IP Ratings: What Do Waterproof and Dustproof Really Mean?

Whether you are shopping for a new smartphone, a smartwatch for outdoor workouts, or outdoor smart lighting, you have likely come across two letters followed by a pair of numbers: IP67, IP68, or IPX4.

Manufacturers love using terms like "waterproof" or "water-resistant" in their advertising, but those words are vague. To give consumers exact, standardized information, electronics are tested using the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system.

Here is a simple breakdown of what an IP rating is, how to read it, and what it means for your devices.

What is an IP Rating?

Here is a breakdown of what each digit in an IP rating represents.

• The IP (Ingress Protection) rating is composed of two numbers:
  • The First Digit (0–6) indicates the level of protection against solid objects and dust.

  • The Second Digit (0–8) indicates the level of protection against water and liquids.

     

IP67: Dust-Tight and Immersion Protected

This diagram illustrates the breakdown of the popular IP67 rating.

• The left side of the chart details the First Digit scales:
  • The solid bar for a rating of 6 represents "Dust-Tight" protection, meaning no dust can enter.
• The right side details the Second Digit scales:
  • The blue bar for a rating of 7 represents protection against temporary immersion in water (up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes).

Products with an IP67 rating are completely sealed against dust and can withstand being dropped into a shallow body of water.