IP Rating Chart: IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 and IP69K Explained

An IP rating chart shows what each digit of an ingress protection code means: the first digit, from 0 to 6, grades protection against solid objects and dust, and the second, from 0 to 9K, grades protection against water. The code is defined in IEC 60529, so IP65, for example, always means dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets, whoever made the enclosure.

For industrial computers, displays and panel PCs, five ratings do most of the work: IP65 for low-pressure jets, IP66 for powerful jets, IP67 for temporary immersion, IP68 for continuous immersion and IP69K for hot, high-pressure washdown. This guide gives the full chart, the test behind every digit, how the five industrial ratings compare, how they map to NEMA enclosure types and how to choose the right rating for a computer that has to survive its installation.

The IP ratings table below lists every level of both digits. Read the first digit from the solids chart and the second from the liquids chart: IP65, for example, is dust-tight (6) and protected against water jets (5). The combined chart after them shows the codes you will meet most often on industrial equipment.

First digit: protection against solids

Second digit: protection against liquids

Combined IP rating chart: the codes you will meet

Every one of the five industrial ratings starts with a 6. The construction that keeps out water jets also keeps out dust, so the practical choice is almost always about the second digit. For the dust digit on its own, see the difference between IP5X and IP6X.

Ingress protection (IP) ratings are the international standard for classifying how well a sealed enclosure resists dust and water. They are published as IEC 60529 by the International Electrotechnical Commission, adopted in the United Kingdom as BS EN 60529, recognized in the United States as ANSI/IEC 60529, and extended by the German DIN 40050-9 standard for high-pressure, high-temperature washdown, the “K” in IP69K. DIN 40050-9 has since been carried into ISO 20653 for road vehicles, which keeps the 9K level.

For industrial computers, displays and panel PCs, the IP rating is one of the most consequential lines on the specification for any deployment outside a controlled office. The right rating matches the environment: one step too low and the system fails in service, one step too high and the budget goes on protection the application will never need.

In North America, the parallel NEMA 250 enclosure type system, published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, is widely used alongside IP. The two systems overlap on water and dust but differ on corrosion, ice and oil, so for food and beverage, marine, cold-climate and coastal deployments both ratings often appear on the specification.

Reading the code

An IP rating consists of the letters “IP” followed by two digits. The first digit (0 to 6) describes protection against solid particles. The second digit (0 to 9K) describes protection against liquids. A higher digit indicates greater protection within each scale.

The two digits are independent. An enclosure can be dust-tight without being waterproof, or the reverse, although in practice almost every industrial computer rated IPX5 or higher is also IP6X dust-tight, because the construction that resists water also resists dust.

What IPX means

An X in place of a digit means that characteristic was not tested. IPX7, for example, has been immersion-tested but not dust-tested. It is common on consumer devices and rare on industrial computers, where both digits matter, but it appears on some components and accessories.

Optional letters after the digits

IEC 60529 allows letters after the two digits. They are rare on computer datasheets, but worth recognizing when they appear on enclosures, connectors or switchgear.

The IP test method is set by IEC 60529, or by DIN 40050-9 and ISO 20653 for IP69K, and is the same across the BS EN and ANSI/IEC adoptions. Tests are made in a laboratory on production-representative samples, and each one is pass or fail: a product is either IP65 or it is not. There is no partial rating, although front-of-panel and full-enclosure ratings are stated separately, as described under IP65 below.

“No harmful ingress” is the key phrase for the water digits. A small amount of water may be allowed inside if it does not interfere with operation, reach live parts or collect where it could cause tracking. For a computer, the practical aim is no water inside at all, which is why most industrial designs are tested well inside the limits.

IP ratings are not cumulative above IPX6

Up to IPX6, a higher water digit includes the lower ones: an IPX6 enclosure also meets IPX5 and IPX4. Above that the rule changes. IEC 60529 treats an enclosure marked only IPX7 or IPX8 as unsuitable for water jets unless it has also passed the jet test. IPX9K is a third, separate test again.

That is why rugged equipment often carries two ratings. IP66/IP67 means the enclosure passed the powerful-jet test and the immersion test. IP67/IP69K means it survives immersion and hot, high-pressure washdown. When a deployment sees more than one kind of water, look for a dual rating rather than the highest single number.

An IP65 rating means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. It is the practical minimum for any “waterproof” claim on an industrial computer, and the most common rating on panel-mount displays and panel PCs.

