What Is PEI Rating? A Complete Guide to Tile Durability

A PEI rating is a durability scale that shows how well a glazed tile’s surface may resist abrasion from foot traffic. It runs from Class 0 to Class 5, where lower numbers generally suit walls and light use, and higher numbers are commonly considered fit for busy floors. It is useful, but only one of several specifications worth checking before you choose a tile.

Important Notes(!): PEI ratings apply primarily to glazed tile. Unglazed homogeneous porcelain tiles are typically evaluated using different performance standards. 

A PEI Rating does not indicates:

• Slip resistance
• Water absorption
• Impact Resistance
• Breaking strength
• Chemical resistance
• Installation quality
• Overall product quality

A higher PEI rating does not necessarily mean one tile is “better” than another, it simply means it is generally intended for higher levels of foot traffic. If you are early in a project and still weighing materials, our guide on how to choose ceramic tiles pairs well with this one.

The PEI Scale Explained: Classes 0 to 5

The PEI scale runs from Class 0 to Class 5, with each step reflecting greater surface wear resistance. The following classifications are based on internationally recognised testing standards such as ISO 10545-7 and should be used as general guidance only. Actual product suitability depends on project requirements, installation conditions and manufacturer specifications.

PEI class	Surface wear resistance	Commonly considered suitable for	Example Malaysian spaces
Class 0	Very low	Decorative use, walls only	Feature walls, splashbacks
Class 1	Very light	Walls, or floors with barefoot or soft-sole use	Ensuite walls, powder-room features
Class 2	Light	Light-traffic residential floors and walls	Bedrooms
Class 3	Moderate	Most residential floors	Living rooms, dining areas, home kitchens
Class 4	Heavy (residential) to light commercial	Busy homes and light commercial areas	Porches, retail lots, cafes, offices
Class 5	Heavy commercial	High-traffic commercial and institutional floors	Malls, airports, F&B kitchens

These bands are approximate and, as ISO 10545-7 itself notes, are provided for general guidance rather than as a precise specification. For most Malaysian homes, tiles in the Class 3 to Class 4 range cover nearly every floor.

How Is a Tile’s PEI Rating Tested?

A tile’s rating comes from a standardised abrasion test, most commonly run to ISO 10545-7 (or the equivalent ASTM C1027). A glazed sample is placed under a rotating load of steel balls, fine abrasive powder, and water, which is spun across the surface to mimic the grinding effect of foot traffic and grit over time. The number of revolutions the glaze withstands before visible wear appears decides its class.

The test is run in graded stages, typically at 100, 150, 600, 750, 1,500, 2,100, 6,000, and 12,000 revolutions. After each stage, the sample is cleaned and inspected under set lighting for signs of wear:

• A glaze that shows wear early sits in a lower class (walls or light use).
• A glaze that survives around 2,100 revolutions or more may reach Class 4.
• A glaze that passes beyond 12,000 revolutions may be rated Class 5.

Testing is conducted under controlled laboratory conditions using internationally recognised standards. Actual tile performance may vary depending on installation methods, maintenance practices, cleaning chemicals, environmental conditions and traffic patterns.

PEI vs the Other Durability Specs You Should Check

A PEI rating tells you about surface abrasion alone. On its own it will not tell you whether a floor is safe when wet, how much water the tile absorbs, or how well it resists a dropped pan. For a durable, safe result, the number is best read alongside a few other specifications, especially in a humid climate with plenty of wet areas.

Rating or spec	What it measures	What it does not tell you	Why it may matter here
PEI rating (ISO 10545-7)	Surface abrasion of the glaze	Slip, water, strength	Busy home and retail floors
DCOF / COF (ANSI A137.1)	Slip resistance when wet	Surface wear	Wet bathrooms, kitchens, poolsides, rainy entrances
Water absorption (ISO 10545-3)	Density; sorts porcelain from ceramic	Surface wear	Wet and outdoor areas, humidity
Mohs hardness	Scratch resistance	Abrasion under traffic; slip	Grit tracked in from outdoors
Breaking strength (ISO 10545-4)	Load the tile can bear	Surface wear; slip	Large-format tiles, floors over screed

For wet areas, slip resistance often matters as much as abrasion. A polished tile may carry a respectable rating yet still feel slick underfoot when wet, which is why we cover it separately in our anti-slip tiles ratings guide.

For best outcome, PEI ratings should be considered together with:

• Slip resistance
• Water absorption
• Breaking strength
• Installation requirements
• Intended application
• Maintenance expectations

Evaluating these specifications together provides a more complete understanding of a tile’s overall performance.

What PEI Rating Do You Need for Each Room or Space?

The recommendations below represent common industry practice for typical applications and should be used as a general reference only. Individual project requirements may differ depending on traffic levels, environmental conditions and design specifications:

Space	Typical foot traffic	Recommended PEI	Also worth checking
Feature walls, Backsplash	None	0 to 1	Design only
Bedrooms	Light	2 to 3	Comfort
Bathroom floors	Light, wet	2 to 3	Slip (DCOF), water absorption
Living Room and Dining	Moderate	3	Design
Kitchen floors	Moderate to heavy	3 to 4	Slip, stain resistance
Porches and Balcony	Heavy, outdoor grit, rain	4 to 5	Slip, water absorption
Commercial Retail	Heavy commercial	4 to 5	Slip, maintenance
Shopping Mall	Very heavy	5	Slip, chemical resistance

Wet and outdoor spaces deserve extra care, because rain and splashes make slip resistance a safety issue. For those areas, it helps to pair the class with a slip and water check, as we set out in our pool tiles selection guide for anti-slip and wet areas. If you are matching finishes room by room, our overview of the best tile types for each room in Malaysia works alongside this scale.

