A Complete Guide To IP Ratings Of LED Lights With Chart

An IP rating is a shorthand for an Ingress Protection mark. The IP ratings of a light bulb or luminaire indicate how well it is protected against dirt and water.

Any light fixture used in a bathroom, garden or damp environment should have an rating sufficient to prevent dust and water ingress.

An ingress protection rating consists of two digits. The first digit represents protection against the ingress of solid objects, such as dust. The second digit represents protection against the ingress of liquids, example water. The higher the value of one of the two digits, the greater the protection.

IP protection is divided into two types as mentioned below:

1. Lower IP Protection Types

Lower IP ratings – such as below IP44 – are mainly suitable for indoor use in rooms that are not exposed to virtually any dust or water. Most luminaires in your home have an IP20 rating, and this is sufficient for most indoor applications.

Protection ratings between IP44 and IP65 are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, provided they are installed in a protected location and are protected from the harshest weather conditions.

2. Higher IP Ratings

Luminaires with higher IP ratings are more suitable for areas exposed to harsh weather conditions. Where there is a possibility of contact with dust or liquids, selecting a luminaire with a high rating will provide the best protection.

Luminaires with an IP65 rating and higher are considered waterproof and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

IP65 and IP66 are standard ingress protection marks that offer more protection. IP65 luminaires can withstand water projected directly onto the luminaire but are not fully waterproof and should not be submerged in water. IP66 luminaires can withstand splashing water from all directions but should also not be immersed in water. Incase you want to know more about them, click here IP65, IP66, & IP67.

The following areas require luminaires rated IP65 and higher:

Outdoor Areas: Locations exposed to dust, dirt and debris, & wet locations with a high likelihood of coming into contact with water in showers, swimming pools, wet rooms or bathtubs.

Light Safety in the bathroom: A beautiful chandelier over the bathtub may look pretty and be all the rage, but is it convenient and protected from water? Is the fixture located outside of a splash zone? Below we highlight the different zones in the bathroom in terms of lighting and electrical Safety. Each zone requires a separate, minimum IP protection rating.

How To Read IP Ratings?

The international standard IEC 60529, created by the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC), defines the standard types of protection. This consists of the letters IP followed by a first digit defining protection against solid objects and a second digit defining protection against water ingress.

Occasionally there is a third digit defining protection against mechanical impact. This is omitted in most cases as it is not part of IEC 60529.

The code aims to provide a more stringent definition of protection than simple terms such as waterproof or dustproof. For example, an electrical device or socket with IP22 protection is protected against finger insertion and will not suffer damage if exposed to vertically dripping water.

If there is only one protection class, the second digit is replaced by an “X.” An IP2X enclosure is only protected against finger insertion and not against water ingress.

A third digit is added if the enclosure is protected against mechanical impact. IP224 means that the socket or other enclosure is protected against the ingress of fingers, vertically dripping water and a 500 g weight dropped from a height of 40 cm.

If the enclosure has no mechanical impact protection, only two digits after the “IP” are used. An “X” is not added in this case. Here is the zone wise division of ingress protection ratings for lights:

Zone 0: Lighting is located directly inside the bathtub or shower

This includes areas within the bathtub, shower pan and sink. Any luminaire used in this zone must be powered by low voltage (max. 12 V) and have at least IP67 protection.

Zone 1: Lighting located directly above the bath or shower

This includes lighting directly above the sink, bathtub, and shower up to a height of 2.25 m above the floor and within 60 cm of the water source. If it is a 240V fitting, a 30ma Residual Current Device (RCD) must also be used in this zone to protect the circuit (this will be obvious to your electrician!). A minimum IP44 rating is required, but an IP65 fitting is used for additional protection.

Zone 2: Lighting on both sides of the bath, shower or washbasin

This zone includes the area that extends an additional 60 cm beyond zone 1 to a height of 2.25 m above the floor. In this zone, an IP protection rating of at least IP44 is the minimum requirement and is more than sufficient. It has proven beneficial to consider the area beyond a radius of 60 cm around a water tap or water source as zone 2.

