Types of Tiles: Compare GVT, Ceramic, Vitrified, and Every Category

Tile type refers to the body material and manufacturing process used to produce the tile. It determines water absorption, strength, surface hardness, where the tile can be safely used, and how long it will last. Picking the wrong tile type for an area is more costly than picking the wrong colour or pattern because the body affects structural performance, not just appearance. 

GVT tiles, ceramic tiles, PGVT tiles, full-body tiles, double charge tiles, nano tiles, and digital tiles are the main categories available in India. Tilesfinders lists tiles by category so you can compare body types and filter directly to the one your project requires, with prices from Rs. 25/sq.ft sourced from manufacturers in Morbi, Gujarat.

Tile Type Comparison: All Categories at a Glance

Note: PGVT tiles are listed as Floor Safe: NO without exception. This applies to all colours, patterns, and sizes of PGVT. The polished glazed surface has near-zero friction and is a slip hazard on any floor surface, wet or dry.

GVT Tiles (Glazed Vitrified Tiles)

GVT or Glazed Vitrified Tiles are the most widely used tile type in India across all room categories. The body is vitrified at above 1200 degrees Celsius, producing a dense, low-porosity tile with 0.05% water absorption tested under IS 15622:2006. A digital-printed glaze is applied to the surface before the final firing, allowing any look, including marble, wood, stone, concrete, and geometric patterns to be reproduced with consistent colour accuracy across large batches.

GVT tiles in matte, sugar, GHR, and anti-skid finishes are safe on bathroom floors, kitchen floors, outdoor areas, balconies, and parking. GVT in lappato and satin matte finishes are safe on dry indoor floors. GVT is available from Rs. 55/sq.ft for standard 600x600mm (2x2) matte from Morbi, Gujarat, to Rs. 160/sq.ft for 600x1200mm (2x4) premium marble look. GVT is the correct specification for all wet-area and outdoor floor applications in India.

PGVT Tiles (Polished Glazed Vitrified Tiles)

PGVT or Polished Glazed Vitrified Tiles begin with the same vitrified body as GVT at 0.05% water absorption but are mech,anically polished after firing to create a mirror-like surface. The polish removes the micro-texture of the glaze, eliminating all friction from the surface. PGVT tiles reflect light more intensely than any other tile type, making rooms appear brighter and more premium. They are the most popular wall tile for Indian living rooms and master bedrooms.

Note: PGVT tiles must never be used on any floor surface. This includes dry living room floors, bedroom floors, and commercial floors, where the tile may appear safe because moisture is absent. Dry dust on a PGVT floor is sufficient to cause a slip and fall. PGVT is a wall-only tile category without exception.

PGVT tiles in 600x1200mm (2x4) marble look or plain colours from Gujarat manufacturers are priced from Rs. 90 to Rs. 240/sq.ft. They are used on living room accent walls, bedroom feature walls, TV unit backdrops, lobby cladding, and bathroom walls above the floor level. PGVT must not be used in shower areas or any wall surface below one metre in bathrooms where splashing creates a wet surface.

Full Body Vitrified Tiles

Full body vitrified tiles have the same colour, pattern, and texture running through the entire thickness of the tile body, not just the surface glaze. This means chips, cuts, and edge wear do not expose a different coloured or textured underlayer. Full-body tiles are the most durable category available for Indian residential and commercial floor applications. They handle heavy foot traffic, dropped objects, and thermal cycling without showing surface damage that would be visible on GVT or PGVT tiles.

Full-body vitrified tiles with matte or anti-skid finish are safe outdoors and in wet areas. They carry 0.05% water absorption and pass IS 15622:2006 testing. The full body construction makes them the correct specification for high-traffic commercial floors, hospital corridors, school buildings, and industrial spaces. Prices from Morbi range from Rs. 90 to Rs. 220/sq.ft. They are available in a narrower range of looks than GVT because the full-body printing technology limits pattern complexity.

Double Charge Vitrified Tiles

Double chargeDouble-chargedles are produced by pressing two layers of pigment into the tile body before firing, creating a pattern that extends four to five millimetres into the tile thickness. This makes the pattern more resistant to surface wear than a surface glaze. Double charge tiles were the dominant premium floor tile in India before GVT technology became widely available, and they remain popular for mid-range residential projects because of their established supply chain and consistent pricing from Gujarat.

Note: Double-charge tiles must not be used outdoors, in parking areas, on balconies, or in any wet area. The body has 0.05% water absorption, but the surf, ace finish is polished and has no grip on wet surfaces. Double charge tiles are dry-indoor-floor-only products.

