Double Charge Tiles vs. Full-Body Tiles – Which Is Better?

Jan 2026

In construction materials, a product is rarely judged solely by its appearance. Materials are classified by their build because their internal structure determines how they behave in use. 

Tiles are a good example of this. 

Two tiles can appear similar from the top surface, but their performance can be completely different depending on how the tile has been manufactured.

This is why the tile industry does not treat “vitrified tiles” as one single category. Within vitrified flooring, subtypes exist to solve different practical problems. 

Some tiles are engineered to maintain surface design for longer. Others are engineered to reduce the visibility of scratches and chips. 

Among these sub-types, two names are frequently discussed when selecting floor tiles for demanding spaces: Double Charge Tiles and Full Body Floor Tiles.

To compare them correctly, we must first understand a basic idea used in material science: 

A tile has a surface and a body, and the relationship between these two parts determines the tile’s long-term behaviour.

The Tile “Body” and the Tile “Surface”

Every tile has two components. 

The surface is the top layer that we see after installation. It carries the design, texture, and finish (polished, matte, satin, etc.). 

The body is the internal section of the tile that provides strength and structure. 

Although customers often choose tiles by surface appearance, the body decides what happens when the tile is stressed by friction, impact, or abrasion.

A simple way to understand this is by comparing two objects. A table with a polished top looks premium, but the quality depends on what lies beneath the polish. 

Similarly, tiles may look identical in a showroom, but their real identity lies in how the surface has been formed relative to the inner body.

This is exactly where double charge tiles and Full Body Floor Tiles differ. One focuses on strengthening the surface design layer, while the other focuses on making the tile uniform throughout.

Double Charge Tiles: A Surface-Engineered Tile

Double charge tiles are vitrified tiles in which the upper decorative layer is made thicker during production. 

The word “charge” refers to the raw material powder that is placed into the mold before pressing. 

In normal tiles, a single layer of material is pressed and fired. In double charge tiles, the mold is filled in two stages: first, the base layer, then an additional top layer containing the design pigments.

As a result, the design is not limited to a very thin surface coating. Instead, the tile gets a thicker decorative layer, which improves its resistance to surface wear. 

This type of tile is often selected for spaces where appearance must remain consistent even with regular use.

Like in a showroom, where people are constantly moving around, Lavish Ceramics’ Double Charge tiles can handle that kind of daily foot traffic without losing their surface look too easily.

Caution:

However, one thing you should know is that double charge tiles are still layered. So if there’s a deep scratch that goes beyond the top decorative layer, the base underneath can start showing, and that can create a visible difference on the surface.

Full Body Floor Tiles: A Material-Consistent Tile

Full Body Floor Tiles are vitrified tiles in which the surface and the inner body share a consistent material composition and colour tone through the full thickness. 

Unlike double charge tiles, they do not rely on a separate decorative top layer for their appearance. Instead, the tile is uniform from top to bottom.

The real benefit of this structure shows up when the tile actually takes some damage. If there’s a deep scratch on the surface or even a small chip on the edge, the exposed part doesn’t look completely different, because the inside material is quite close to the surface shade.

This reduces the visibility of wear marks and makes the tile look stable over time.

For example, a clinic corridor or a public hallway faces repeated movement from wheelchairs, carts, and cleaning equipment. In such spaces, scratches are not rare. 

Installing Lavish Ceramics Full Body Floor Tiles in such areas can be beneficial because minor damage does not create contrasting marks that immediately draw attention.

The Central Comparison: Layered Surface vs Uniform Body

The difference between these tiles can be summarised using one idea:

Double charge tiles are layered tiles with a thicker decorative surface, while Full Body Floor Tiles are uniform tiles with consistent material throughout.

This difference leads to two major effects:

Double Charge tiles are usually the pick when you want the floor to look wow, but still handle daily use. The top layer has the main design, so it’s used a lot in premium homes and commercial spaces.

Example: For living rooms or reception areas, Lavish Ceramics Double Charge tiles give that clean, high-end finish without feeling too “delicate”.

Full-body tiles are more for places where you already know the floor is going to get treated roughly. You’re not chasing a super glossy designer look here; you just want the floor to keep looking okay even after years of use.

Example: A school corridor doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs tiles that won’t start looking damaged in 2 months. That’s where Lavish Ceramics Full Body Floor Tiles make more sense.

Wrapping Up

In practical flooring decisions, the question is not “Which tile is best?” but “Which tile is best for this location?”

Double charge tiles are commonly preferred in areas where the flooring is part of the interior design language, such as modern homes, office lobbies, retail stores, and hotel entrances. 

These spaces require a tile that looks premium and resists surface dulling under daily walking. Here, double charge tiles perform strongly because they are designed to protect the surface character.

Full-body tiles are commonly preferred in areas where function is the priority and minor damage is expected. 

Commercial corridors, clinics, institutions, and heavy-use zones benefit from full-body tiles because they hide wear better and maintain a consistent look. 

In such cases, Lavish Ceramics Full Body Floor Tiles provide a practical advantage because visual wear is less noticeable.