Parquet flooring has been one of the defining trends in UK interiors over the past decade, and it shows no sign of fading. The term covers a family of wood flooring laid in geometric patterns — the classic small finger parquet blocks of Victorian and Edwardian homes, the bold herringbone and chevron of contemporary renovations, and everything in between. Parquet flooring in the UK typically costs between £50 and £150 per m² fitted, but the range is wide and the variables matter. This guide explains what you are actually buying, where the costs go, and whether it is worth it for your home.
Parquet originally referred specifically to small solid wood blocks laid in geometric patterns — most commonly basket-weave or finger patterns. Victorian and Edwardian homes across the UK were fitted with parquet as a matter of course, and many of those floors survive today, having been sanded and refinished multiple times.
In modern usage, the term has expanded to cover any wood flooring laid in a patterned format. This means:
The pattern is the defining feature, not the material. If you want solid wood, you can have it. If you want the herringbone look with better moisture tolerance, engineered wood or LVT delivers that. The choice of material drives the cost and practical performance.
Parquet flooring never entirely went out of fashion in the UK — it was always available and always admired. What changed around 2015 was that it became aspirational rather than traditional. Pinterest and Instagram accelerated the herringbone trend considerably, and UK interior design press followed. By 2020 herringbone engineered wood had become the default floor for middle-market new-build show homes and period property renovations alike.
The revival also coincided with a practical shift. Engineered wood technology improved significantly in the 2010s. The plank stability increased, the veneer quality improved, and manufacturers began offering herringbone formats in wider boards with longer angled cuts — formats that look more dramatic and are faster to lay than the narrow traditional blocks. What had been a specialist installation job became more accessible, and prices came down accordingly.
The RIBA architectural specification guidance notes that engineered wood flooring now accounts for the majority of wood floor installations in new UK residential builds, with patterned formats taking a growing share of that market.
Budget parquet flooring — specifically LVT herringbone — is the most accessible entry point to the parquet look. Products from Flooring Superstore, B&Q, and Wickes offer LVT in herringbone format from around £15–£25/m² supply, and they can be DIY-fitted over most existing floors without adhesive. For a 20 m² living room, the total supply cost comes to £300–£500, plus fitting if required.
The honest caveat on cheap parquet is that quality differences are visible. Budget LVT herringbone has thinner wear layers (0.2–0.3 mm versus 0.5 mm on premium products), less convincing surface embossing, and narrower planks that can look busy rather than elegant. If you are comparing cheap LVT herringbone with mid-range engineered herringbone for a living room you plan to keep for 15 years, the engineered option will look and feel noticeably better and may work out cheaper per year of ownership. If you are doing a rental renovation or a short-term flip, budget LVT herringbone does the job well. Prices correct at time of publication.
These two terms are often used interchangeably but they refer to different patterns:
Herringbone is generally cheaper to produce because the boards do not require the angled end cuts. Chevron boards are cut to specific angles (usually 45 or 60 degrees) and require more precision in laying. Both look excellent; the choice is aesthetic. Our herringbone flooring guide goes into more detail on the pattern variations and which format suits different room sizes.
The cost range for parquet is genuinely wide, driven by material choice, board dimensions, finish quality, and fitting complexity. Here is an honest breakdown:
| Type | Supply cost (per m²) | Fitting cost (per m²) | Total fitted (per m²) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVT herringbone (budget) | £15–£30 | £15–£25 | £30–£55 | Best for wet-prone areas |
| LVT herringbone (premium) | £30–£50 | £15–£25 | £45–£75 | Karndean, Amtico formats |
| Engineered herringbone (budget) | £25–£45 | £20–£35 | £45–£80 | Narrower boards, thinner veneer |
| Engineered herringbone (mid) | £45–£80 | £25–£40 | £70–£120 | 3–5mm veneer, good stability |
| Engineered herringbone (premium) | £70–£120 | £30–£50 | £100–£170 | Wide boards, thick veneer |
| Solid wood parquet blocks | £40–£90 | £35–£60 | £75–£150 | Glue-down, needs flat subfloor |
Fitting a patterned floor takes longer than straight plank laying — expect fitting costs 20–40% higher than for the same material in a standard format. The border detailing that often accompanies herringbone floors adds further cost. Always get at least two quotes from vetted flooring contractors and ask specifically about subfloor preparation — this is often quoted separately and can add £500–£1,500 to a typical room job.
One of the most compelling arguments for solid wood parquet is longevity. Well-laid solid parquet can genuinely last 100 years or more — many Victorian-era parquet floors in UK homes and public buildings are still in daily use. The key is that solid wood can be sanded and refinished repeatedly. A typical sanding removes 1–2mm of material; a 20mm thick parquet block can be sanded five or six times over its life, each time returning the floor to like-new condition.
Engineered wood can also be sanded, but fewer times — typically two or three, depending on the veneer thickness. A 3mm veneer gives you perhaps two careful sandings; a 6mm veneer gives you three or four. After that, the floor needs replacing. That is still a lifespan of 30–50 years with proper care, which is perfectly respectable.
LVT parquet cannot be sanded. It is replaced, not refinished. The trade-off is a much lower initial cost and zero moisture sensitivity. Which? flooring guidance notes that LVT’s practical lifespan in normal domestic use is 15–25 years for good-quality products, which represents reasonable value given the lower entry cost.
Parquet works in most living areas. The pattern adds visual interest that flat plank floors do not, and it reads well in both traditional and contemporary interiors depending on the board size and finish. The rooms where it works best:
Where parquet is less suitable:
This is where many buyers run into problems. Underfloor heating (UFH) and wood flooring have a complicated relationship, and parquet formats add additional complexity.
The core issue is that wood moves with temperature and humidity. UFH raises the floor surface temperature, which can cause wood to dry out, shrink, and gap, particularly in the dry winter months when central heating is running constantly. The risks are higher with:
If you have UFH or are planning it, check any engineered wood product’s datasheet for specific UFH approval and maximum surface temperature. Our guide to underfloor heating compatible flooring explains the thermal resistance (Tog) ratings and what to look for in detail. The NFRC’s technical guidance on UFH and flooring is also worth reading before you commit to a product.
The UK market for parquet and herringbone flooring has grown considerably, and quality varies. Some brands consistently come up in trade recommendations:
For traditional solid parquet blocks, reclaimed parquet from UK salvage yards is worth considering — it is often better quality than new production, pre-acclimatised, and can work out cheaper per m² once you factor in finishing costs. The GOV.UK guidance on reclaimed building materials has useful information on sourcing and quality assessment.
Parquet flooring adds genuine value to UK properties — both in sale price and in living with the space day to day. Estate agents consistently report that good quality wooden floors, and particularly herringbone patterns, attract positive buyer attention and support asking prices. Whether the premium over a straight plank floor is worth it depends on your room, your budget, and how long you plan to stay.
If you are in the property for five years or fewer, the economics of solid parquet do not stack up — the fitting cost premium is too high relative to the time you will enjoy it. Engineered herringbone or LVT herringbone makes more sense in that scenario. If you are staying for ten or more years, the case for solid or premium engineered parquet is strong — a properly maintained wood floor will still be adding value when you come to sell.
The one thing worth saying plainly: cheap parquet is often worse than good plank flooring. If the budget does not stretch to properly specified engineered or solid parquet from a reputable manufacturer, better to spend the money on quality straight plank engineered wood and save the pattern for a future project. A poorly made herringbone floor draws more attention to its flaws than a plain floor would.
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