A fracture mechanics model is used for calculating the steady-state energy release rate of symmetrically graded ceramic multilayers. Results from the present study and previous results on asymmetric multilayers are generalized to simple design rules for avoidance of delamination of graded multilayers: (A) For asymmetric multilayers, delamination can be suppressed by inserting a few additional interlayers. (B) For symmetric multilayers, multilaying is not efficient; instead materials should be selected which have a sufficiently low thermal expansion mismatch. The later can be judged by making bilayers of identical thickness as the desired symmetric multilayers. If the bilayer delaminates it is unlikely that symmetric multilayers can be processed, and other materials (having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient mismatch) should be tested.