Double charge tiles are available in 600x600mm (2x2) and 800x800mm (32x32) sizes with polished or matt finishes and priced between Rs. 75 and Rs. 180/sq.ft from Morbi manufacturers. They are used in dry living rooms, dry bedrooms, and dry commercial floors where heavy foot traffic requires the deeper pattern durability of a double charge body over standard GVT.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are fired at lower temperatures than vitrified tiles, producing a body with higher water absorption. Wall-grade ceramic tiles absorb 12% to 16% water and are tested under IS 13630. Floor grade c. Floor grades absorb 3% to 6% water. The lower density means ceramic tiles are lighter, easier to cut, and significantly less expensive than vitrified options. They are the standard tile for bathroom walls, kitchen walls, and kitchen backsplashes across all budget levels in India, available from Rs. 25/sq.ft for basic 300x600mm wall tiles from Gujarat.

Ceramic floor grade tiles are safe on dry light-traffi,c indoor floors such as bedrooms and pooja rooms where load and moisture demands are low. Ceramic tiles must not be used outdoors, on wet bathroom floors, or in parking areas. The water absorption of 3% to 6% on floor grade cfloor-grades the body will absorb moisture and expand over time in wet conditions, leading to joint failure and tile lifting. GVT at 0.05% water absorption is the correct floor tile for all wet Indian home areas.

Nano Vitrified Tiles

Nano vitrified tiles are GVT or full body vitfull-bodyles treated with nano-silica particles that fill the microscopic pores of the surface glaze. This creates a denser, harder surface layer that is highly resistant to staining, scratching, and chemical attack. Nano tiles are used in premium Indian residential projects and high-end commercial spaces where the standard GVT surface hardness is insufficient for the expected wear pattern.

Nano vitrified tiles retain the 0.05% water absorption of standard vitrified bodies and are safe on dry indoor floors in matte finish. Nano matte finish tiles can be used in wet areas and outdoor spaces where the na, no treatment adds stain resistance on top of the standard matte grip. Prices for nano GVT from Morbi range from Rs. 110 to Rs. 260/sq.ft. The nano treatment also makes the surface easier to clean in kitchens and commercial food service areas.

Digital Tiles and Designer Tiles

Digital tiles use high-resolution inkjet printing to apply detailed patterns onto the tile surface before the final glaze firing. The digital process allows any image, pattern, colour gradient, or texture to be reproduced at tile scale. Digital tiles are available in GVT, ceramic, and vitrified bodies, so their floor and wall suitability depends entirely on the body type. A digital pattern on a GVT matte body is a safe floor tile. The same digital pattern on a ceramic wall-grade body is wall-only.

Designer and highlighter tiles are hand-applied, relief-printed, or specially glazed tiles used as feature pieces rather than full-surface covering. Highlighter tiles in metallic, lustrous, or glass finishes are used in single rows or small sections as accent strips on bathroom walls, kitchen backsplashes, and feature walls. They are not structural tiles and are not rated for floor use. Prices for designer and highlighter tiles range from Rs. 150 to Rs. 600/sq.ft, with imported highlighter tiles reaching Rs. 800/sq.ft.

Indian Tile Category Standards and Sourcing

Over 70% of tiles sold in India are produced in Morbi, Gujarat, where vitrified and ceramic manufacturing operate. GVT tiles in all finish types at 0.05% water absorption are tested under IS 15622:2006 before leaving the Gujarat factories. Ceramic wall tiles are tested under IS 13630. Full body vitrified and double c,harge tiles from Morbi are available through nationwide distributor networks with standard lead times regardless of monsoon-season logistics. GVT matte at 600x600mm (2x2) is priced from Rs. 55/sq.ft and 600x1200mm (2x4) from Rs. 75/sq.ft at source, making Gujarat-produced GVT the most cost-effective structural floor tile for Indian residential projects across all climate zones from humid coastal regions to dry northern plains.

Ceramic wall tiles tested to IS 13630 with 12% to 16% water absorption are produced in Morbi in over 300 designs and 50 size options, available from Rs. 25/sq.ft for standard 300x600mm bathroom wall tiles. PGVT polished tiles from Gujarat in 600x1200mm format range from Rs. 90 to Rs. 240/sq.ft and represent the largest single category by value in the Indian premium residential wall tile market. All tile categories from GVT to nano vitrified are available through Tilesfinders with IS standard compliance details, body type, water absorption, and finish shown on every product listing.

All Tile Categories Listed on Tilesfinders

GVT, PGVT, full body vitrified, double charge vitrified, ceramic wall grade, ceramic floor grade, nano vitrified, digital, designer, glass mosaic, and imported tiles across matte, polished, lappato, anti-skid, GHR, and glossy finishes, in sizes from 100x200mm to 800x3000mm, at prices from Rs. 25/sq.ft, are listed on Tilesfinders with tile type, IS standard compliance, water absorption, floor or wall rating, and suitable area shown on every product. Use the category filter to go directly to the tile body type your project requires.