Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles: Which Should You Choose?
Place two tiles side by side and it can be hard to see why one is labelled porcelain and the other ceramic. It is a question customers often ask me in our Guildford showroom here in Perth.
Porcelain is not automatically the better buy, and ceramic is not simply the budget option. Whether porcelain or ceramic is right for your project depends on the individual product, where it will be used and what the installation demands. A wall tile has a different job from a busy floor tile, while the right surface finish can be just as important as the material itself.
In this guide, I’ll explain the practical differences, where each type can work, how prices and installation costs compare, and how to identify a tile reliably. If you are still working through the decisions, our guide to choosing tiles for your home covers size, colour, finish and layout.
First, though, we need to clear up exactly what ceramic and porcelain mean.
What Is the Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?
Porcelain is a type of tile within the ceramic tile family, made to be denser and less absorbent. Under AS 13006:2020, porcelain has a water absorption rate of 0.5% or less. That classification is useful, but the individual product specification and approved application still determine where a tile should be used.
When we compare porcelain vs ceramic tiles, the clearest technical distinction is water absorption. Density, cutting, finish and price also tend to differ, but the ranges overlap. This table covers the usual differences, not a rule for every product.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tile Comparison
| Criterion | Porcelain | Ceramic |
| Material family | A type of ceramic tile | The broader family, including non-porcelain tiles |
| Water absorption | 0.5% or less under AS 13006:2020 | Generally higher, with the classification shown in product data |
| Density and cutting | Commonly denser and harder to cut | Often easier to cut, although format and thickness matter |
| Typical strengths | Heavy-use, low-absorption and approved exposed applications | Walls, splashbacks and approved residential floors |
| Finish and design | Glazed, polished, textured and through-bodied options | Broad glazed surface and design options |
| Price | Often higher, but ranges overlap | Often lower, although premium products can cost more than porcelain |
| Final suitability | Check the application, finish and technical specification | Check the application, finish and technical specification |
For homeowners comparing ceramic and porcelain tiles, water absorption explains the classification, but it does not make the final decision. These classifications reflect density and porosity, not a simple judgement based on tile body colour. Glazed porcelain has a surface coating, while through-bodied porcelain carries its body colour through the tile. Glazed ceramic combines a fired tile body with a decorative surface glaze.
The practical difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is not that one is always good and the other is always bad. Comparing them properly means checking what each product is rated to do. That brings us to the question I hear most: is porcelain always better?
Is Porcelain Always Better Than Ceramic?
Porcelain is not always better than ceramic. Low absorption and density help only when those qualities suit the job. The pros and cons of porcelain vs ceramic tiles become clearer once you compare the room, surface and specification.
Where Porcelain Has a Practical Advantage
Porcelain often suits busy floors and approved exterior use. Its density can help under heavier foot traffic, but the product still needs the correct abrasion resistance, application rating and surface finish.
It can also be harder to cut and drill. Size, thickness and layout affect the work too, so porcelain does not automatically create a simpler installation.
Where Ceramic Can Be the Smarter Choice
A suitable ceramic tile can work well on walls, splashbacks and approved residential floors. It is often easier to handle and cut. If it meets the application requirements, paying extra for porcelain may add no practical benefit.
People often ask which is better, porcelain or ceramic tile. My answer is: better for what? Our guide to porcelain tile pros and cons examines that material in more detail.
Why the Product Specification Matters More Than the Label
A customer wanted one polished porcelain tile across their renovation because they believed porcelain was safest everywhere. After we reviewed each room, a coordinated exterior finish made more sense for the alfresco, while a suitable wall tile worked elsewhere.
Neither material is automatically slip-resistant. Check the slip classification, approved application, size, thickness and care instructions. Texture may help with grip, but it can take more effort to clean. A smooth surface is easier to wipe down but may not suit every wet or outdoor area.
Rather than choosing a winner by name, let us compare where each material works best around the home.
Where Should You Use Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?
Room names alone do not confirm tile suitability. A bathroom has dry walls, wet walls and floors, each with a different job. Start with the approved application, then check the finish, ratings and installation requirements.
Tile Suitability by Application
| Application | Porcelain | Ceramic | What to Check |
| Bathroom walls | Suitable where approved, although extra density may not be needed | Often practical where approved | Wall rating, substrate and finish |
| Shower walls | Suitable where approved | Suitable where approved | Wet-area approval, cleaning and waterproofing |
| Bathroom or shower floors | Often strong with an approved finish | Can work when floor-rated | Slip classification, drainage and format |
| Kitchen, laundry and living floors | Often suited to busy areas | Approved products can work well | Floor rating, wear and cleaning |
| Splashbacks | Suitable, but may offer no practical advantage | Often practical and design-flexible | Cleaning, grout and wall suitability |
| Alfresco and exterior areas | Consider an approved exterior product | Use only where specifically approved | Exterior rating, slip, sun, water and substrate movement |
The material gives you a starting point, but the last column decides the outcome. The final choice always comes back to the product and location. If anything is unclear, confirm it with your tile supplier and a suitably qualified installer before buying.
