Everything you need to know about IP ratings: a practical guide
IP stands for International Protection rating. It shows how well a light is protected against everyday use and outside factors like dust and water. The rating is made up of two numbers: the first shows how well the fitting is protected against solid objects and touch, and the second shows how well it stands up to water. So if you're putting a light outdoors or in the bathroom, it's mainly the second number (water resistance) that matters.
These are the IP ratings you'll come across most often with lighting:
| IP rating | Protection | What it means |
| IP20 | Dust-resistant | No protection against moisture or water |
| IP44 | Splashproof | Suitable for outdoor use and protected against splashing water from any direction |
| IP54 | Splashproof and dust-protected | Suitable for outdoor use and protected against dust and splashing water from any direction |
| IP65 | Jet-proof | Suitable for outdoor use and protected against water jets |
| IP67 | Immersion-proof | Suitable for outdoor use and protected against immersion for up to 30 minutes |
| IP68 | Waterproof | Suitable for outdoor use and continuous submersion underwater |
Indoor lighting usually doesn't need a high IP rating; IP20 is normally enough. In the bathroom, or outside in the garden, a light comes into much more contact with water and moisture, so for these spaces you'll want a light with a higher IP rating. Read on to find out which IP rating your light needs.
Minimum IP rating in the bathroom
The IP rating you need depends on the zone where you're placing the light. In the bathroom, there are three zones, based on how much water and moisture the light is likely to come into contact with.
- Zone 1: IP65 minimum
- Zone 2: IP44 minimum
- Zone 3: IP44 minimum (or IP21)
Zone 1 comes into a lot of contact with water and moisture, so an IP65 rating is needed here. Lighting in Zone 2 also comes into contact with water and moisture, but less directly than in Zone 1, so IP44 lighting is fine for this zone. In the rest of the bathroom, Zone 3, lighting can still come into contact with water and moisture, so we recommend a rating of at least IP44/IP21 here.
Minimum IP rating in the garden
The IP rating matters when you're placing garden lighting too. For our garden lighting, there are two zones:
- Zone 1: IP65 minimum
- Zone 2: IP44 minimum
When you place lighting close to your house, such as against a fence or under a canopy, it still has some shelter, so the lights aren't fully exposed to the weather. In that case, IP44 is enough. But if you want to place lighting in the middle of the garden, or anywhere else that's open and exposed, the lights will need a rating of at least IP65.
