What is an IP rating? Your tech’s water and dust resistance explained
Paul Jones
STACK Editor-in-Chief
You’ll find IP ratings for drones and phones, earbuds and more. But what do the letters and numbers mean?
IP ratings are not that difficult to decipher once you understand the number system. The IP prefix stands for Ingress Protection, and where appropriate, tech is tested for the penetration of solid objects, dust, and water.
Every rating begins with the letters IP and is followed by two numbers or an X and a single number. Let’s start with the numbers. Dust is rated 0-6, while water ingress is measured between 0-9. So 0 offers no protection, and the higher the number from that base, the better the protection.
The first digit indicates the device’s protection against solid objects and dust particles. The second is a device’s resistance to water penetration. So, an IP65 rating means the product in question is entirely dust-tight and can resist a low-pressure water spray.
Now, it’s not unusual to see one of the numbers supplanted by an X. The X denotes that testing has not been conducted on either dust or water ingress, depending on where the X is placed.
For example, a rating of IPX6 means the device has not been tested for dust but is resistant to high-pressure water sprays.
Finally, IP testing is undertaken by an independent and certified company, so a brand can’t just apply its own rating to a product without an official assessment.
So the next time you pick up a device from JB and see an IP number printed on the back of the box, you’ll know exactly what it means.
Dust and solid object protection
• IP0X – No protection against dust
• IP1X – Protection from objects larger than 50mm
• IP2X – Protection from objects larger than 12.5mm (including fingers)
• IP3X - Protection from objects larger than 2.5mm (including thick wires and most tools)
• IP4X -Protection from objects larger than 1mm
• IP5X – Protection of dust is not completely prevented, but any ingress won’t affect safe operation
• IP6X – Totally dust-tight
Water protection
• IPX0 – No protection against water
• IPX1 – Offers protection from vertical drips of water
• IPX2 – Can protect against water that strikes the product at a 15° angle or less
• IPX3 - Can protect against water that hits the product at a 60° angle or less
• IPX4 - Offers protection to water splashes from any direction
• IPX5 – Can protect against low-pressure jets of water from any direction
• IPX6 – Can protect against powerful jets of water from any direction
• IPX7 – Will protect from full water immersion for up to 30 minutes from depths between 15cm and one metre
• IPX8 – Will withstand extended immersion in greater depths; however, the depth will be specified by the manufacturer
• IPX9K – Will resist high-pressure, high-temperature jet sprays. Used infrequently
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
