diff --git a/sway/commands/layout.c b/sway/commands/layout.c
index c446f1f9..ec170591 100644
--- a/sway/commands/layout.c
+++ b/sway/commands/layout.c
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
@@ -5,6 +6,26 @@
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
 #include "log.h"
 
+static bool parse_layout_string(char *s, enum sway_container_layout *ptr) {
+	if (strcasecmp(s, "splith") == 0) {
+		*ptr = L_HORIZ;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(s, "splitv") == 0) {
+		*ptr = L_VERT;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(s, "tabbed") == 0) {
+		*ptr = L_TABBED;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(s, "stacking") == 0) {
+		*ptr = L_STACKED;
+	} else {
+		return false;
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
+static const char* expected_syntax =
+	"Expected 'layout default|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith' or "
+	"'layout toggle [split|all]' or "
+	"'layout toggle [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith] [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith]...'";
+
 struct cmd_results *cmd_layout(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "layout", EXPECTED_MORE_THAN, 0))) {
@@ -23,30 +44,55 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_layout(int argc, char **argv) {
 
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "default") == 0) {
 		parent->layout = parent->prev_layout;
-		if (parent->layout == L_NONE) {
-			parent->layout = container_get_default_layout(parent);
-		}
 	} else {
 		if (parent->layout != L_TABBED && parent->layout != L_STACKED) {
 			parent->prev_layout = parent->layout;
 		}
 
-		if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splith") == 0) {
-			parent->layout = L_HORIZ;
-		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splitv") == 0) {
-			parent->layout = L_VERT;
-		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "tabbed") == 0) {
-			parent->layout = L_TABBED;
-		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "stacking") == 0) {
-			parent->layout = L_STACKED;
-		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0 && argc == 2 && strcasecmp(argv[1], "split") == 0) {
-			if (parent->layout == L_HORIZ) {
-				parent->layout = L_VERT;
+		bool assigned_directly = parse_layout_string(argv[0], &parent->layout);
+		if (!assigned_directly && strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0) {
+			if (argc == 1) {
+				parent->layout =
+					parent->layout == L_STACKED ? L_TABBED :
+					parent->layout == L_TABBED ? parent->prev_layout : L_STACKED;
+			} else if (argc == 2) {
+				if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "all") == 0) {
+					parent->layout =
+						parent->layout == L_HORIZ ? L_VERT :
+						parent->layout == L_VERT ? L_STACKED :
+						parent->layout == L_STACKED ? L_TABBED : L_HORIZ;
+				} else if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "split") == 0) {
+					parent->layout = parent->layout == L_VERT ? L_HORIZ : L_VERT;
+				} else {
+					return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "layout", expected_syntax);
+				}
 			} else {
-				parent->layout = L_HORIZ;
+				bool valid;
+				enum sway_container_layout parsed_layout;
+				int curr = 1;
+				for (; curr < argc; curr++) {
+					valid = parse_layout_string(argv[curr], &parsed_layout);
+					if (valid && parsed_layout == parent->layout) {
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+				for (int i = curr + 1; i != curr; ++i) {
+					// cycle round to find next valid layout
+					if (i >= argc) {
+						i = 1;
+					}
+					if (parse_layout_string(argv[i], &parent->layout)) {
+						break;
+					} // invalid layout strings are silently ignored
+				}
 			}
+		} else {
+			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "layout", expected_syntax);
 		}
 	}
+	if (parent->layout == L_NONE) {
+		parent->layout = container_get_default_layout(parent);
+	}
 
 	container_notify_subtree_changed(parent);
 	arrange_windows(parent);
diff --git a/sway/sway.5.scd b/sway/sway.5.scd
index b639653a..a580c7d6 100644
--- a/sway/sway.5.scd
+++ b/sway/sway.5.scd
@@ -111,11 +111,17 @@ They are expected to be used with *bindsym* or at runtime through *swaymsg*(1).
 *fullscreen*
 	Toggles fullscreen for the focused view.
 
-*layout* splith|splitv|stacking|tabbed
+*layout* default|splith|splitv|stacking|tabbed
 	Sets the layout mode of the focused container.
 
-*layout* toggle split
-	Switches the focused container between the splitv and splith layouts.
+*layout* toggle [split|all]
+	Cycles the layout mode of the focused container though a preset list of
+	layouts. If no argument is given, then it cycles through stacking, tabbed
+	and the last split layout. If "split" is given, then it cycles through
+	splith and splitv. If "all" is given, then it cycles through every layout.
+
+*layout* toggle [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith] [split|tabbed|stacking|splitv|splith]...
+	Cycles the layout mode of the focused container through a list of layouts.
 
 *move* left|right|up|down [<px>]
 	Moves the focused container in the direction specified. If the container,