Ceramic vs. Porcelain Tile: What’s the Difference?

Whether you're remodeling your bathroom, updating a kitchen backsplash, or building a new home, choosing between ceramic and porcelain tile is one of the first decisions you'll need to make. While they may look similar on the surface, there are key differences that can affect everything from durability to long-term maintenance. Let’s break it down.

Understanding the Basics

What is Ceramic Tile?

Kitchen with wood cabinets, floating wood shelves, white countertop, and beige capsule mosaic on backsplash.

Kitchen with blue arabesque mosaic tile on backsplash, white countertop, and beige wood cabinets.

Ceramic tile is made from a mixture of natural clay, sand, and water that’s shaped, glazed, and fired at lower temperatures than porcelain. This results in a tile that’s slightly more porous and softer—making it easier to cut and install.

Common uses: Ceramic tile is ideal for walls, low-traffic flooring, and decorative applications in dry areas. It’s a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, and accent tile features thanks to its affordability and vast style selection.

What is Porcelain Tile?

Outdoor shower with white terrazzo look walls.

Kitchen with beige stone look rectangle floor tile in herringbone pattern, white quartzite countertop and backsplash, and beige wood cabinets.

Porcelain tile is a subtype of ceramic, but it’s made with finer clay mixture and fired at much higher temperatures. This makes it denser, harder, and less porous, resulting in a tile with a durable surface that performs exceptionally well in areas prone to moisture, wear, and heavy foot traffic.

Ideal applications: Porcelain is the go-to choice for floors, outdoor patios, wet zones like showers, and high-traffic commercial spaces.

Key Differences Between Ceramic and Porcelain

Water Absorption and Durability

Dining room and backyard separated by floor to ceiling window, beige concrete look rectangle tile on floor, large pool with waterfall, and a mountain view.

Pool side with white and gray penny round mosaic on pool lining, white square mosaic tile on pool floor, and beige square concrete look tile on backyard floor.

Porcelain tile has a water absorption rate below 0.5%, making it virtually impervious to water. This gives it superior durability in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and patios. Ceramic tile absorbs more water and is better suited for dry, indoor areas.

Appearance and Design Options

Dining room with black and white square concrete look tile in checkered pattern, wood cabinets, and white dining table with white chairs.

Close up of shower with green rectangle mosaic on shower walls, white terrazzo look tile on bottom half of wall, and gold accents.

Both ceramic and porcelain offer a wide variety of colors, shapes, and styles. Ceramic often features more vibrant glazes and detailed surface patterns, making it ideal for bold design statements. Porcelain, on the other hand, excels at replicating natural materials with incredible realism—popular choices include wood look, marble look, and concrete look tiles that bring texture and sophistication to both modern and classic interiors.

Installation and Cost

Kitchen with square beige tile on backsplash, beige rectangle tile on top half of wall in basketweave mosaic, wood cabinets, and a white countertop.

Bathroom with marble look white square floor tile, white bathtub, and wood cabinets.

Ceramic tile is easier to cut and generally more budget-friendly, making it a great choice for DIYers or large-scale wall applications. Porcelain, due to its density, requires specialized tools and expertise to install—but pays off in long-term performance.

Maintenance and Lifespan

Hallway with gray rectangle concrete look floor tiles, white and blue rectangle floor tiles, and white, blue, and gray walls.

Kitchen with center island, yellow bar chairs, blue fishscale walls and backsplash, and a white stone look floor tile.

Both tile types are easy to clean and stain-resistant, but porcelain holds an edge in longevity. It’s tougher and less likely to chip, crack, or show wear over time, especially in high-impact or wet environments. For tips on keeping your tiles looking their best, read our guides to ceramic tile care and porcelain tile care.

Choosing the Right Tile for Your Space

Best Uses for Ceramic Tile

Bar with white concrete look square tile on back wall and on bar counter, white marble look countertop, and two black bar chairs.

Bathroom with gray stone look countertop, white subway tile on backsplash, and white encaustic square floor tile.

Walls and vertical applications
Light-traffic floors (powder rooms, guest bathrooms)
Decorative details like backsplashes or accent walls

Best Uses for Porcelain Tile

Living room with wood look tile on floor, white concrete look rectangle mosaic on walls, white couch, and two white chairs.

Outdoor shower with two white side walls, and a blue penny round mosaic on shower wall and shower floor.

Shower floors
Main floors in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entryways
Outdoor patios or pool areas with added slip resistance
Outdoor walls in any climate
High-traffic zones in residential or commercial projects

Why Tile Type Matters for Long-Term Value

Sitting area with white chair, white rectangle concrete look floor tile, and wood rectangle mosaic on back wall.

Kitchen with white cabinets, white countertop, and a yellow rectangle mosaic tile with 3d pattern on backsplash.

Choosing the right tile type isn’t just about looks—it directly affects durability, maintenance, and home value. Porcelain’s resistance to wear, water, and stains makes it an investment in longevity. Ceramic offers design flexibility at a lower cost for areas with fewer performance demands

A smart tile choice now means fewer repairs later—and a space that stays beautiful for years to come.

Explore Your Options with Daltile

Still not sure which tile option is right for your project? Our design experts are here to help. Visit a Daltile showroom to compare ceramic and porcelain tile side-by-side, get design advice, and even order a sample online to experience the difference firsthand.