IP Rating Decoder (IEC 60529)
Enter any ingress protection (IP) code to see what each digit and letter means, and compare the levels of dust and water protection.
Code breakdown
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IP | Ingress Protection code (IEC 60529) |
| 6 | Solids: Dust tight: no ingress of dust |
| 7 | Water: Temporary immersion, 15 cm to 1 m for 30 minutes |
IP Code Digits
| First digit | Solids |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | > 50 mm (back of hand) |
| 2 | > 12.5 mm (finger) |
| 3 | > 2.5 mm (tool) |
| 4 | > 1 mm (wire) |
| 5 | Dust protected |
| 6 | Dust tight |
| Second digit | Water |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Vertical drips |
| 2 | Drips, tilted 15° |
| 3 | Spray up to 60° |
| 4 | Splashing |
| 5 | Water jets (6.3 mm) |
| 6 | Powerful jets (12.5 mm) |
| 7 | Immersion to 1 m, 30 min |
| 8 | Continuous immersion beyond 1 m |
| 9 | High pressure hot water jets |
Worked example
IP65 means dust tight (6) and protected against water jets (5): suitable for outdoor transmitters and hosed down areas, but not for submersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IP67 mean?
Dust tight (6) and protected against temporary immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes (7).
Is IP68 better than IP66?
Not necessarily. IP68 covers immersion; IP66 covers powerful water jets. They are different tests, so washdown equipment often needs both, for example IP66/IP68.
What does X mean in an IP code?
The characteristic was not tested or is not specified, for example IPX4 is splash proof with no dust rating.
What is IP69K?
A rating for high pressure, high temperature steam cleaning, originally from ISO 20653 (and DIN 40050-9), used for food and vehicle equipment.
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