Bathroom and Shower Areas
If you are comparing ceramic vs porcelain tiles for shower walls, both can work when approved. Floors need closer attention because water, drainage and grip affect the choice. Neither material is automatically non-slip, so check the tested slip classification and surface finish.
Tiles are the visible finish in a wet area. They do not replace the waterproofing membrane or NCC wet-area waterproofing requirements. For more help with floor suitability, size and finish, use our bathroom floor tile guide.
Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles for Kitchen, Laundry and Living Areas
Porcelain often makes sense on busy floors, but suitable ceramic floor tiles can also perform well. The porcelain vs ceramic floor tiles decision should account for foot traffic, cleaning, dropped objects and the product’s floor rating.
For splashbacks and walls, ceramic is often practical because it does not need to handle foot traffic. Porcelain can work too, but its low absorption may add little there. Check the substrate, tile weight, grout and cleaning needs.
Outdoor and Alfresco Areas
Knowing where to use porcelain tiles outdoors starts with checking that the product is approved for exterior use. The same applies when deciding where to use ceramic tiles. The material name alone does not confirm suitability for an alfresco, patio or exposed path.
Perth summer heat, direct sun and wet-dry exposure put extra demands on the surface finish, substrate, tile adhesive and movement joints. We often look for a coordinated exterior version with more texture than the polished internal tile. This maintains the indoor-outdoor look without assuming one finish works everywhere.
Our tile ratings and grades guide explains the main abrasion, grip and product classifications. Once you have narrowed the choice to suitable products, compare the tile price with the full installation cost.
Does Porcelain Cost More Than Ceramic?
Porcelain often costs more than ceramic, but not always. Visible products in our current online porcelain tile range span roughly $40–$65/m², while the ceramic tile range runs from about $20–$70/m². These are current examples, not permanent limits, and they show how much the ranges overlap.
Design, size, finish and clearance pricing can all change the starting figure. I would not choose from the material label or price per square metre alone.
Compare the Total Installed Cost
The tile price is only one part of the budget. Ask your tiler to price the complete job before deciding which product offers better value.
- Tile format: Large-format tiles may need more preparation, handling and cutting.
- Thickness and hardness: Dense porcelain can take longer to cut and drill.
- Layout and cuts: Detailed patterns, corners and a rectified edge can increase labour.
- Substrate preparation: The surface may need work before the tile adhesive and tiles can be applied.
- Installer labour: More time, specialised equipment and difficult access can raise the quote.
Cutting and drilling tile can create silica dust, so installers must follow current WorkSafe WA controls.
A customer compared two products using only the price per square metre. After the installer allowed for tile format, cuts and layout, the cheaper product did not produce the lower quote. I compare the whole job, not one number on a sample.
Compare those ranges online, then view samples in our Guildford showroom. Once cost and suitability are clear, there is one more question: how can you tell which material an existing tile is?
How Can You Tell Whether a Tile Is Porcelain or Ceramic?
The most reliable identifiers are the packaging, product code and technical specification. If you want to know how to tell the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile, start with written information rather than colour or weight.
- Check the carton or spare-tile label.
- Search the manufacturer and product code.
- Read the technical specification and water absorption classification.
- Ask the original retailer, supplier or manufacturer.
- Treat tile body colour, weight and edge appearance as clues only.
The difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles cannot be confirmed from body colour. Glazed porcelain, through-bodied porcelain and glazed ceramic all vary, so a white, red or grey tile body does not settle the question.
I would not scratch, break, soak or drill a tile to test it. These methods can damage the tile or create dust. If the records are gone, choose a replacement for the new application rather than guessing the old classification.
That clears up identification. The remaining questions cover slip, sealing and longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The material name answers only part of the question. These quick answers cover the conditions that often decide whether a specific tile suits the job.
With those final checks covered, you can make the choice based on your room, product and budget.
So, Which Tile Material Should You Choose?
Choose porcelain when low water absorption, heavier foot traffic or an approved exterior application provides a practical advantage. Consider ceramic when a suitable product meets the job and value, easier handling or wall use matters more.
Choosing between porcelain and ceramic should never stop at the material label. That label is the starting point. Use the product specification to confirm the approved application, surface finish, slip classification, tile format and installation requirements.
My view on porcelain vs ceramic tiles is straightforward: buy the product that suits the surface and conditions, not the one that sounds stronger on paper. A suitable ceramic tile is better than an unsuitable porcelain tile, and the reverse is just as true.
Bring your room measurements, photos, application details and preferred styles to our Guildford showroom. We can help you compare suitable products, check where each tile can be used and narrow the choice before you buy. That is safer than relying on one word printed on the carton.