IP65 meaning

The first digit, 6, means the enclosure is dust-tight: no dust enters during the dust chamber test. The second digit, 5, means it is protected against water jets from a 6.3 mm nozzle at any angle. The jets are low pressure, enough to cover rain, hosing and wipe-down cleaning, but not a pressure washer.

IP65 test specification

• The enclosure is sprayed from every practicable direction through a 6.3 mm nozzle.
• Flow is 12.5 litres per minute at about 30 kPa, from 2.5 to 3 m away.
• Spraying lasts at least 3 minutes, and at least 1 minute per square meter of surface.
• Before the water test, the enclosure spends up to 8 hours in a dust chamber to prove it is dust-tight.

Front IP65 vs full IP65

Industrial displays and panel PCs are often specified with a front IP65 or front IP66 rating rather than full enclosure protection. The distinction matters and is often misunderstood.

Front IP65 or IP66. The display is rated when installed in a panel cut-out with the front bezel and its gasket exposed. The back, where the I/O connectors are, is not rated; it sits inside the protected enclosure on the dry side of the panel.

Full IP65 or IP66. The whole enclosure is rated, on every side, including the I/O. This usually needs M12 waterproof connectors in place of standard RJ45, USB and HDMI, because conventional connectors break the seal.

A front IP65 panel PC in an outdoor kiosk is a correct specification: the back of the computer is inside the kiosk and never sees weather. A front IP65 panel PC bolted to the outside of a forestry vehicle is the wrong one: the back is exposed and the system will fail within months. If a datasheet does not say front or full, ask. The difference is not cosmetic.

Is IP65 waterproof?

Water-resistant, not submersible. It keeps out rain, splashes and low-pressure hosing, but not powerful jets, pressure washing or immersion; those need IP66, IP69K and IP67 respectively.

Is IP65 suitable for outdoor use?

Yes, for most outdoor installations. It handles rain, wind-driven spray and dust, which is why kiosks, signage and building-mounted equipment use it. For storm-driven rain or hosing step up to IP66, and to IP67 where brief submersion is possible.

Our front IP65 panel PCs and front IP65 monitors are sealed at the bezel for panel mounting, while IP65 panel PCs and IP65 computers are sealed all round.

An IP66 rating means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets from any direction: a 12.5 mm nozzle at about 100 kPa, over three times the pressure and eight times the flow of the IP65 test. It is the step up from IP65 for equipment that is hosed down or faces storm-driven rain.

IP66 meaning

The first digit, 6, is the same as IP65: no dust enters during the dust chamber test. The second digit, 6, means protection against powerful water jets from any direction, strong enough to cover hosing, heavy seas washing over a deck and storm-driven rain.

IP66 test specification

• The enclosure is sprayed from every practicable direction through a 12.5 mm nozzle.
• Flow is 100 litres per minute at about 100 kPa, from 2.5 to 3 m away.
• Spraying lasts at least 3 minutes, and at least 1 minute per square meter of surface.
• The same dust test as IP65 applies to the first digit.

Is IP66 waterproof?

Yes, against powerful jets and heavy rain. It does not include immersion, so equipment that may be submerged needs IP67 as well, which is why many rugged computers carry IP66/IP67 together.

Is IP66 suitable for outdoor use?

Yes, including exposed and coastal sites. It suits equipment in the open, on ships and on hosed-down vehicles. For salt air, pair it with 316 stainless steel or NEMA 4X construction, because IP ratings do not test corrosion.

Our IP66 computers, IP66 panel PCs and IP66 monitors are sealed all round; front IP66 panel PCs are sealed at the bezel only. The IP66 FAQ covers the rating in brief.

Recent IP66 launches include the sealed, fanless iBOX-650P-IP66 AGX Orin computer, the compact iBOX-602P-IP66 with PoE for cameras and the SBOX-2624P-IP66 waterproof industrial PC.

An IP67 rating means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion in water to 1 m for 30 minutes. It is the usual rating for vehicles, field equipment and anything that might be dropped in water or caught in a flood.

IP67 meaning

The 6 is the same dust-tight rating as IP65 and IP66. The 7 means the enclosure keeps water out when fully submerged for a limited time, under test conditions fixed by IEC 60529 rather than set by the manufacturer.

