What actually separates them
Ceramic tiles are made from red or white clay fired at a lower temperature. Porcelain is made from a denser, more refined clay mixture fired at a higher temperature and pressed under greater force, which is what gives it its lower porosity.
That difference in porosity is measured as water absorption. Porcelain must absorb less than 0.5% of its weight in water to earn the name under British and European standards; standard ceramic wall or floor tile typically sits well above that.
Lower absorption matters wherever water sits or freezes, which is why porcelain is the standard choice for shower floors, wet rooms and any exterior tiling, while ceramic remains entirely appropriate for bathroom walls that rarely see standing water.
Hardness and wear rating
Tile hardness is rated using the PEI scale from 0 to 5, based on resistance to surface abrasion. PEI 0-1 is wall-only. PEI 2-3 suits light residential foot traffic such as a bathroom floor. PEI 4-5 is for heavier commercial or hallway use.
Porcelain generally scores higher on PEI because the body is denser throughout, but a well-glazed ceramic floor tile rated PEI 3 will still perform perfectly well underfoot in a domestic bathroom.
The number that matters more for a shower floor is actually slip resistance (an R rating), not PEI, and both porcelain and ceramic are available with textured, higher-slip-resistance finishes.
Cutting, fixing and the labour difference
Porcelain's density is exactly what makes it harder to work with. It needs a wet saw with a diamond blade rated for porcelain, blunts standard blades faster, and is more prone to chipping on a badly set score-and-snap cutter.
Full-body porcelain (where the colour runs through the tile rather than sitting in a surface glaze) hides chipped edges far better than glazed porcelain or ceramic, where a chip reveals a different-coloured body underneath.
Fixing needs a flexible C2TE S1 adhesive on porcelain, because its low absorption means it will not draw moisture from the adhesive the way a more porous ceramic body does; using a standard adhesive on porcelain risks a weak bond that shows up months later as hollow-sounding tiles.
Cost comparison in the real world
Ceramic is usually the cheaper buy per square metre, though large format and designer porcelain ranges have narrowed that gap considerably at the premium end.
| Tile type | Typical supply cost | Water absorption | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ceramic | £15-£40/m2 | Above 3% | Bathroom walls, low-traffic floors |
| Mid-range porcelain | £25-£55/m2 | Under 0.5% | Bathroom and shower floors |
| Full-body porcelain | £40-£90/m2 | Under 0.5% | Wet rooms, heavy-use floors |
| Large format porcelain | £45-£120/m2 | Under 0.5% | Feature floors and walls |
Our rule of thumb when specifying a job
For bathroom walls above the splash zone, ceramic is a genuinely sensible, cost-effective choice and there is no functional reason to pay more for porcelain there.
For any bathroom floor, shower tray surround or wet room, we specify porcelain as standard, because the absorption rate and hardness earn their keep in a room that is wet every single day.
Where budget is tight, we would rather put the saving into ceramic walls and spend properly on a porcelain floor than spread a thin porcelain finish everywhere and compromise on adhesive or waterproofing underneath it.
Frequently asked questions
Is porcelain always better than ceramic?
Not always, no. It is more water-resistant and harder wearing, which matters on floors and in wet areas, but ceramic is perfectly good on bathroom walls and is usually cheaper.
Can I use ceramic tile on a shower floor?
We would not recommend it. Ceramic's higher water absorption makes it a poor choice for a surface that sits wet for long periods; porcelain is the standard choice there.
Why did my porcelain tile chip and show a different colour underneath?
That usually means it was glazed porcelain rather than full-body porcelain. Full-body tiles carry the same colour through the whole thickness, so chips are far less visible.
Does porcelain cost more to fit as well as to buy?
Generally yes, a little. It needs proper diamond cutting tools and takes longer to cut cleanly, particularly on large format sizes, which shows up as slightly higher labour time.
Which should I choose for a small ensuite on a tight budget?
Ceramic walls with a porcelain floor is our usual recommendation. It keeps cost down where it matters least and puts the durability where the room actually needs it.