Ceramic tile is made from red or white clay, which is fired in a kiln and then finished with a durable glaze. These tiles are fine for light-traffic floors and walls; however, ceramic tiles absorb water quite easily, making them prone to chipping, which is a problem in wet areas and in spots where frost occurs. Porcelain tile is made from porcelain clay, which is much denser than ceramic and less impervious to water, which is why you see porcelain tiles in bathrooms and kitchens as well as heavy-traffic areas. Hope this explains the difference. Jay Somerset Home Renovation Guide http://blog.homerenovationguide.com/

i think porcelain is less porous

Most types of tiles that are made from clay or a mixture of clay and other materials, then kiln-fired, are considered to be a part of the larger classification called “Ceramic Tiles”. These tiles can be split into two groups, porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles. These non-porcelain tiles are frequently referred to as ceramic tiles by themselves, separate from porcelain tiles. “Ceramic” or non-porcelain tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall tile and floor tile applications, are softer and easier to cut than porcelain, and usually carry a PEI 0 to 3 rating. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Porcelain tile is a tile that is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles making them frost resistant or frost-proof. Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic. for other information http://www.ciciliotandson.com/index.php