What do IP67 and IP68 mean?

An IP rating describes how well an electrical product is protected against the ingress of dust and water.

IP stands for Ingress Protection and is normally followed by two digits.

What do the digits mean?

First digit: Protection against solid objects and dust.

Second digit: Protection against water.

For both IP67 and IP68, the first digit is 6, meaning the product is dust-tight according to the rating’s test requirements.

The difference is in water protection.

IP67

An IP67-rated product is dust-tight and has been tested for temporary immersion in water.

Under the standard’s usual test conditions, this means immersion at a depth of up to one metre for 30 minutes.

IP68

An IP68-rated product is also dust-tight, but is designed to withstand immersion under manufacturer-specified conditions that are more demanding than those for IP67.

The exact water depth and duration can therefore vary between products.

Is IP68 always better than IP67?

IP68 provides more extensive immersion protection under the specified test conditions.

However, this does not automatically mean the product withstands every type of water exposure.

For example, IP67 and IP68 do not in themselves cover protection against powerful high-pressure jets.

Other ratings may be relevant for that use.

Important: An IP rating does not mean the product is protected against every environmental condition. Salt, chemicals, temperature changes and mechanical wear can affect its lifespan.