Parquet flooring is carefully measured, cut and arranged to create a precise decorative pattern. Ordering exactly the measured floor area is rarely enough because blocks need to be cut around walls, corners, doorways, borders and other features.
A sensible parquet flooring waste allowance gives the installer enough material to complete the pattern accurately without running short during installation.
For many parquet projects, allowing 10% to 15% extra flooring is a useful starting point. However, there is no single percentage that suits every project. A simple rectangular room with a straightforward pattern may require less, while chevron, detailed borders, multiple rooms or irregular layouts may require more.
The final allowance should be based on the pattern, room shape, block size, timber product and planned set-out.
Quick Answer: How Much Extra Parquet Flooring Should You Order?
As a general guide:
| Parquet pattern or project | Typical waste allowance |
|---|---|
| Straight lay / simple brick bond | 7%–10% |
| Herringbone | 10%–15% |
| Basket weave | 10%–15% |
| Chevron | 12%–15% |
| Complex chevron or irregular rooms | 15%–20% |
| Versailles panels / custom designs | 15%–20% |
These figures are planning guidelines rather than fixed rules. Your installer should calculate the final parquet flooring waste allowance using the actual room measurements and proposed layout.
What Is a Flooring Waste Allowance?
A flooring waste allowance is the additional material ordered above the measured floor area.
It accounts for material required for:
- Cuts around walls
- Corners
- Doorways
- Cupboards
- Fireplaces
- Angled walls
- Borders
- Feature strips
- Pattern alignment
- Damaged or unusable pieces
Waste does not mean that all the additional timber will be thrown away. Experienced parquet installers can often reuse suitable offcuts in other areas of the floor.
For example, if a room measures 40 square metres and you allow 15% for waste:
40 m² × 1.15 = 46 m²
You would therefore need approximately 46 m² before considering pack sizes. If the flooring is supplied in packs, the final order needs to be rounded up to the next complete pack.
Why Does Parquet Flooring Need Extra Material?
Parquet patterns are made from repeated blocks or sections that need to align precisely.
Full blocks rarely fit perfectly along every wall. Cuts may be required around:
- Door openings
- Built-in cupboards
- Kitchen islands
- Fireplaces
- Columns
- Stairs
- Angled corners
- Bay windows
- Borders
Pattern alignment can also influence how efficiently the material is used.
Natural timber adds another consideration. Timber boards and parquet blocks can vary naturally in colour, grain and character. Having enough material allows the installer to select pieces and distribute them throughout the room for a more balanced appearance.
If the floor runs short and additional material has to be ordered later, there is also a possibility that the new batch may have slight variations in colour or appearance.
Ordering the correct amount from the beginning helps avoid unnecessary delays and makes it easier to achieve a consistent finish.
Straight Lay or Brick Bond Parquet: Allow About 7% to 10%
Straight lay and simple brick bond patterns are generally among the most efficient parquet layouts.
Because the blocks run in a consistent direction, suitable offcuts can sometimes be reused elsewhere in the installation.
For a straightforward rectangular room, 7% to 10% extra may be sufficient.
Consider moving towards the higher end of the range when the project includes:
- Multiple doorways
- Several small rooms
- Cupboards
- Columns
- Short wall sections
- Angled areas
- Complex transitions
The final parquet flooring waste allowance should be calculated from the actual layout rather than simply applying a percentage to the total property size.
Herringbone Parquet: Allow About 10% to 15%
Herringbone is one of the most popular parquet patterns and creates a distinctive zigzag appearance by positioning blocks at right angles.
The pattern generally requires more edge cutting than a simple straight layout.
For many herringbone projects, 10% to 15% extra is a practical starting point. A straightforward rectangular room may sit towards the lower end, while smaller or irregular rooms may require closer to 15%.
Set-out is particularly important when herringbone continues between connected rooms. The centre line needs to be carefully established so the pattern remains aligned through doorways and adjoining spaces.
Borders can create additional cutting and may require a separate allowance.
Chevron Parquet: Allow About 12% to 15%
Chevron flooring creates continuous V-shaped lines, with angled block ends meeting to form the characteristic pattern.
Because the pieces need to meet accurately, some offcuts can be more difficult to reuse than with simpler layouts.
For a straightforward chevron installation, 12% to 15% extra may be appropriate.
Complex rooms, unusual angles, feature strips and detailed borders may push the requirement towards 15% to 20%.
The installer should calculate the allowance after establishing the starting point, direction and layout of the chevron pattern.
Basket Weave and Double Herringbone: Allow About 10% to 15%
Basket weave parquet uses groups of blocks to create repeating square or woven designs.
A 10% to 15% allowance can be a useful starting point, although the final amount depends on block dimensions, room shape and the way the pattern is positioned.
Double herringbone uses pairs of blocks to create a wider and more prominent version of the traditional herringbone design.
Because the repeat is different, the installer should check how the pattern fits the room dimensions before determining the final material quantity.
Versailles Panels and Custom Designs: Allow About 15% to 20%
Decorative parquet designs such as Versailles-style flooring can involve multiple shapes and intricate repeating sections.
