Porcelain Tiles in Bengaluru: Is It the Same as Vitrified?

People often ask us whether porcelain tiles are better than vitrified tiles. The honest answer is that they are, for practical purposes, the same family of tile. The difference is mostly in the name and how a particular range is marketed. This page explains what "porcelain" means and when it matters.

What porcelain tiles are

Porcelain tiles are made from refined clay with a high proportion of feldspar and silica, pressed hard and fired at very high temperatures. The body becomes dense and glass-like, so it absorbs very little water. International standards usually class a tile as porcelain when water absorption is 0.5% or less.

In India, the same kind of tile is usually sold as "vitrified". You will see the word porcelain on some boxes, especially on imported-style ranges, large slabs and some glazed vitrified collections. So when you compare, look at the specification on the box (water absorption, thickness, size tolerance) instead of the name alone.

Glazed porcelain vs full body porcelain

• Glazed porcelain has a printed glaze on a porcelain body. This is the same idea as GVT and PGVT. It gives the most design choice, from marble to concrete to wood.
• Full body porcelain has colour and pattern through the body. A chip or scratch is less visible. See our full body vitrified tiles page.

Where porcelain works, and where it doesn't

Porcelain is a strong choice for:

• Living rooms, kitchens and dining areas with heavy daily use
• Shops, clinics and offices
• Covered balconies and sit-outs, in matt or textured finish
• Kitchen countertops and wall cladding when sold as thin or large slabs

It is not the right choice for every spot. A polished porcelain tile is slippery when wet, so it is not ideal on a bathroom floor or open terrace. Porcelain is also harder to cut and drill than ceramic, which means more effort on walls with many fittings. For a regular bathroom wall, a good ceramic wall tile is often simpler.

Sizes and finishes commonly available

Porcelain and vitrified tiles typically come in 600x600 mm, 600x1200 mm and 800x1600 mm. Large porcelain slabs of 1200x2400 mm and beyond are also made, sometimes in thinner 6 mm versions for walls and furniture. Common finishes are matt, satin, glossy, lappato and textured.

How to choose

1. Read the box, not the name. Water absorption under 0.5% and a clear size and thickness are what matter.
2. Match the finish to the room. Matt for kitchens and wet areas, gloss for bedrooms and halls.
3. Check flatness. Lay two tiles face to face. They should sit flat without rocking. Our guide on how to check tile quality has more simple tests.
4. Ask about edges. Rectified edges allow thin joints and a cleaner finish on large tiles.
5. Plan for cutting. Dense tiles need a good cutter and a careful tiler, especially for large formats.

Ask us what fits your project

If a brochure or architect has suggested porcelain, bring the details to the shop. We will show you comparable tiles that are currently in stock and explain the differences in plain words.