Porcelain vs. Ceramic
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are our most popular products, and for good reason. These low-maintenance building materials have been around for thousands of years! In that time, we've expanded our tile-making technology to achieve new levels of durability and design. They can be made to look like anything, from natural stone to hardwood, from leather to canvas, from encaustic patterns tiles to hammered metal. But we’re often asked: what’s the difference between porcelain and ceramics?
What's the difference?
Short answer: Porcelains are denser, harder ceramics.
Long answer: All porcelains are ceramics, but not all ceramics are porcelains. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are essentially the same material: modified clay that is fired at very high temperatures (usually between 2100-2500°F). This clay can be colored, glazed, and shaped to the manufacturer’s desire to create a wide variety of looks and levels of durability.
To determine whether the end product qualifies as a porcelain or as a ceramic, the tile is submerged in water for a period of time. If, when it’s removed, it has absorbed more than 0.5% of its body weight in water, it is a ceramic. If it’s absorbed less than 0.5%, it’s a porcelain. A low absorption rate means it is less porous, denser, and stronger.
What are the benefits of ceramic over porcelain, and vice versa?
Ceramics: Because they’re easier to produce, ceramics are generally less expensive than porcelains. They are also more lightweight and may be better for installations where weight limits are a concern.
Wall ceramics can have brighter color glazes than porcelains, so if you want a fire engine red or lime green, ceramic may be your best choice.
Porcelains: Porcelain tiles are more durable and can be installed in more places than ceramics can: floors, walls, countertops, patios, and beyond! There is a vastly greater selection of porcelain tiles than there is of ceramics. For example, we have an approximately 14 to 1 ratio of porcelain to ceramic tile on display in our showroom.
When a colorful glaze or clay pigment is baked at the high temperatures necessary to create a porcelain tile, the color dulls somewhat. It’s very difficult to produce brightly colored porcelain tiles, and as such they usually cost more than more neutral tiles of a similar quality.
The vibrant teal of Flow Peacock Green is available on ceramic wall tiles, but not porcelain floor tiles.
One of our reddest ceramic wall tiles: Color Collection’s Red Pepper
Crossville Tile’s Argent Chicago Fire is one of the reddest porcelain tiles available, and even though it’s deliciously bold, it’s not as bright as a red ceramic wall tile.
Can ceramics be used on floors?
Short answer: That depends upon the ceramic.
Long answer: The weakest (and most common) ceramic tiles are the subway-style glazed wall tiles that are commonly used on shower walls and some countertops; these are far too fragile for floors.
However, there are floor-grade ceramics that are almost as durable as porcelains, and they are suitable for most residential floors and light traffic areas.
Ask us about specific tiles you're interested in and we'll tell you how well they'll hold up in your installation.
Impresa Light Gray has both a 12x24” ceramic floor tile and a 4x12” ceramic wall tile. The floor tiles could be used on the wall, but the wall tiles cannot be used on the floor.
Can glazed tiles be used on the floor?
Short answer: That depends upon the glazed tile.
Long answer: There is nothing inherently inferior about glazed porcelain or glazed ceramic. If a tile has a pattern, design, or print on the surface (so you’re not seeing the clay body of the tile), it’s a glazed tile. However, there are different durability levels of both porcelains and ceramics, and their glazes also vary in durability.
In years past, a tile's PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating would indicate how durable the glaze is: a rating of 5 is the most durable and can be used in high-traffic commercial areas (such as airports and shopping malls), while a rating of 1 is the least durable and only recommended for use on interior walls or light-use countertops (such as bathroom countertops). Now most tile manufacturers are using the more universal Mohs Hardness Scale to indicate the scratch-resistance of a tile: 10 is as hard as diamonds, 1 is as soft as talc. Most porcelains are between 6 and 9, while ceramics very greatly.
Also consider what is below the glaze. If the glaze is significantly lighter or darker than the body of the tile, it will be very visible if the glaze wears off (which can take as long as twenty years in a residential setting) or chips (could happen any time if the tile is installed improperly; eliminate lippage and prevent chips with a leveling system). The clay body in a Color Body porcelain has been dyed to match the glaze so that if it does wear off, it will be very hard to notice. A Through Body porcelain often has no glaze, and the pattern/color you see on the top continues through the body of the tile.
Do I need to seal either porcelain or ceramic?
Porcelain: Some manufacturers recommend using a penetrating sealer on polished porcelains before grouting (the polishing process can open up micro pores in the surface), and some unglazed tiles are susceptible to staining. However most porcelains do not require sealing; check with your tile dealer to see if the product you're interested in requires a sealer.
Ceramic: If you are using a contrasting grout color with your glazed ceramic tiles (for example, white tiles with black grout) or if your ceramic has a crackle glaze, then you should seal your tiles before grouting. If you don’t, the pigments in your grout could settle into the tiny pores and/or cracks in the ceramic’s glaze and stain it.
Sonoma Tilemakers Euphoria Voo Doo ceramic wall tiles have a crackle glaze that should be sealed before grouting.
So what should I use in my installation?
For vertical surfaces, such as shower walls or backsplashes, you can use either porcelains or ceramics.
For low traffic areas, such as bathroom floors, either floor-grade ceramics or porcelains will work.
For high traffic areas, such as an entryway, hallway, or kitchen floors, porcelain will hold up better, but you can still use some high-quality, floor-grade ceramics.
For outside areas exposed to the elements, we recommend a durable porcelain. Find one that's rated as frost-resistant. These high density porcelain tiles will survive the freeze/thaw that occurs in Pacific Northwest winters. Learn more about outside tile projects.
Equipe Country Mist Green ceramic wall tile, gray and white chevron porcelain floor tiles.
About the Author: Kathryn Helbling has been a Tile Lines designer and product expert for 10 years, in addition to designing and managing the Tile Lines website.