Zone 3: Anywhere outside zones 0, 1 and 2

Zone 3 is anywhere outside zones 0, 1, and 2 (subject to certain limits) and where a water jet is unlikely to be used. In these areas, a protection rating of IP20 is sufficient. Of course, with larger bathrooms, it’s easier to place fixtures outside of Zone 1, which gives you a wider choice of fixtures.

However, we offer one of the largest selections of the decorative bathroom and outdoor lights, so we are confident that we will have a suitable IP-rated wall, pendant, or ceiling light that can add a decorative touch to your bathroom. Now that you are familiar with ingress protection ratings, you can make more informed decisions about your bathroom and outdoor lighting.

IP Ratings Reference Chart

There is a systematic way to understand which ingress protection number is providing what level of protection. So, here are the complete details for the ingress protection ratings:

IP00 – IP08

The lights start from IP00, which is the lowest rating. The ratings ranging between 00 to 08 do not protect solids. Also, the 00 protection rating does not protect against any kind of liquids. But from 01 to 08 you will get some level of protection from liquids like condensations, and water sprays.

IP10 – IP18

All these ratings offer protection from touch by a hand more significant than 50 millimetres. Here again, IP10 does not protect the light from liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like condensations and water sprays.

IP20 – IP28

All these ratings offer protection from fingers and objects touching more than 12 millimetres. IP20 does not protect the light from liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like condensations, water sprays, high-pressure water jets, low-pressure water jets and immersion accordingly.

IP30 – IP38

All these ratings offer protection from tools and wires more significant than 2.5 millimeters. IP30 does not protect the light from liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like condensations, high/low-pressure water jets, and immersion accordingly.

IP40 – IP48

All these ratings offer protection from tools and small wires more significant than 1 millimetre. IP40 does not protect the light from liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like condensations, water sprays, high-pressure water jets, low-pressure water jets and immersion accordingly.

IP50 – IP58

These ratings offer protection from limited dust ingress. IP50 does not protect the light from any kind of liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like condensations, water sprays, high-pressure water jets, low-pressure water jets, and immersion accordingly.

IP60 – IP68

These ratings offer protection from total dust ingress. IP60 does not protect the light from liquids. But in the rest of the lights, you will get some protection from liquids like water sprays, high-pressure water jets, low-pressure water jets, etc accordingly.

IP69k

IP69k protects from total dust ingress and also protects from steam-jet cleaning. The IP69K offers the highest protection level to the lights.

In the IP ratings chart below, we have summed up all the ratings mentioned above. Feel free to use this chart in your blog, but make sure you link back to us.

Bottom-Line

Like most LED light brands in India, Light offers lights with higher ratings. We understand the zones of lights and maintain their IP ratings according to the particular zone. Also, all the LED lights provided by Light come with 2 years of warranty, making us unique and extraordinary.

Buy LED Lights

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are essential to understand when selecting LED lights, especially for outdoor or industrial applications. The IP rating system measures the degree of protection provided by the enclosure of electrical devices (like LED lights) against solids (such as dust) and liquids (like water). This guide will explain the IP rating system, its components, and provide a chart to help you understand different levels of protection.

Understanding the IP Rating

The IP rating consists of two digits:

First digit (X): Protection against solid objects (like dust, dirt, or debris).
Second digit (Y): Protection against liquids (like water).

Each digit can be a number from 0 to 9, and the higher the number, the better the protection.

The First Digit: Protection Against Solids

This number indicates the level of protection provided against solid objects such as dust, dirt, or contact with parts inside the light. The scale ranges from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight protection).

First Digit	Protection Description
0	No protection against contact and solid objects.
1	Protected against objects greater than 50mm (e.g., a large hand).
2	Protected against objects greater than 12mm (e.g., a finger).
3	Protected against objects greater than 2.5mm (e.g., a tool).
4	Protected against objects greater than 1mm (e.g., small wires).
5	Dust-protected (some dust can enter but not harmful).
6	Dust-tight (no dust can enter the enclosure).

The Second Digit: Protection Against Liquids

The second digit indicates the level of protection against liquids such as water. The scale ranges from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against high-pressure and high-temperature water jets).

