| Diamagnetic | Paramagnetic |
| 1. Weakly magnetised in a direction opposite to the applied magnetic field | 1. Weakly magnetised along the direction of the applied magnetic field. |
| 2. Move from stronger to weaker part of the external magnetic field | 2. Move from weaker to the stronger part of the external magnetic field |
| 3. Magnetic susceptibility is Low and negative | 3. Magnetic susceptibility is low and positive. |
| 4. Example: Bismuth, copper, lead, silicon | 4. Example: Aluminium, sodium, calcium, oxygen |