IP Ratings Explained: What IP67 Really Means for Your Outdoor Lights
If you’ve ever shopped for outdoor lights, you’ve probably seen specifications like “IP44” or “IP67” listed in the product details. They look like minor technical detail — but for outdoor lighting, the IP rating is one of the most important specs on the label, and choosing the wrong one is the single most common reason outdoor lights fail prematurely.
Here’s what those numbers actually mean and how to choose the right rating for your project.
What “IP” stands for
IP stands for Ingress Protection. It’s an international standard (IEC 60529) used to classify how well an electrical enclosure resists the entry of solid objects (like dust) and liquids (like water).
The rating is always two digits:
- The first digit rates protection against solids — dust, dirt, fingers
- The second digit rates protection against water — drips, sprays, full submersion
The higher each number, the better the protection.
The first digit: solids and dust
| First digit | What it means |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against objects larger than 50mm (e.g. a hand) |
| 2 | Protected against objects larger than 12.5mm (e.g. a finger) |
| 3 | Protected against objects larger than 2.5mm (e.g. tools) |
| 4 | Protected against objects larger than 1mm (e.g. wires) |
| 5 | Dust-protected (some dust may enter but won’t affect operation) |
| 6 | Dust-tight (no dust can enter) |
For outdoor garden lighting, you want at least a 4. A 5 or 6 is better, especially in dusty environments or where the lights are left out long-term.
The second digit: water
| Second digit | What it means |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Vertically falling drips |
| 2 | Drips at up to 15° tilt |
| 3 | Spraying water (light rain) |
| 4 | Splashing water from any direction |
| 5 | Low-pressure water jets |
| 6 | High-pressure water jets |
| 7 | Temporary submersion up to 1m for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Continuous submersion (manufacturer-specified depth) |
For UK outdoor use, a 5 is the sensible minimum. A 7 means the product can survive being briefly submerged — which is overkill for a hanging festoon, but matters enormously for ground-level lights, anywhere that can flood, and any situation where the cable might end up sitting in a puddle.
Common IP ratings for outdoor lights
IP20: Indoor only. Will not survive any meaningful exposure to moisture.
IP44: Splashproof. Suitable for covered outdoor areas — under porches, in conservatories, or in places shielded from direct rain. Not ideal for fully exposed gardens.
IP55: Protected against dust and low-pressure water jets. A reasonable minimum for sheltered outdoor lights, but cable joints and connectors can still be a weak point.
IP65: Dust-tight and protected against water jets. A good standard for general outdoor use — fences, pergolas, patios.
IP67: Dust-tight and capable of temporary submersion. The gold standard for outdoor decorative lighting in the UK. Will handle prolonged rain, frost, snow, and the occasional puddle without issue.
IP68: Designed for continuous submersion. Required for pool and pond lights but unnecessary for above-ground use.
So what does IP67 actually mean in practice?
For outdoor lighting, IP67 means:
- Completely dust-tight — no particles can enter the unit at all
- Will survive being submerged in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes without water entering and damaging the components
In real terms, IP67 outdoor lights can sit in driving rain, get covered in snow, freeze and thaw repeatedly, and end up in standing water on a flooded lawn — all without damage.
This isn’t just about the bulbs themselves. The most vulnerable part of any light set is usually the connector between sets or the joint between cable and plug. Proper IP67 ratings cover the whole assembly, not just the bulb.
Which IP rating do you actually need?
A quick guide for UK conditions:
| Use case | Minimum recommended |
| Indoor lights | IP20 |
| Conservatory or covered porch | IP44 |
| Sheltered outdoor area (under eaves) | IP55 |
| General garden, fences, pergolas | IP65 |
| Fully exposed outdoor use, year-round | IP67 |
| Pond, fountain, or pool | IP68 |
If you’re buying lights you intend to leave up across multiple seasons — or even year-round — IP67 is worth the small premium. The upgrade pays for itself the first time you’d otherwise have replaced a damaged set.
Why cheap “outdoor” lights often fail
The reason supermarket Christmas lights rarely last more than a season or two is rarely the bulbs themselves — it’s usually the cable, plug, or connector failing where water has worked its way in. A product labelled “outdoor” with no specific IP rating is essentially making a marketing claim, not a technical guarantee. Always check for the specific rating before you buy.
How to spot fake or misleading ratings
A few warning signs that a product’s rating may not be what it claims:
- The rating is listed in marketing copy but not in the technical specification
- Different parts of the same product list different ratings (e.g. cable IP67 but plug IP44)
- The connector style looks identical to known low-rated products
- There’s no information about which testing standard was used
Reputable suppliers list IP ratings clearly and consistently across cable, plug, connector, and bulb housing.
FAQs
Is IP65 good enough for outdoor use in the UK?
For general outdoor use, yes — IP65 will handle direct rain. For ground-level lights, lights left in exposed positions, or anything that might end up in a puddle, IP67 is a safer bet.
What’s the difference between IP65 and IP67?
IP65 protects against water jets but not submersion. IP67 protects against submersion in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. Both are dust-tight.
Do indoor lights have IP ratings?
Most indoor lights are IP20, which provides no water protection. Don’t use them anywhere damp, including bathrooms or conservatories prone to condensation.
Can I plug outdoor lights into an indoor socket?
Yes, as long as the lights are properly rated and the cable is routed safely. Avoid running cables through closed windows or doors where they can be damaged.
Will IP67 lights survive a UK winter?
Yes — that’s exactly what they’re designed for. IP67-rated lights can be left out year-round through frost, snow, and driving rain without issue.
The takeaway
IP ratings are the most reliable way to know whether a product will actually survive outdoors. For UK gardens, IP67 is the standard worth holding out for — and a clear sign that the product is built for genuine year-round outdoor use rather than just labelled “outdoor” in marketing copy.
See our full range of IP67 outdoor lights designed for British weather, with all the technical specs clearly listed on every product page.