Second Digit	Protection Description
0	No protection against water.
1	Protected against dripping water (vertically falling).
2	Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15°.
3	Protected against spraying water (water sprayed at an angle).
4	Protected against splashing water (water splashed from all directions).
5	Protected against water jets (water sprayed from a nozzle).
6	Protected against strong water jets (e.g., from a hose).
7	Protected against immersion in water up to 1 meter depth (for up to 30 minutes).
8	Protected against continuous immersion in water beyond 1 meter (specific to manufacturer’s conditions).
9	Protected against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets (such as from steam cleaners).

IP Ratings Explained:

IP20: First digit (2) = Protection against fingers or similar objects; Second digit (0) = No protection against liquids. Suitable for indoor use.
IP44: First digit (4) = Protection against solid objects larger than 1mm (e.g., small wires); Second digit (4) = Protection against splashing water. Ideal for areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoor lights in sheltered areas.
IP65: First digit (6) = Dust-tight protection; Second digit (5) = Protection against water jets. Perfect for outdoor environments where dust and rain might be a concern, like garden or porch lighting.
IP67: First digit (6) = Dust-tight protection; Second digit (7) = Protection against immersion in water (up to 1 meter depth). Great for submersible outdoor lighting, or even for use in wet areas like fountains or ponds.
IP68: First digit (6) = Dust-tight protection; Second digit (8) = Continuous immersion in water beyond 1 meter. Suitable for outdoor underwater lights, swimming pool lights, or lights exposed to heavy rain.
IP69K: First digit (6) = Dust-tight protection; Second digit (9K) = Protection against high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning. Ideal for environments that need rigorous cleaning or high-pressure water exposure, such as food processing plants.

IP Rating Chart for LED Lights

IP Rating	First Digit (Protection against solids)	Second Digit (Protection against liquids)	Common Applications
IP20	Protected against fingers (≥12mm)	No protection against water	Indoor use in dry environments (e.g., living rooms, bedrooms).
IP44	Protected against objects >1mm	Protected against splashing water	Bathrooms, kitchens, and sheltered outdoor areas.
IP54	Protected against dust and debris	Protected against splashes	Outdoor lighting, covered porches, outdoor fixtures in sheltered areas.
IP65	Dust-tight protection	Protected against water jets	Outdoor lighting, garden lights, floodlights.
IP67	Dust-tight protection	Protection against immersion up to 1 meter	Outdoor floodlights, swimming pool lights, submersible lights.
IP68	Dust-tight protection	Continuous immersion in water >1 meter	Underwater lights, aquarium lighting, underwater pool lights.
IP69K	Dust-tight protection	High-pressure, high-temperature water jets	Food industry, car wash stations, industrial environments.

How to Choose the Right IP Rating for Your LED Lights:

Indoor Lighting:
- For dry indoor areas like living rooms and bedrooms, IP20 or IP21 ratings are sufficient as they only need protection against fingers and dust, but not water.
- For kitchens or bathrooms, opt for IP44 (splash protection) or IP54 (dust and splash protection).
Outdoor Lighting:
- For patios, balconies, or garden lights, look for IP65 to IP66 ratings, which provide dust-tight protection and water jet resistance.
- For lights that will be submerged in water, like pond or fountain lights, choose IP67 or IP68 to ensure they can handle immersion.
Industrial and Commercial Spaces:
- For environments where high-pressure water jets or steam cleaning is common (such as food processing or manufacturing plants), IP69K rated lights are ideal.
Special Applications:
- If you need submersible lights for pools or aquariums, an IP68 rating is the best option, ensuring durability in high-moisture environments.

Conclusion:

Understanding IP ratings is crucial to ensure the longevity and safety of your LED lights in different environments. Always match the appropriate IP rating to the specific conditions where the lights will be installed. Whether you’re illuminating an indoor space, decorating your garden, or installing lighting in a high-pressure environment, the right IP-rated LED light will provide optimal performance and durability.

If you’re planning to purchase specific LED lights and want help choosing based on IP ratings, feel free to ask! Let me know the application, and I can recommend the best options for you.

IP Protection Types