What is the Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tile?

Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles are similar in many ways. You can’t always tell them apart by quickly glancing at the installed products.

Both tiles are clay-based and kiln-fired, but porcelain is technically a specialized type of ceramic. The clays used to make porcelain have a higher density and are fired longer at a higher temperature than ceramic.

The difference in ingredients and production methods creates types of tile with unique characteristics. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in the porcelain tile vs. ceramic tile decision.

How to Tell the Difference Between Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Packaging will indicate if new tiles are porcelain or ceramic. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has a certification process for manufacturers producing porcelain. For loose or installed tile, there are some rules of thumb that can help you determine whether it is ceramic or porcelain.

Porcelain tile has the same color throughout the material. A broken or chipped piece of unglazed porcelain will have a uniform color throughout its thickness. Ceramic tile often has a glazed surface coloring, so chips may reveal a different color underneath.

The finish of porcelain is smoother than that of ceramic. Turn over a piece of loose tile. The unglazed surface of ceramic tile will feel coarse. The finer grain of porcelain will be smooth to the touch.

Ceramic tiles aren’t as dense as porcelain and therefore are slightly lighter by comparison.

Benefits of Using Porcelain Tile

As stated above, the primary differences between porcelain and ceramic tile are composition and the manufacturing process. Porcelain is made using a mixture of finer clay packed at higher pressures and baked at higher temperatures in the kiln. This gives porcelain tile several important traits.

Durability: The density of porcelain tile makes it more durable than ceramic tile while being less subject to wear and tear. This makes it more suitable for commercial use as well as in the home.

Water Resistance: Porcelain tile is almost impervious to water compared to ceramic tile. According to the ASTM standards, porcelain must have a water absorption rate of 0.5-percent or lower. Ceramic tiles are more porous and often have a higher water absorption rate.

Through-Body Composition: Because of the uniform color of material in unglazed porcelain tile, small chips may not be as noticeable as they would be on a piece of ceramic tile.

Benefits of Using Ceramic Tile

Versatile ceramic tile comes in finishes ranging from simple to ornate and classic to contemporary.