TL;DR: Use porcelain on floors, in heavy-use areas and outdoors, and ceramic on walls, where it performs just as well and is lighter, easier to cut and usually cheaper.
- Porcelain absorbs 0.5% water or less (BS EN 14411), so it is denser, harder and more frost resistant, but heavier.
- Ceramic is lighter and easier to cut; many ceramic tiles are made for walls only.
- Outdoors, porcelain is the only realistic choice of the two.
- For bathroom floors, look for a wet slip rating (PTV) of 36 or more.
- Both work over underfloor heating with a flexible S1 adhesive.
In a showroom, porcelain and ceramic tiles can look almost identical. Both are made from clay fired in a kiln, both come glazed in a huge range of colours and finishes, and both give you a hard-wearing, easy-clean surface. The real difference in porcelain vs ceramic tiles lies inside the tile, and that affects where each one works best, how it is fitted and what it costs.
This guide sets out the differences in plain terms, so you can choose the right tile for each room rather than paying for performance you don't need.
What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles?
Porcelain is technically a type of ceramic tile. It is made from a finer, more refined clay mix and fired at a higher temperature, which produces a dense, vitrified body that absorbs very little water.
Standard ceramic tiles use a coarser clay body fired at a lower temperature. They are lighter, softer and more porous beneath the glaze, which is why many ceramic tiles are designed for walls or light-use floors.
Water absorption and BS EN 14411
The clearest technical difference is water absorption. BS EN 14411, the standard used to classify ceramic tiles in the UK and Europe, groups tiles by how much water the tile body absorbs as a percentage of its weight. Porcelain sits in the lowest group, with water absorption of 0.5% or less (group BIa for pressed tiles). Many glazed ceramic wall tiles fall into the highest group, above 10%.
You will usually find the group on the manufacturer's technical data sheet. If a tile is sold as porcelain, it is worth checking that the absorption figure is 0.5% or lower.
Low absorption is why porcelain copes better with frost, wet areas and heavy use. That doesn't make a glazed ceramic tile a poor choice for a bathroom wall: the glazed face sheds water, and in a shower it is the waterproofing behind the tiles that does the real work.
Density, strength and weight
Because porcelain is denser, it is harder-wearing and more resistant to chips and scratches. Many porcelain tiles are "through-body" or "colour-body", meaning the colour runs through the tile, so a small chip is less noticeable.
Porcelain is also heavier. On walls, your fitter needs to check the surface, particularly plasterboard or old plaster, can carry the weight of the tiles plus adhesive. This matters most with large-format tiles.
Cutting and fitting
Ceramic tiles are easy to work with. They can usually be scored and snapped on a manual cutter, and cutting around pipes and sockets is straightforward.
Porcelain is much harder, so it needs good-quality cutters, diamond blades and diamond drill bits. Large-format porcelain also needs a very flat surface and careful levelling to avoid "lipping", where the edge of one tile sits proud of the next. Big tiles often need two people to handle and lay.
All of this is why porcelain usually takes longer to fit. The adhesive also needs to suit both the tile and the surface it is going onto, so it is worth leaving the choice to an experienced tiler.
Floors vs walls: where each tile works best
- Kitchen floors and hallways: porcelain. It stands up to heavy footfall, dropped pans and grit brought in on shoes.
- Bathroom floors: porcelain is the safer long-term choice, in a finish with good slip resistance (see below).
- Bathroom and kitchen walls: ceramic works well, and it is lighter and easier to cut around fittings. Porcelain is fine too if you want the same tile running from floor to wall.
- Splashbacks and feature walls: either. Ceramic gives you glossy, handmade-look and patterned options, often at a lower price.
- Over underfloor heating: both transfer heat well. What matters most is the right flexible adhesive and following the heating manufacturer's instructions.
Outdoor use
If you want tiles running from the kitchen out onto a patio, porcelain is the only realistic option of the two. Its low absorption makes it far more resistant to frost damage than ceramic, which can crack when absorbed water freezes. Outdoor porcelain is usually thicker than indoor tile and has a textured surface for grip, so always check a tile is rated for external use.
Slip ratings: PTV and R ratings explained
Slip resistance matters on any floor that gets wet. You will see two main systems on tile specifications.
- Pendulum Test Value (PTV): the pendulum test is the method preferred in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK Slip Resistance Group and the Tile Association. HSE classes a PTV of 36 or above as low slip potential, 25 to 35 as moderate and 24 or below as high. For bathroom floors, look for a wet PTV of 36 or more.
- R ratings (R9 to R13): these come from a German ramp test (DIN 51130), where a tester in safety shoes walks on an oiled, tilting ramp. The higher the number, the more grip. There is also a separate barefoot ramp test (DIN 51097) graded A, B and C. R ratings are useful for comparing tiles, but UK guidance notes the oil contaminant is less representative of real conditions than water, which is why the wet pendulum test is preferred here.
A polished or high-gloss tile can be slippery when wet, whether it is porcelain or ceramic. For bathroom floors and level-access showers, a matt, textured or anti-slip finish is the better choice. If a tile's slip data isn't listed, ask for it before you buy.
Porcelain vs ceramic tiles: cost
Ceramic is generally cheaper to buy and quicker, so cheaper, to fit. Porcelain costs more per square metre and takes longer to install, especially in large formats. That said, the price range within each type is wide, and a designer patterned ceramic can easily cost more than a plain porcelain.
A sensible way to budget is to put porcelain where durability matters most, on floors and outdoors, and use ceramic on walls, where it performs just as well. A good quote should show tiles, adhesive, grout, trims and labour as separate lines, so you can see where the money goes.
Choosing tiles from our showroom
We carry porcelain and ceramic designs from several manufacturers, including Ca' Pietra tiles, RAK Ceramics floor and wall tiles and Designer Tiles patterned and plain ranges, alongside Imola and Casalgrande Padana. You can see more on our tiles page.
If you are also weighing up a warmer, softer floor, our guide to LVT vs tiles compares luxury vinyl flooring with porcelain for kitchens and bathrooms.
Frequently asked questions
Is porcelain better than ceramic for a bathroom?
For the floor, porcelain is usually the better choice because it is harder-wearing and less absorbent. On the walls, a good glazed ceramic tile performs just as well and is lighter and easier to cut.
Can I use ceramic tiles on a floor?
Some ceramic tiles are made for floors, but many are wall-only. Check the manufacturer's specification confirms the tile is suitable for floors and for the amount of foot traffic you expect.
Can porcelain tiles go over underfloor heating?
Yes. Porcelain and ceramic both transfer heat well. The tiles should be fixed with a flexible adhesive (classified S1 or higher), the floor kept cool while tiling, and the heating brought up to temperature gradually afterwards, following the system manufacturer's instructions.
How can I tell if a tile is really porcelain?
Look at the technical data sheet. A porcelain tile should show water absorption of 0.5% or less when tested to BS EN 14411.
Visit the showroom
Seeing tiles side by side, in daylight and in your hand, makes the choice much easier. Come and see our porcelain and ceramic ranges at 32 Manor Park Rd, Birmingham B36 0DJ (open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm), or book a free consultation and we'll help you choose the right tile for each room.