A PEI rating measures a glazed tile's resistance to surface abrasion, essentially, how well it holds up to foot traffic over time, on a scale from 0 to 5. The rating comes from the Porcelain Enamel Institute, which developed the standardized abrasion test used industry-wide. Matching a tile's PEI rating to how a space will actually be used is one of the simplest ways to avoid premature wear. This guide breaks down the scale and how to use it when shopping. For more tile terms, see our Tile Glossary.
The PEI Rating Scale Explained
- PEI 0: Not recommended for floors, walls only, no foot traffic.
- PEI 1: Light foot traffic in bare or soft-soled shoes, such as minimal-use bathroom floors.
- PEI 2: Light-to-moderate residential traffic, generally not recommended for kitchens, entryways, or stairs.
- PEI 3: All residential foot traffic, including kitchens and entryways, plus light commercial use.
- PEI 4: Moderate commercial and heavy residential traffic, restaurants, offices, busy households.
- PEI 5: Heavy commercial and industrial traffic, like malls, airports, and hotel lobbies.
PEI Rating Only Applies to Glazed Tile
PEI ratings specifically measure the durability of the glaze layer on glazed ceramic and porcelain tile. Unglazed tile, including full-body porcelain and most natural stone, isn't assigned a PEI rating, since there's no glaze surface to test.
Choosing the Right PEI Rating by Room
- Backsplash/wall tile: PEI 0 or higher is generally sufficient, see our backsplash tile collection.
- Guest bathroom floor: PEI 1-2 is typically adequate for lighter use.
- Kitchen or entryway floor: PEI 3 or higher, to handle daily traffic and debris. Browse our floor tile collection.
- Whole-home flooring with pets and kids: PEI 4 offers extra durability for consistently high traffic.
PEI Rating vs. Other Durability Measures
PEI rating is just one piece of the picture, also consider water absorption rate (how suitable a tile is for wet or outdoor use) and coefficient of friction, or COF (slip resistance), especially for wet or outdoor floors regardless of PEI rating.
The Bottom Line
Understanding PEI rating helps take the guesswork out of choosing a tile built for how you'll actually use it. Browse Belk Tile's floor tile collection or explore the full Tile Glossary.
