What the glaze does and does not do
The body of a ceramic tile is porous; the glaze is the waterproof layer. That works well on a wall, where nothing abrades it, and less well on a floor, where grit acts like sandpaper. Once the glaze is scratched through, the pale body shows and there is no repair. It is also why a chipped ceramic tile is so obvious — the interior is a different colour from the face, unlike a full-body vitrified tile.
Where they are the correct choice
| Location | Suitable? | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom walls | Yes | Light, easy to cut, huge range |
| Kitchen backsplash | Yes | Subway and handmade looks live here |
| Utility and store floors | Acceptable | Low traffic, low cost |
| Living and bedroom floors | No | Glaze wears; use vitrified |
| Balcony and exposed floors | No | Water absorption and frost-free rating matter |
| Commercial floors | No | Traffic will destroy the glaze |
Rates, and where the money actually goes
At ₹35–95 per sq ft, ceramic is the cheapest tile on the shelf — but wall tiling labour is ₹55–110 per sq ft, more than the tile. So on a bathroom wall, upgrading from a ₹40 tile to an ₹85 one changes the finished cost by about a third, not by double. That is usually a good trade: the better tile has a truer glaze, straighter edges and consistent sizing, which is what makes the joints line up.
Ceramic, vitrified, porcelain
All three are fired clay; the difference is how hot and how dense. Ceramic absorbs 3–10% water, vitrified under 0.5%, and porcelain under 0.5% with a finer, whiter body and better edge definition. Cost tracks that order. A quotation that says only “tiles” is underspecified — the same room can be tiled for ₹40 or ₹300 per sq ft. See the dado entry for wall tiling heights and the bathroom renovation cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can ceramic tiles be used on floors?+
In a store, a utility or a low-traffic guest bathroom, yes. In a living room, passage or kitchen, no — the glaze abrades and the pale body shows through. The saving does not survive the first repair.
What is the difference between ceramic and vitrified tiles?+
Firing temperature and water absorption. Ceramic absorbs 3–10% and is softer; vitrified absorbs under 0.5% and is much harder. Ceramic belongs on walls, vitrified on floors.
Are ceramic wall tiles waterproof?+
The glazed face is. The body and the joints are not, which is why waterproofing goes behind the tile and why grout choice matters in a shower. Tile is a finish, not a membrane.
What size ceramic tile suits a small bathroom?+
300 × 600 mm laid vertically makes a low bathroom read taller, with fewer joints than 300 × 300 mm. Very large formats are awkward around cut-outs for plumbing and lose more material to wastage.