Have you ever had a client ask, “What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile?” and been unable to give a concise definition? We get this question a lot in our showroom, and so we thought we’d give a little primer on the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles.

Porcelain Tiles

Much of the confusion over the definition of porcelain comes from the fact that the term was originally a marketing term and not an industry definition. However, as more manufacturers used the term “porcelain” to describe their densest ceramic tiles, the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) decided to create a standard. In short, the current industry definition of porcelain tile is: ceramic tile that has a water absorption of less than .5%.

So what’s the easiest way to explain that to your clients? If you were to weigh a porcelain tile, and then put it in a bucket of water for 24 hours, and then weigh it again, it would only weigh .5% more. Standard ceramics would absorb more water and therefore add more than .5%. Because of their low water absorption, most porcelains are not susceptible to breakage as a result of rapid freezing and thawing. As a result, these porcelains can be used outside even in cold weather regions.

Ceramic or Non-Porcelain Tiles

The TCNA defines ceramic tiles as a non-porcelain made predominantly of a white clay body. They have a water absorption greater than 0.5%. Ordinarily, non-porcelain tiles are unable to be used outdoors due to their water absorption, however there are some manufactured with similar properties to those of porcelain tiles.

Overall, a general rule of thumb is non-porcelain tiles are great on walls and light- use countertops, while porcelain can be used pretty much everywhere in residential applications (and often in commercial applications as well), but there are always exceptions. Therefore, it is a good idea to check with the manufacturer and, if it’s available, to ask for a tear sheet for application information.