IP67 test specification

• The enclosure is fully submerged in water for 30 minutes.
• Enclosures under 850 mm tall sit with their lowest point 1 m below the surface; taller ones with their top 150 mm below it.
• After the test the enclosure is opened and inspected for water ingress.
• The same dust test applies to the first digit.

Is IP67 waterproof?

Yes, to 1 m for 30 minutes. It is not tested against water jets, so equipment that is also hosed down should carry IP66 or IP69K as well.

Is IP67 submersible?

For short periods only. IP67 covers brief, accidental immersion, such as a vehicle fording a stream or a computer dropped in a tank. For equipment that stays under water, specify IP68 with the depth and duration stated.

See our IP67 computers, IP67 panel PCs and IP67 monitors. The IP67 FAQ covers the rating in brief.

An IP68 rating means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion under conditions stated by the manufacturer, typically deeper than 1 m and longer than 30 minutes. Unlike IP65 to IP67, the test is not fixed, so two IP68 products can protect to very different depths.

IP68 meaning

The 6 is dust-tight, as for every industrial rating. The 8 means protection against continuous immersion, but IEC 60529 leaves the depth and duration to the manufacturer, provided they are more severe than the IP67 test. The rating only means something alongside those stated conditions.

IP68 test specification

• The manufacturer sets the depth and duration, which must exceed IP67 (1 m for 30 minutes).
• The conditions are published alongside the rating.
• After immersion the enclosure is opened and inspected for water ingress.
• The same dust test applies to the first digit.

Is IP68 waterproof?

Yes, to the depth and time the manufacturer states. “IP68” alone does not tell you whether a device survives 2 m for an hour or 50 m for a week, so always read the stated conditions.

Is IP68 better than IP67?

For immersion, yes; for everything else, no. Neither IP67 nor IP68 includes a jet test, so equipment that is hosed or pressure-washed still needs IP66 or IP69K alongside it.

IP68 is rarely needed on industrial computers, and most of our sealed range stops at IP67 for immersion. If equipment must work under water permanently, tell us the depth and duration and we will advise. The IP68 FAQ covers the rating in brief.

An IP69K rating means an enclosure is dust-tight and protected against close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, as defined by DIN 40050-9 and now ISO 20653. It is the food and beverage industry’s usual requirement for equipment cleaned every shift with hot water, steam and chemical disinfectants.

IP69K meaning

The 6 is dust-tight. The 9K, from the German standard DIN 40050-9, means protection against close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature water jets: the conditions of a pressure washer or steam cleaner used in food plants and on vehicles.

IP69K test specification

• The enclosure sits on a turntable rotating at 5 rpm.
• Water at 80 °C is sprayed at 8 to 10 MPa (about 1,160 to 1,450 psi) and 14 to 16 litres per minute.
• The nozzle is held 100 to 150 mm from the enclosure.
• The spray is applied for 30 seconds at each of four angles: 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°.

Benefits of IP69K

• Hygiene. IP69K equipment can be cleaned as thoroughly as the machinery around it, so it never becomes the weak point in a sanitation regime.
• Less downtime. Equipment that survives the daily clean does not need covering, removing or drying out before production restarts.
• Longer life. IP69K enclosures are usually stainless steel with sealed M12 connectors, built to resist the caustic and acidic chemistry of washdown for years.

Is IP69K submersible?

No. The 9K test covers hot, high-pressure jets and includes no immersion. Where equipment may be submerged and washed down, look for a combined rating such as IP67/IP69K; the IP69K vs IP67 comparison sets out the two tests side by side.

What is the difference between IP69 and IP69K?

They describe a near-identical hot, high-pressure jet test from two standards. IP69K comes from DIN 40050-9, written for pressure-washed road vehicles and adopted by food processing; IEC 60529 later added its own IPX9 level. In industrial computing, IP69K is still the rating usually specified and tested.

See our IP69K panel PCs and IP69K monitors, and our guide to hygienic design for what else a washdown area asks of the equipment.

The five industrial ratings differ only in the second digit, so the choice comes down to what the water does: falls, jets, submerges or blasts.

IP65 vs IP66

Both are dust-tight; the difference is jet strength. IP66 is tested with a larger nozzle at over three times the pressure and eight times the flow, so choose it where equipment is hosed down or faces driving rain. The IP65 vs IP66 FAQ gives the short version.

