2026-05-05
What Is the Difference Between Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?
Walk into any tile showroom in Malaysia and you will see porcelain and ceramic tiles displayed side by side. They often look identical. The prices are different, but the salesperson does not always explain why — or whether the difference actually matters for your project.
After 30 years of supplying tiles to homeowners and contractors across Pahang, this is one of the questions we answer most often. Here is the complete answer.
What Is Ceramic Tile?
Ceramic tiles are made from a mixture of natural clay, minerals, and water that is shaped and fired in a kiln at around 1,000–1,150°C. The result is a hard tile with a glazed surface applied on top.
The glaze is what gives ceramic tiles their colour, pattern, and finish. The tile body underneath is typically red, white, or buff in colour and is softer and more porous than the glaze on top.
Key characteristics of ceramic tiles:
- Water absorption rate: 3–7%
- Hardness: moderate
- Weight: lighter than porcelain
- Easier to cut — important for walls with lots of corners and outlets
- Available in a very wide range of colours and patterns
- Generally lower cost than porcelain
What Is Porcelain Tile?
Porcelain tiles are also made from clay, but the clay used is finer and purer (kaolin clay). They are fired at a higher temperature — around 1,200–1,400°C — under greater pressure. This produces a tile that is denser, harder, and far less porous than ceramic.
Full-body porcelain tiles have the same colour and pattern running through the entire thickness of the tile — not just on the surface glaze. This means the tile still looks intact even if it chips at the edge.
Key characteristics of porcelain tiles:
- Water absorption rate: below 0.5% (sometimes as low as 0.05%)
- Hardness: high (harder than ceramic)
- Weight: heavier than ceramic
- More difficult to cut — requires a wet diamond blade saw
- Slightly fewer design options at the budget end, but high-end porcelain looks indistinguishable from marble, wood, or concrete
- Generally higher cost than ceramic
The One Number That Matters: Water Absorption Rate
Everything that separates porcelain from ceramic in practical use comes down to this single number.
Ceramic: 3–7% water absorption Porcelain: below 0.5% water absorption
Why does this matter?
A tile that absorbs water will, over time:
- Allow water to penetrate the adhesive bond, loosening the tile
- Absorb cleaning chemicals, cooking grease, and staining liquids
- Expand and contract with humidity changes, causing grout to crack
- Support mould growth inside the tile body in wet environments
In Malaysia's tropical climate — high humidity year-round, heavy rainfall, and wet kitchens — the difference in water absorption between ceramic and porcelain is not just a specification. It is the difference between tiles that last 5 years and tiles that last 30 years in the wrong location.
When to Use Ceramic and When to Use Porcelain
This is the practical answer most people actually need.
Use porcelain for:
- All bathroom floors
- Kitchen floors — especially wet kitchens (dapur basah)
- Shower areas
- Any outdoor area: carparks, driveways, balconies, garden paths
- High-traffic living areas
- Any floor that gets regularly wet
Use ceramic for:
- Bathroom walls (outside the shower zone)
- Kitchen walls and backsplash
- Bedroom feature walls
- Any interior dry wall surface
- Areas where a wider design range or lower cost is a priority
The simple rule: If it is a floor, or if it gets wet, use porcelain. If it is a dry wall, ceramic is fine.
Does Porcelain Always Look Better Than Ceramic?
No. This is a common misconception.
High-end ceramic wall tiles — especially Italian and Spanish designs — are often more decorative and detailed than porcelain tiles at the same price point. The glaze on ceramic allows for more complex colours, textures, and patterns.
Porcelain has caught up significantly in design, especially in the marble-look, wood-look, and concrete-look categories. But for decorative wall tiles in a bathroom or kitchen, ceramic is often the better-looking choice at a given budget.
The right question is not "which looks better?" but "which is appropriate for where I am tiling?"
Price Difference: Is Porcelain Worth the Extra Cost?
As a rough guide:
| Type | Price Range (Malaysia) |
|---|---|
| Basic ceramic wall tiles | RM 2–5 per sq ft |
| Mid-range ceramic tiles | RM 4–8 per sq ft |
| Basic porcelain floor tiles | RM 4–8 per sq ft |
| Mid-range porcelain tiles | RM 7–15 per sq ft |
| Premium large format porcelain | RM 12–25 per sq ft |
For floor tiles, porcelain is worth the extra cost every time. You will spend more money re-tiling a ceramic floor in 5 years than you save by buying ceramic today.
For wall tiles in dry areas, ceramic is a genuinely cost-effective choice — the performance difference over porcelain does not justify the extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use porcelain tiles on walls?
Yes. Porcelain tiles can be used on walls, but they are heavier and harder to cut than ceramic. This increases installation time and cost slightly. For most wall applications in Malaysian homes, ceramic is the more practical choice.
Can I use ceramic tiles on floors?
Technically yes, but not recommended for wet areas. Ceramic floor tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas will deteriorate faster than porcelain due to the higher water absorption rate. In dry areas like bedrooms, ceramic floor tiles perform adequately.
How do I tell porcelain from ceramic in a showroom?
Look at the side or bottom edge of the tile. Porcelain typically has a uniform, fine-grained appearance throughout. Ceramic often shows a different coloured body beneath the surface glaze. Porcelain is also noticeably heavier for the same size tile. The most reliable method is to ask your supplier for the water absorption rating.
Are all porcelain tiles the same quality?
No. Porcelain quality varies significantly between manufacturers. Ask for the PEI hardness rating (floor wear resistance) and the water absorption certificate for any tile you are specifying for a floor. Reputable brands provide this data.
Low Brother Ceramics supplies ceramic and porcelain tiles for residential and commercial projects across Pahang. Visit our showroom in Bentong or WhatsApp 016-383 1925 to discuss your project.