Best herringbone flooring in Australia
Written by the WFA flooring team · Updated June 2026
Quick answer
The Laurent Herringbone (from $111.50/m²) is our top engineered timber pick for its large format and 25-year warranty. For best value, the Everline laminate (from $47.50/m²) delivers AC5 durability. The Empress Herringbone hybrid (from $50.50/m²) suits wet areas, while Meadowland engineered timber (from $64.50/m²) is the budget timber option.
| Pick | Range | From /m² |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall engineered timber | Laurent Herringbone | $111.50 |
| Best value — laminate | Everline | $47.50 |
| Best for wet-area rooms | Empress Herringbone | $50.50 |
| Best budget engineered timber | Meadowland | $64.50 |
| Best mid-range engineered timber | Terra Firma | $89.50 |
How we chose: Picks were chosen by comparing waterproofing rating, wear layer or AC rating, board thickness, acoustic certification, warranty length and price per m². We looked for genuine differences in category and strength so each pick suits a different buyer situation rather than overlapping.
#1 · Best overall engineered timber
Laurent Herringbone Engineered timber
from $111.50/m² · 21 colours
The Laurent Herringbone offers large-format boards (up to 220 x 2200mm) in 21 colours, available in 15/4mm or 21/6mm thickness, with a UV matte lacquer finish and a 25-year warranty. The glueless click-lock system keeps installation straightforward. Suited to living, dining and bedroom areas in interior dry conditions.
- Large board sizes create a bold, statement herringbone pattern
- Choice of two thickness options including a substantial 21/6mm
- 25-year warranty across 21 colour options
- Interior dry areas only — not suitable for wet zones or high-moisture rooms
- Higher price point ($111.50–$144.50/m²) compared to laminate and hybrid picks
- Thickness
- 15/4mm, 21/6mm
- Board size
- 190 x 1900mm, 220 x 2200mm
- Water
- Interior dry areas
- Warranty
- 25 year
#2 · Best value — laminate
Everline Laminate
from $47.50/m² · 22 colours
Everline is the most affordable herringbone option at $47.50/m², yet it carries an AC5 heavy-commercial wear rating and up to 6-star acoustic certification (AAAC). It's water resistant (not fully waterproof), comes in 22 colours, and suits bedrooms, hallways and living areas as a floating click installation with compatible acoustic underlays.
- AC5 heavy-commercial wear rating at a competitive $47.50/m² price
- 22 colour options — widest colour range of all herringbone picks
- AAAC up to 6-star acoustic rating with P2 slip resistance
- Water resistant only — not suitable for bathrooms, laundries or continuously wet areas
- Laminate cannot be sanded or refinished if damaged
- Thickness
- 10mm
- Board size
- 1830 x 196mm, 604 x 120.8mm
- Wear layer / finish
- AC5
- Water
- Water resistant
- Acoustic
- AAAC up to 6 star
- Warranty
- 25 year
#3 · Best for wet-area rooms
Empress Herringbone Hybrid
from $50.50/m² · 6 colours
Empress Herringbone is the only true herringbone pick in this guide rated 100% waterproof, making it the go-to for kitchens and wet-area adjacent spaces. The 9mm hybrid construction uses a glueless click-lock system, carries a lifetime residential warranty, and comes in 6 colours at a flat $50.50/m².
- 100% waterproof — the only fully waterproof herringbone pick in this guide
- Lifetime residential warranty
- Competitive $50.50/m² price point for a waterproof herringbone product
- Only 6 colour options — narrower palette than other picks
- No stated acoustic rating or slip classification in the published specs
- Thickness
- 9mm
- Board size
- 600 x 120mm
- Water
- 100% Waterproof
- Warranty
- Lifetime residential
#4 · Best budget engineered timber
Meadowland Engineered timber
from $64.50/m² · 6 colours
Meadowland brings real engineered timber into herringbone at $64.50/m² — the most affordable engineered option here. The 14/3mm boards carry a 7-coat UV lacquer satin finish, P4 slip rating, AAAC up to 6-star acoustic certification, and support both floating and direct-stick installation. Available in 6 colours for bedrooms, dining and living areas.
