 boards.
  • 129.4 A + 129.4 B → 130 + 130 → ⌈130 ÷ 24⌉ = 6 packs of A and 6 packs of B = 12 packs.
  • A single total would say 259 ÷ 24 → 11 packs; split 6 A + 5 B, the B side is 10 boards short (120 against 130).

Herringbone vs chevron

In herringbone the boards are rectangles laid at right angles, so the end of one board meets the side of the next. In chevron the ends are cut at an angle, usually 45°, so the boards meet point to point in a straight zigzag. For counting, a chevron board is measured along its long edge; when the pack gives its coverage, that number is more accurate.

Waste for herringbone

Every row ends in an angled cut at the wall, so waste is higher than for straight boards: 15% by default for both patterns, plus 5% in rooms under 4 m². Add more for many doorways or a border. A straight floor of the same boards needs about 7% — see the vinyl flooring calculator.

Herringbone tiles

Tiles have no hand, so herringbone tiles are counted like any other tile, with 18% waste for the pattern. Switch the finish to tiles above, or use the tile calculator, to count them with adhesive and grout.

Frequently asked questions

Why do herringbone boards come in A and B packs?

Left- and right-handed boards are milled differently and you need the same number of each. Separate packs let the maker pack them cleanly; you buy whole packs of each side.

How much extra herringbone flooring should I buy?

15% for herringbone or chevron in a normal room, 20% in a room under 4 m², and a little more with many doorways or a border.

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron?

Herringbone boards are rectangles meeting at right angles; chevron boards have angled ends that meet in a point. Both need A and B boards.

Does a small room need more waste?

Yes. With few full boards per row, the angled cuts at the walls are a bigger share, so 5% is added under 4 m².

Can I use straight-board underlay under herringbone?

Usually yes for floating click herringbone; glue-down parquet goes straight onto the subfloor with adhesive instead. Check what the board maker approves.

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