What does IP stand for?

IP stands for Ingress Protection (or International Protection). It is a classification system defined by IEC 60529 that rates the degree of protection provided by enclosures against intrusion of solid objects and liquids.

IP67 means the enclosure is dust-tight (6 = no ingress of dust) and protected against temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes (7 = immersion protection).

What is the difference between IP65 and IP66?

Both IP65 and IP66 are dust-tight (first digit 6). The difference is water protection: IP65 protects against water jets from any direction, while IP66 protects against powerful water jets (higher pressure and flow rate).

Can IP68 equipment be used underwater indefinitely?

IP68 means protection against continuous immersion beyond 1m depth, but the exact depth and duration are defined by the manufacturer. It does not automatically mean unlimited underwater use — always check the manufacturer's specifications.

The X in IPX4 means the product was not tested for solid particle protection. The 4 indicates protection against splashing water from any direction. This rating is common for consumer electronics like earbuds and fitness trackers.

Free Engineering Tool

IP Rating Decoder

Decode any IP code per IEC 60529. Select digits or type the full code to see solid and liquid protection levels, test conditions, and typical applications.

IEC 60529 IP00 – IP69 Ingress Protection

IP Code (e.g. IP67, IP54)

First Digit — Solids

Second Digit — Liquids

Common IP ratings

Results

IP Code

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Solid Protection (1st Digit)

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Liquid Protection (2nd Digit)

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Test Conditions (Solid)

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Test Conditions (Liquid)

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Typical Applications

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What is an IP Rating?

The IP (Ingress Protection) code is defined by IEC 60529 and classifies the degree of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment. It consists of the letters “IP” followed by two digits.

First Digit — Solid Object Protection

Digit	Protection	Object Size	Description
0	None	—	No protection against contact or ingress
1	>50 mm	Hand	Protection against large body surfaces
2	>12.5 mm	Finger	Protection against fingers or similar objects
3	>2.5 mm	Wire	Protection against tools, thick wires
4	>1 mm	Fine wire	Protection against most wires, screws
5	Dust-protected	—	Limited ingress of dust permitted (no harmful deposit)
6	Dust-tight	—	No ingress of dust; complete protection

Second Digit — Liquid Ingress Protection

Digit	Protection	Test Details
0	None	No protection
1	Dripping water	Vertically falling drops, 10 min, 1 mm/min
2	Dripping (15° tilt)	Drops at 15° from vertical, 2.5 min per side
3	Spraying water	Spray up to 60° from vertical, 5 min, 10 L/min
4	Splashing water	Splashing from any direction, 5 min, 10 L/min
5	Water jets	6.3 mm nozzle, any direction, 3 min, 12.5 L/min
6	Powerful jets	12.5 mm nozzle, any direction, 3 min, 100 L/min
7	Immersion (1 m)	Up to 1 m depth, 30 minutes
8	Continuous immersion	Beyond 1 m depth (per manufacturer spec)
9	High-pressure hot	Close-range high-pressure, 80°C water, per ISO 20653

Note: An “X” in place of a digit (e.g. IPX4) means the product was not rated for that category. It does not mean zero protection.

IP Rating Decoder | IEC 60529 | Ingress Protection Explained

Published by Nikolai Shelkovenko on February 15, 2026 February 15, 2026

Results

What is an IP Rating?

First Digit — Solid Object Protection

Second Digit — Liquid Ingress Protection