- Lowest price per m² among the engineered timber herringbone ranges
- P4 slip rating — highest slip resistance of all picks in this guide
- AAAC up to 6-star acoustic rating with floating or direct-stick flexibility
- Residential warranty only — not rated for commercial use
- Not waterproof — unsuitable for wet or high-humidity areas
- Thickness
- 14/3mm
- Board size
- 1900 x 190mm, 600 x 125mm
- Wear layer / finish
- 7-coat UV lacquer
- Water
- No
- Acoustic
- AAAC up to 6 star
- Warranty
- Residential
#5 · Best mid-range engineered timber
Terra Firma Engineered timber
from $89.50/m² · 14 colours
Terra Firma steps up from Meadowland with a 3mm veneer (vs 3mm in Grace) and an ABCD Oak grade finish at $89.50/m². The 14/3mm board works in herringbone or plank layout, supports floating or direct-stick installation, and earns AAAC up to 6-star acoustic certification with a P3 slip rating across 14 colours.
- 3mm veneer allows future sanding and refinishing
- Available in herringbone or plank — versatile for mixed-room projects
- AAAC up to 6-star acoustic rating with P3 slip resistance
- Residential and light commercial only — not rated for heavy commercial use
- Not waterproof — interior dry areas only
- Thickness
- 14/3mm
- Board size
- 1900 x 190mm, 600 x 127mm
- Wear layer / finish
- 3mm veneer · 7-coat UV lacquer
- Water
- No
- Acoustic
- AAAC up to 6 star
- Warranty
- Residential
Herringbone vs chevron — what's the difference?
Herringbone and chevron are often confused. In a herringbone pattern, rectangular boards are laid at 90-degree angles to each other, creating a zigzag where the ends of boards meet the sides of neighbouring boards. In chevron, each board is cut at an angle so the tips meet precisely in a V or arrow-point. Both patterns add visual interest compared to straight plank layouts, but chevron tends to look slightly more formal and requires more precise cutting during installation.
In this guide, most ranges offer true herringbone. If you prefer chevron, WFA also stocks the Laurent Chevron, Crown Chevron, Monarch (hybrid) and Intensa engineered timber ranges — all separate ranges from those reviewed here. Check the pattern spec on each product page before ordering, as some ranges (like Everline and Grace) offer both herringbone and plank boards in the one range.
Buying tips before you order herringbone flooring
Herringbone layouts use more material than straight plank because of the angled cuts at room edges and doorways. As a general rule, allow at least 10–15% waste on top of your measured area — more for smaller or irregular rooms. Use the box calculator on each WFA product page, which automatically adds waste and rounds up to whole boxes, so you're not left short. You can also use the free multi-room Room Planner on the WFA website to map out multiple spaces at once.
Flooring is sold by the full box at WFA, so check the box size and coverage on each product page before purchasing. Delivery is weight-based freight calculated live at checkout — Sydney Metro and Newcastle orders typically arrive in 1–3 business days, with longer timeframes for regional NSW and interstate. If you're near Holroyd (next to Merrylands/Parramatta), free click-and-collect is available from the depot at 24–27 Crescent Street, Monday to Friday 8am–4pm, usually ready within about 24 hours. WFA does not provide installation services — you'll need to arrange your own installer separately.
Answers
Common questions
- Is herringbone flooring harder to install than straight plank?
- Yes, generally. Herringbone requires more careful planning, more cuts at room edges and doorways, and a higher waste allowance — typically 10–15% or more. Some ranges like the Laurent Herringbone and Empress Herringbone use glueless click-lock systems, which can simplify the process, but the pattern layout itself is more demanding than a standard plank. WFA recommends engaging a professional installer and does not provide installation services.
- Can I use herringbone flooring in a kitchen or bathroom?
- Only if the product is rated waterproof. Of the picks in this guide, the Empress Herringbone hybrid is rated 100% waterproof and is listed as suitable for wet areas. The engineered timber and laminate options are rated water resistant or interior dry areas only, meaning they are not suitable for bathrooms, laundries or areas with standing water. Always check the waterproofing spec on the product page before ordering.
- How do I calculate how many boxes I need for a herringbone layout?
- Use the box calculator on each product page at WFA — it lets you enter your room dimensions, adds a waste allowance for the pattern, and rounds up to the nearest whole box so you don't come up short. For multiple rooms, the free Room Planner tool on the WFA website lets you map out several spaces at once. Flooring is sold in full boxes only, so it's important to get the calculation right before ordering.
- What does AC5 mean and why does it matter for herringbone flooring?
- AC stands for Abrasion Class, a European standard rating for laminate wear resistance. AC4 is rated for general commercial use (offices, shops) and AC5 is rated for heavy commercial use (department stores, public buildings). For home use, AC4 or AC5 means the surface is highly durable and resistant to scratching and scuffing. The Everline laminate in this guide carries an AC5 rating, which is the highest available and well above what most residential floors need.