Porcelain

Like ceramic, porcelain tile can be used to cover walls, ceilings, countertops, showers, and backsplashes.

Durability and Maintenance

Porcelain is made from dense clay and has a lower moisture content than ceramic, making it harder and more durable.
Porcelain coloring is usually white or grey and left unglazed; however, you can screen-print an image on porcelain to make it look like a natural stone or fabric. Porcelain with screen-printing is not colored all the way through, so if it breaks or chips, you can see the coloring underneath it. Through-body porcelain, in contrast, has color that goes all the way through the tile so that if it cracks or chips, you can’t tell, making it a great choice for outdoor tiling. Like ceramic, porcelain is non-porous and can’t stain, making it easy to clean.

Cost

The price of porcelain is mid-range, and its dense nature makes it difficult to cut, especially when custom shapes or rounded edges are needed.

For more information on tile options for your home redesign, please see our Interior Design Tile Style Guide.