Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tiles: Which One Should You Choose?

Whether you’re designing a high-traffic retail space, a sleek hospitality venue, or a bathroom that demands both beauty and functionality, understanding the difference between porcelain and ceramic is essential to making the right selection.

What Is the Key Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?

While both porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from clay and other natural materials, their manufacturing processes and resulting characteristics are quite different.

• Porcelain tiles are fired at higher temperatures and made from more refined clay. This results in a denser, less porous tile with high durability and low water absorption.
• Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures and are more porous and lighter, making them easier to cut and install—especially for walls and vertical applications.

These differences affect where and how each tile type should be used in your design plans.

How Do These Tiles Perform in Commercial and Residential Applications?

For architects and designers working across residential and commercial spaces, performance is key.

• Porcelain tiles are ideal for high-traffic areas like hotel lobbies, retail showrooms, corridors, and outdoor zones. Their density allows them to handle wear and tear, heavy foot traffic, and exposure to moisture.
• Ceramic tiles, on the other hand, are well-suited to walls, splashbacks, and low-traffic interior areas, where load-bearing strength is less critical.

In spaces where style must meet functionality—such as open-plan kitchens or client-facing bathrooms—porcelain offers both impact and endurance.

Which Tile Offers Better Durability and Moisture Resistance?

If your project involves wet zones or high-moisture environments, porcelain is typically the superior choice.

• Porcelain’s low water absorption makes it ideal for commercial bathrooms, poolside amenities, and outdoor walkways.
• In contrast, ceramic is more susceptible to water ingress, making it less suitable for these environments unless sealed properly and used on walls only.

Beyond moisture resistance, porcelain also offers greater chip resistance and strength under pressure, which is particularly valuable in public-facing or heavily used areas.

For all wet areas, be sure to check the tile’s slip grading, not just the material, to ensure compliance and safety.

How Do Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles Compare in Aesthetic Options?

From a design perspective, both tile types offer a wide range of finishes, colours, and patterns—but they lend themselves to different applications.

• Porcelain tiles are ideal for achieving large-format, seamless looks, often used in high-end residential or commercial builds. They’re available in stone-look, concrete-look, timber-look, and refined matte or polished finishes.
• Ceramic tiles, with their lighter weight and easy handling, are often used for decorative wall applications. They’re especially popular in handmade-look formats, adding character and warmth to spaces like powder rooms, café interiors, or boutique retail counters.

Explore handmade-look ceramic tiles for walls.
Discover stone-look porcelain tiles for high-end finishes.

How to Decide Which Tile to Specify?

To determine the best tile type for your project, consider these questions:

• Is the space exposed to water or heavy use?
• Will the tiles be used on floors or walls?
• Is a refined, large-format aesthetic important?
• Does the client expect low maintenance and long-term performance?

Where possible, view tiles in a full-scale display or showroom setting to assess their true finish, colour variation, and texture before specifying.

Book a design consultation or showroom visit.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between porcelain and ceramic tiles is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about performance, longevity, and context. For high-traffic commercial projects or moisture-prone environments, porcelain tiles deliver unmatched resilience. For interior feature walls, ceramic tiles offer versatility and charm.

Still unsure which is right for your next project? Contact us today to speak with a team member or explore our collections online and in-store.