Shapes that tessellate

Shapes that tessellate

Index --- grids --- squares (examples) --- triangles (examples) --- Escher-style (examples) --- for teachers

Triangles, squares and hexagons are the only regular shapes which tessellate by themselves. You
can have other tessellations of regular shapes if you use more than one type of shape. You can
even tessellate pentagons, but they won't be regular ones. Tessellations can be used for tile
patterns or in patchwork quilts!

Single regular Triangles Large grid of triangles

shapes Squares Large grid of squares
Hexagons Large grid of hexagons

Multiple regular Squares, triangles Large grid of squares and triangles

shapes Hexagons, triangles Large grid of hexagons and triangles
Hexagons, squares, triangles Large grid of hexagons, squares and
Octagons, squares triangles
Dodecagons, triangles Large grid of octagons and squares
Dodecagons, hexagons, Large grid of dodecagons and triangles
squares Large grid of dodecagons, hexagons and
squares

Other shapes Irregular pentagons Large grid of irregular pentagons

Waffle pattern Large grid of waffle pattern
Fish patterns Large grid of fish patterns

Triangles - these make pretty tessellations. Two triangles make a diamond. Six triangles make a
hexagon.

Design a triangle tessellation online

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More examples of triangle tessellations

Large grid of triangles to print or save

Design a triangle mosaic online - which you can use to make tessellations

Squares - rather obvious! By colouring them, you can build up more complicated patterns. Click
here to make a square tessellation online. Make an Escher-style tessellation online

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Design a square tessellation online

Design an Escher-style tessellation online
Optical illusions based on tessellations
Large grid of triangles to print or save

Design mosaics online - which you can use to make tessellations

Hexagons - Bees make natural tessellations of hexagons in their honeycombs.

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Hexagons can be made with triangle grids.

Design a triangle tessellation online
Design a triangle mosaic online

Large grid of hexagons to print or save

Squares and triangles - There are two ways to mix squares and triangles in the same pattern.

This is the boring way. You can make it more interesting with colouring.

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The other grid looks strange, as we don't recognise squares as easily when they are tilted.

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Large grids of triangles and squares to print or save - both types

Hexagons and triangles - There are two regular ways to mix hexagons and triangles in the same
pattern. You can play around with the triangles grid to find other ways to mix hexagons and
triangles.

This packs the triangles closely, with a few triangles between.

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Here, the hexagons are further apart, with a line of triangles between them.

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These tessellations can be made with triangle grids.

Design a triangle tessellation online
Design a triangle mosaic online

Large grids of triangles and hexagons to print or save - both types

Hexagons, squares and triangles

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Large grid of hexagons, squares and triangles to print or save

Octagons (8 sides) and squares

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Large grid of octagons and squares to print or save

Dodecagons (12 sides) and triangles - Since the sides of the shapes must be the same length, so
they can fit together, you end up with the dodecagons being much larger than the triangles.

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Large grid of dodecagons and triangles to print or save

Dodecagons, hexagons and squares

Large grid of dodecagons, hexagons and squares to print or save

Pentagons - Regular pentagons won't make a tessellation, but rather squashed ones will.

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Large grid of irregular pentagons to print or save

Penrose tiles - these are based on five-fold symmetry, and they never repeat! (external site.)

Waffle - You don't have to restrict yourself to regular shapes. Here is a waffle pattern, and a
suggested colour scheme.

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Large waffle grid to print or save

Fish - These patterns are based on a simple fish design, made of a tilted square with a triangle for a

tail.
It's surprising how many ways you can fit these together.

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Large grid of fish to print or save

© Jo Edkins 2007 - Return to Tessellations index

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