Porcelain is more durable and water resistant but ceramic is easier to install and more affordable.
Learn more about ceramic vs. porcelain tile and when to use them in your home.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
What Is Porcelain Tile?
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
(Look for low-absorption porcelain tile awarded a PTCA Certification Mark from the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency.)
The clay mixture in porcelain tile is more refined than ceramic clays.
The tiles are fired at temperatures ranging from 2,200F to 2,500F.
The Spruce / Nusha Ashjaee
Porcelain is sometimes a higher-cost tile with a narrow selection of certified products.
The tile is made with a coarser clay mix than porcelain and includes a low ratio of fine kaolin.
Ceramic tile is fired at lower temperatures than porcelain tile, generally about 1,800F to 2,000F.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
Ceramic tile is sometimes less expensive than porcelain because of how it is manufactured.
The bodies of both tiles may look the same but there are differences.
Durability
Porcelain tiles are stronger and more durable than ceramic tiles.
Tip
Check PTCA certification instead of relying on manufacturer claims.
Some tiles absorbed as much as six times the maximum amount of water.
Installation
Both porcelain andceramic tiles are installedusing the same method.
Tiles are adhered to an underlayment of cement board using a mortar-based thin-set adhesive.
Uses
Both types of tile are used indoors.
However, porcelain’s density gives it more of an outdoor advantage but only in limited climates.
Damp-mop the tile floor once every two weeks.
How to Choose Porcelain vs.
Ceramic Tile
Choosing porcelain vs. ceramic tile can be a tough choice.
The main difference is water absorption.
Do not consider ceramic tile for any outdoor installations regardless of your climate.
Porcelain tile can be more expensive than ceramic tile.
Generally, porcelain tile is double the price of ceramic tile.
Porcelain tile may be more costly to install, however.
Yes, polished, smoothly finished porcelain tiles become slippery, especially when wet.
Use impervious (vitreous) ceramic tile in a shower.
However, use glazed tiles for walls only and slip-resistant tiles for floors.
Always check the manufacturer’s suggestions for tile usage in a bathroom.
Porcelain tiles are dense and not prone to chipping when installed properly.
Chips may not be as noticeable in a porcelain tile because of its uniform color.
However, dense porcelain tiles do not flex well and are prone to cracks if a building shifts.
Certified Porcelain Testing.International Product Assurance Laboratories.
Tile Council of North America (TCNA).
