Published 07/10/2026 1 min readMaterials
Ceramic Tiles vs Porcelain Tiles — A Comparison of Price, Installation, and Durability
Porcelain or ceramic tiles? The differences in water absorption, hardness, frost resistance, and price per m². Which one to choose for your bathroom, flooring, or terrace.
When you head to the store for tiles, you are greeted by hundreds of patterns and price tags that make you wonder why one option is four times more expensive than the other. Here is what truly sets ceramic tiles apart from porcelain.
Ceramic Tiles vs Porcelain
- Water absorption — ceramics absorb about 10%, porcelain less than 0.5%: it is practically impermeable.
- Hardness — porcelain is pressed under higher pressure: it is more scratch-resistant.
- Frost resistance — only porcelain is suitable for outdoor use and balconies.
- Installation — ceramics are lighter and more forgiving of minor mistakes; porcelain requires diamond tools and an experienced tiler.
- Price — ceramics from about £8/m², porcelain from about £12/m², but the durability can be 2× longer.
What to choose
- Bathroom walls: ceramics are sufficient — the conditions are mild.
- Flooring, kitchen, hallway: porcelain, preferably with R10/R11 anti-slip properties.
- Balcony, terrace: frost-resistant porcelain only.
Expensive materials cannot replace professional installation — on LocalTrader, you can compare both materials and specialists.
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