IP65 vs IP67

IP65 protects against water jets; IP67 against temporary immersion to 1 m. IP67 does not include a jet test, so a device that may be both submerged and hosed needs both ratings.

IP65 vs IP68

IP65 is a jet rating, IP68 an immersion rating with conditions set by the maker. They answer different questions, so an IP68 device is not automatically suitable for hosing; see IP65 vs IP68 for where each fits.

IP66 vs IP67

IP66 is for powerful jets, IP67 for brief immersion. They test different things, which is why rugged vehicle and outdoor equipment often carries IP66/IP67 together. More in IP66 vs IP67.

IP67 vs IP68

Both cover immersion. IP67 is fixed at 1 m for 30 minutes; IP68 goes further, to a depth and duration the manufacturer must state, so always read the conditions behind an IP68 claim. The IP67 vs IP68 FAQ has worked examples.

IP68 vs IP69K

IP68 is about staying under water; IP69K is about surviving hot water fired at close range. A sub-sea instrument needs the first, a food line HMI the second, and neither rating implies the other.

IP55 vs IP65

IP55 allows limited dust ingress; IP65 allows none. Both resist low-pressure jets. IP55 suits indoor enclosures in light dust; IP65 is the minimum for a dust-tight, waterproof industrial computer. For indoor cabinets that only see splashes, IP54 is often enough.

NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, publishes a parallel enclosure rating system used widely in the United States and Canada, defined in NEMA 250. The two systems test slightly different things. NEMA covers environmental factors IP does not, such as corrosion resistance, external ice formation, oil and gasket ageing; IP covers precise water pressures and flows that NEMA does not.

There is no exact one-to-one mapping, and the conversion only works one way: a NEMA type can be given an approximate IP equivalent, but an IP rating cannot be converted into a NEMA type, because the NEMA tests include things IP never checks. The closest practical equivalents are:

Where corrosion or chemical resistance matters, in food, pharmaceutical and offshore marine sites, the NEMA 4X or 6P designation may be the more meaningful line even where the project nominally uses IP.

For equipment specified into projects that span the USA and North America, common in food and beverage processing, marine, defense and multinational manufacturing, calling out both ratings is the safer approach. “IP66 / NEMA 4X stainless steel” tells USA and US buyers everything they need to check against their local standard.

An IP rating says nothing about impact, vibration, temperature or salt. Rugged specifications usually pair it with other standards, and it helps to know which question each one answers.

For impact, see what an IK rating means. For the military methods, our guide to military standards sets out what each method simulates. A sealed enclosure is only part of what makes a rugged computer: wide operating temperature, wide-range DC input and shock-rated internals matter as much in the field.

The right rating is set by the environment, not by aspiration. Identify the dominant water and dust exposure, choose the rating that meets it and add no more than one step of margin for unknowns.

Add margin carefully. An IP67 computer specified for an IP65 application usually costs more, weighs more and may need more elaborate connector seals, none of which helps the deployment. The right specification is precise to the environment, not as protective as possible.

Worked examples

A meat processing line. The HMI is cleaned every shift with hot water and chlorinated foam. That points to full IP69K in 316 stainless steel, with M12 or sealed-conduit cable entries, rather than a front IP65 panel PC in a painted cabinet. Our food and beverage customers usually specify stainless steel panel PCs for these positions.

A forklift moving between a cold store and a loading bay. Water exposure is spray and condensation rather than jets or immersion, so IP65 is enough for the sealing. The bigger risks are internal fogging and cold starts, which point to a bonded display, a wide temperature range and a heater, not a higher IP number.

A ticket kiosk on an exposed platform. The kiosk housing is the weather barrier, so a front IP65 or IP66 display or panel PC mounted in it is the right choice. The kiosk itself should be IP54 or better, with the computer inside rated for the cabinet temperature it will see in summer sun.

A camera computer on a quayside mast. Driving rain and salt air call for full IP66 with M12 connections, and a stainless or treated enclosure for corrosion. Our guide to outdoor computer enclosures covers the thermal side, and marine computers add the type approvals ships need.

An IP rating is earned in the laboratory on a correctly assembled enclosure. In service it depends on how the system is cabled, mounted and maintained, and that is where most ingress failures start.

We configure, image and test every computer before it ships, and for sealed systems that includes fitting and checking the connector caps, cable glands and mounting hardware the installation needs, so the rating on the datasheet is the rating on site.