IP ratings explained: lamps for bathrooms and outdoors
IP44, IP65, IP68: the two digits on a lamp tell you how well it keeps out dust and water. What each digit means, and which ratings suit bathrooms, terraces, ground lights and pools.
Every light fitting meant for a bathroom, a terrace or a garden carries a short code on its label or datasheet: IP44, IP65, IP67. Those few characters say more about where a lamp can go than any product photograph. They describe how well the housing keeps out solid objects and water, and they are the first thing an electrician checks before fitting a light near a bath or on an exposed wall.
IP stands for , ingress simply meaning getting in. The system is defined in the international standard and is used worldwide for everything from phones to street lights. Once you can read it, choosing lamps for wet places becomes far less mysterious.
How to read the two digits
An IP code has two digits after the letters. The first digit, from 0 to 6, describes protection against solid objects, from hands and fingers to fine dust. The second digit, from 0 to 9, describes protection against water, from dripping to powerful jets and immersion. Within each scale, a higher number means more protection.
If a property has not been tested or stated, its digit is replaced with an X. IPX4 therefore means protected against splashing water, with no rating given for solids. A typical indoor table lamp is IP20: protected against fingers touching live parts, but not against water at all.
| Digit | First digit: solid objects | Second digit: water |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No protection |
| 1 | Objects larger than 50 mm, such as the back of a hand | Vertically dripping water |
| 2 | Objects larger than 12.5 mm, such as fingers | Dripping water with the fitting tilted up to 15° |
| 3 | Objects larger than 2.5 mm, such as tools and thick wires | Spraying water up to 60° from vertical |
| 4 | Objects larger than 1 mm, such as thin wires and small screws | Splashing water from any direction |
| 5 | Dust-protected: some dust may enter, but not enough to interfere | Water jets from any direction |
| 6 | Dust-tight: no dust enters | Powerful water jets |
| 7 | Not used | Temporary immersion, up to 1 m for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Not used | Continuous immersion beyond 1 m, under conditions stated by the manufacturer |
| 9 | Not used | High-pressure, high-temperature water jets, mainly for industrial cleaning |
Simplified summary of IEC 60529. The water tests use fresh water.
Higher is not always better
It is tempting to assume that a higher water digit includes everything below it. Up to 6 that is broadly the case, but immersion is a different test from jets: a fitting rated IPX7 for immersion has not necessarily been tested against powerful jets. Products that meet both are marked with both codes, for example IP66/IP67.
There are also things an IP code does not tell you. Because the tests use fresh water, salt air at the coast, chlorinated pool water, garden chemicals and strong sun are questions of material and finish. Impact resistance has its own scale, the , which matters for ground lights and fittings within reach of a ball or a lawnmower. A ground light that cars can drive over also needs a stated load rating.
Typical ratings for bathrooms
Bathrooms are divided into zones according to how close they are to water. The exact zones and minimum ratings are set by national wiring rules, so they differ from country to country, but the principle is the same everywhere: the closer to the bath or shower, the higher the protection and the stricter the rules on voltage and switching. In general terms:
- Inside the bath or shower tray (often called zone 0): only fittings made for immersion, typically IPX7, and only at , a low voltage supplied through a safety transformer.
- Directly above the bath or shower (zone 1): IPX4 is a common minimum, higher where water jets are used for cleaning.
- The area immediately around it (zone 2): IPX4 is again a common minimum.
- Elsewhere in the bathroom: often no special rating is required, though many designers still choose IP44 fittings because of steam and splashes.
Fixed bathroom lighting is always a job for a qualified electrician, who will check the zones, the circuit protection and the switching as well as the fittings themselves.
Typical ratings outdoors and in water
Outdoors, the rating has to match the exposure. A wall light under a deep porch roof faces far less weather than one on an open facade facing the prevailing wind, and a ground light in a lawn may sit in standing water after every storm.
| Location | Typical rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living rooms and bedrooms | IP20 | Dry rooms, no water or dust |
| Bathroom, away from bath and shower | IP20 to IP44 | Steam and occasional splashes |
| Bathroom, near bath and shower | IP44 to IP65 | Splashes and direct spray |
| Covered porch or loggia | IP44 | Rain blown in from the side |
| Exposed facade or garden wall | IP54 to IP65 | Driving rain, dust and dirt |
| Garden spike lights and bollards | IP65 to IP67 | Rain, sprinklers, wet soil |
| Ground lights in paving or lawn | IP67 to IP68 | Standing water and temporary flooding |
| Underwater pool and pond lights | IP68 | Permanent immersion |
Typical values for orientation only. Local wiring rules and the manufacturer’s instructions take precedence.
Underwater lights are a category of their own. IP68 only says that the manufacturer has tested the fitting for continuous immersion under conditions it specifies, so look for the stated depth, choose lights made for pools or ponds, and have them installed by a specialist.
Why ratings matter, and what spoils them
A wrong rating rarely fails on the first day. Moisture creeps in, condenses behind the glass, corrodes contacts and eventually trips the circuit or shortens the life of the LED driver. In the worst case, water and mains electricity meet where people stand barefoot.
A rating also only holds when the fitting is installed as intended. The , the sealed entry where the cable enters the housing, must match the cable; seals must sit properly and covers must be screwed down evenly. Fittings approved for one mounting position, for example facing downwards only, can lose their protection when mounted the other way round. This is why outdoor and bathroom lighting belongs in the hands of a qualified electrician who follows local rules.
The IP code keeps water out, but the material decides how a lamp looks after ten winters.
glaminia is independent and does not sell lamps or recommend dealers. Images are AI generated illustrations, not photographs of specific products. Have fixed electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