Some products are supplied as large pre-assembled panels, while others are constructed from individual components.
This can make material calculations different from standard parquet blocks.
For detailed decorative floors, 15% to 20% extra may be a sensible planning allowance.
Whole panels may sometimes be required at the edge of a room even when only part of the panel is ultimately used.
For this reason, a project-specific calculation is much more reliable than applying one standard percentage to every decorative parquet floor.
Do Borders and Inlays Need Extra Material?
Yes. Borders and feature inlays should generally be calculated separately from the main parquet field.
A border is usually measured by its running length rather than simply by square metres. Extra material may be needed for:
- Corners
- Joins
- Doorways
- Changes in direction
- Mitred corners
- Feature transitions
Contrasting timber species, brass strips and other decorative inlays may also require additional material for accurate installation.
If a project includes a detailed border, the installer should incorporate it into the overall set-out before the final order is placed.
How Does Room Shape Affect Parquet Waste?
Two rooms can have exactly the same floor area but require different quantities of flooring.
A large rectangular room generally allows material to be used more efficiently than several small or irregular rooms.
Features that can increase the parquet flooring waste allowance include:
- Narrow hallways
- Bay windows
- Fireplaces
- Kitchen islands
- Columns
- Stairs
- Angled walls
- Multiple doorways
- Irregular room shapes
- Curved or unusual architectural features
Small rooms can sometimes have a higher percentage of waste because they contain more perimeter cuts relative to their total floor area.
This is why the allowance should be calculated from an accurate measured plan rather than relying only on the property’s advertised floor area.
Does Parquet Block Size Affect Waste?
Yes.
The size of the parquet block can affect how efficiently the pattern fits around room edges and architectural features.
Smaller blocks may provide greater flexibility around certain details, while larger blocks can create larger offcuts in narrow spaces.
The pattern repeat should therefore be considered alongside the room dimensions when planning the installation.
How Do You Calculate How Much Parquet Flooring to Order?
Start by measuring each area that will receive parquet flooring.
For an irregular floor, divide the space into simpler rectangles or sections. Multiply the length by the width of each section and add the results.
Then determine which areas will not receive flooring, such as spaces specifically excluded from the installation.
Once the measured area is established, apply the appropriate waste allowance.
For example:
30 m² floor area + 15% waste
30 × 1.15 = 34.5 m²
The final order would then need to be rounded up according to the coverage provided by each flooring pack.
For a complex parquet design, this calculation should be treated as an estimate. The installer should confirm the final quantity after considering the actual pattern, starting point, borders, block dimensions and site measurements.
Should You Keep Spare Parquet Blocks?
Yes. Keeping some suitable spare flooring after installation can be useful for future repairs.
Store leftover pieces:
- Flat
- Indoors
- In a dry environment
- Away from direct sunlight
- With the original product information
If a section of the floor is damaged in the future, having matching original material can make a local repair considerably easier.
After installation, ask your flooring professional which leftover pieces are worth keeping.
Does More Waste Always Mean Better?
Not necessarily.
Ordering too little material can cause delays and make it difficult to complete the pattern consistently. However, ordering substantially more than required unnecessarily increases the project cost.
The goal is to establish a realistic parquet flooring waste allowance based on the actual design.
An experienced parquet installer can assess the room layout and identify where material can be reused, helping balance installation requirements with material efficiency.
What Is the Best Parquet Flooring Waste Allowance?
As a general guide:
- Straight lay or simple brick bond: around 7%–10%
- Herringbone: around 10%–15%
- Basket weave: around 10%–15%
- Chevron: around 12%–15%
- Complex chevron or irregular layouts: around 15%–20%
- Versailles and detailed custom designs: around 15%–20%
These percentages should not be treated as universal rules.
The best allowance comes from measuring the actual space, planning the complete pattern and considering the block size, borders, transitions and room complexity.
Final Thoughts
Ordering the right amount of parquet flooring is an important part of planning a successful installation.
For many projects, 10% to 15% extra is a useful starting point, but the appropriate parquet flooring waste allowance depends on the pattern and the characteristics of the room.
Straight and brick bond layouts may require less, while herringbone, chevron, borders and intricate custom designs can require more.
The safest approach is to have the rooms professionally measured and the complete parquet layout planned before ordering. This helps provide enough material for accurate cutting, pattern alignment and colour selection without unnecessarily over-ordering.
Good planning can reduce installation delays, minimise avoidable waste and help achieve the clean, balanced finish that makes parquet flooring distinctive.
About Australian Parquet Industries
Australian Parquet Industries is a 100% Australian, family-owned and operated parquet flooring specialist based in Peakhurst, Sydney.
With more than 53 years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of parquet and specialised timber floors, the company offers a wide selection of hardwood species, herringbone, chevron, basket weave and custom parquet patterns, along with detailed borders and professional floor repair services.
The company’s experienced parquet craftsmen can measure your space, plan the layout and calculate a practical parquet flooring waste allowance for your chosen design.
Installation is backed by a 10-year written guarantee covering workmanship and materials.
Visit the two-storey Peakhurst showroom or contact Australian Parquet Industries for expert advice and a free quote.