Is a Higher PEI Rating Always Better? Glazed, Unglazed, and “NR” Tiles

A higher PEI rating should not be interpreted as a higher-quality tile. Instead, it indicates that the glazed surface is generally designed to withstand greater levels of pedestrian abrasion.

Selecting a tile with a PEI rating appropriate for its intended use often provides the best balance between aesthetics, performance and cost.

For example, a Class 5 tile in a quiet bedroom is often unnecessary, while a beautiful Class 1 tile is perfectly at home on a feature wall. It is also common to see tiles marked “NR”, meaning Not Rated, and this can be misread as a weakness when it usually is not.

An NR label simply means the tile was not put through the glazed abrasion test, most often because it has no glaze to test. Unglazed through-body tiles and natural stone fall into this group. Their wear resistance is judged in other ways instead.

Tile type	Carries a PEI rating?	How durability is judged instead	Commonly used for
Glazed ceramic	Yes	PEI plus water absorption	Walls, light-traffic floors
Glazed porcelain	Yes (often 3 to 5)	PEI plus low water absorption	Most floors, indoor and outdoor
Unglazed / homogeneous (through-body)	Often NR	Deep abrasion (ISO 10545-6), water absorption, breaking strength	Heavy-traffic commercial floors
Natural stone	No (NR)	Mohs hardness, porosity, sealing	Feature areas, specific uses

Durable Tile Options Across Kimgres Collections

Homogeneous tiles are a good example of why “no PEI number” does not mean “not durable”. Because the colour and material run through the full body, surface wear is far less visible, which is one reason they are widely specified for demanding commercial floors. 

Kimgres offers a wide range of ceramic, porcelain and homogeneous tile collections suitable for various residential and commercial applications. Depending on the collection, different technical specifications: including abrasion resistance, water absorption and slip resistance (may be available to help meet project requirements).

Always refer to the official product specification before finalising material selections.

Using PEI When Specifying Tiles for a Project

To specify tiles well, treat PEI as a filter, not the final answer. Start by matching the class to the traffic the space will see, then narrow your choice using slip resistance, water absorption, and, for larger formats, breaking strength. This layered approach tends to prevent the two most common regrets: a floor tile that dulls too soon, or a wet-area tile that looks right but feels unsafe.

A simple sequence that works on most projects:

1. Match the room to a PEI class using the traffic guide above.
2. Check slip resistance (DCOF) for any area that gets wet.
3. Confirm water absorption for bathrooms, wet zones, and outdoor spaces.
4. Verify the spec sheet, since two similar-looking tiles can carry different ratings.

Where environmental certifications are required, additional product documentation may also be relevant.

Selected Kimgres tile collections carry internationally recognised certifications, including GREENGUARD Gold, subject to the individual product series.

For detailed specifications, always consult the latest technical data sheet, discovering our sibling guide on choosing tiles with the right PEI rating for interior projects covers the decision step in more detail, or contact the Kimgres team.

Frequently Asked Questions About PEI Ratings

What does PEI stand for?

PEI stands for Porcelain Enamel Institute, the organisation that developed the abrasion rating now used across the tile industry. It measures how well a glazed tile’s surface may resist wear from foot traffic, on a scale from Class 0 to Class 5.

What PEI rating is best for a kitchen floor?

For most residential kitchens, PEI Class 3 or Class 4 is commonly considered appropriate. The final selection should also consider slip resistance, maintenance requirements and the specific tile collection.

Do porcelain tiles always have a higher PEI rating than ceramic?

Not necessarily. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are available across different PEI classifications depending on their glaze and intended application. Always refer to the manufacturer’s published specifications rather than assuming the rating based solely on material type.

Do homogeneous or natural stone tiles have a PEI rating?

Often they do not. Unglazed through-body homogeneous tiles and natural stone are commonly marked NR, or Not Rated, because the test applies to glazed surfaces. Their durability is judged instead by measures such as deep abrasion resistance, water absorption, and hardness.

Is a PEI rating the same as slip resistance?

No. It measures surface abrasion, while slip resistance is measured separately, usually as a DCOF value. A tile can hold a high class and still be slippery when wet, so wet areas should always be checked for slip resistance as well.

What PEI rating should I use for a commercial or high-traffic space?

For high-traffic commercial floors such as malls, retail entrances, or F&B areas, tiles rated Class 4 or Class 5 are generally preferred. For unglazed or homogeneous options, deep abrasion resistance and water absorption are usually the more relevant figures to compare.

Note: Tile suitability may vary depending on project conditions, installation, and use. The guidance here is general in nature, so please confirm the right specification with the project consultant or relevant professional before purchase.

Conclusion

Understanding the PEI rating helps you select tiles that are appropriate for different levels of foot traffic, from decorative wall applications to demanding commercial environments.

While PEI provides valuable guidance on surface abrasion resistance, it should always be considered alongside other technical specifications such as slip resistance, water absorption, breaking strength and the intended application.

By evaluating these factors together, homeowners, designers and project professionals can make more informed tile selections that balance durability, aesthetics and long-term performance.

If you are comparing tile specifications or selecting materials for an upcoming project, explore the Kimgres collection or contact our team for the latest technical product information and sample availability.