Tile layout patterns explained

How pattern choice affects your room, your waste, and your budget

Why the pattern matters

The same tile in the same room can look completely different depending on how it's laid. Pattern affects the visual perception of the space — making rooms feel wider, longer, or more dynamic — and it directly impacts how many tiles you need to buy because each pattern produces different amounts of cutting waste.

Straight (stack bond)

Tiles aligned in a simple grid with joints lining up both horizontally and vertically. This is the most common pattern and the most economical — there is virtually zero pattern waste because every cut-off piece can potentially be reused on the opposite side of the room.

Straight layouts work best with square tiles or large-format rectangular tiles where you want clean, modern lines. They expose any wall irregularities because the eye naturally follows the continuous grout lines, so walls need to be reasonably straight.

Brick bond (running bond, 50% offset)

Each row is offset by half a tile length, creating the classic brickwork pattern. This is the most popular pattern for rectangular tiles — the staggered joints are visually forgiving and hide minor size variations between tiles.

Expect about 5% more waste than a straight layout. The offset means you'll always need a half-tile cut at one end of alternating rows.

Third bond (33% offset)

Similar to brick bond but offset by one third instead of one half. The stagger is less pronounced, creating a subtler rhythm. Waste is comparable to brick bond at roughly 5%.

This pattern avoids the "lippage" problem that brick bond can have with large-format tiles — where the offset aligns the centre of one tile with the edge of the next, amplifying any warping.

Herringbone

Tiles arranged in a V-shape pattern, alternating between horizontal and vertical orientation. Herringbone creates strong visual movement and is a premium choice for floors and feature walls. It requires rectangular tiles — the more elongated the tile, the more dramatic the effect.

Waste is significantly higher at 10-15% because tiles must be cut at 45-degree angles along all room edges, and these angled offcuts are difficult to reuse.

Diagonal

A straight grid rotated 45 degrees. Diagonal layouts make small rooms feel larger by drawing the eye along the longest dimension — the diagonal. Like herringbone, every edge requires angled cuts, so expect 10-15% waste.

This pattern works well with square tiles. With rectangular tiles it becomes an offset diagonal, which looks like a rotated brick bond.

Stack vertical

Rectangular tiles oriented vertically instead of the more common horizontal orientation. This simple change makes ceilings feel higher in bathrooms and adds a contemporary feel. Waste is minimal — same as straight layout.

Chevron

Similar to herringbone but with tiles cut at an angle so the ends form a clean V-shape rather than a stepped zigzag. Chevron creates a more refined, directional look but requires specially cut tiles (or more waste if cutting from standard rectangles).

Choosing the right pattern

Consider three factors when choosing a pattern:

1. Tile shape. Square tiles work best with straight, diagonal, or checker patterns. Rectangular tiles unlock brick bond, herringbone, and chevron.
2. Room size. Diagonal and herringbone patterns make small rooms feel larger. Straight patterns suit large open spaces where you want calm, uninterrupted surfaces.
3. Budget. Complex patterns cost more — not just in extra tiles for waste, but in labour time. A herringbone floor takes roughly twice as long to lay as a straight one.