IPX7 vs IP67, Waterproof Rating Meanings, and Comparisons

Do you need an IPX7 vs IP67 waterproof rating? If you’ve noticed waterproof ratings in many electronic products, you’ll find codes like IPX7 and IP67. These are more than just numbers and letters but it tells consumers the waterproof rating or IP rating of a product.

The IP rating is the waterproof sealing properties of a product. A sports watch, for example, should be adequately sealed to protect its components from damage due to water, moisture, foreign material, and many more. The IP rating states how a device can tolerate all these.

What is IP rating?

From radios, speakers, smartphones, watches, and metal detectors, a lot of electronic and consumer items have an IP rating. IP is short for Ingress Protection and is known globally. This rating describes how good or how bad an item can prevent water or moisture from seeping in and destroying its components.

Related: Ipx8 vs Ip68

What do these codes (IPX7 and IP67) mean?

The terms IPX7 and IP67 are just two of the waterproof ratings available. More IP ratings are consisting of letters and numbers.

The first number in an IP rating is the degree of protection from any foreign bodies and moving parts. The next number is the protection from different types of moisture which includes sprays, drips, and immersion in deep water. If there is an X to replace a number, this means that the item has no rating for the specification.

1st number of the IP rating or the intrusion protection

0 – or X means there is no protection and the enclosure is not rated.

1 – there is protection against a large part of the body but with no protection due to deliberate access to the enclosure. This pertains to solid items larger than 50 mm in diameter in size.

2 – there is protection from items and fingers. Items must not be longer than 80 mm and have a diameter of 12 mm. This includes accidental contact with your fingers.

3 – there is protection from tool and wire entry. The item must have a 2.5 mm diameter or larger.

4 – there is protection from solid items that are 1 mm or larger. These include items like screws, nails, wires, and even larger bugs.

5 – there is only partial protection from dust.

6 – this means that the enclosure is dust-tight or fully dustproof. Dust and other particles cannot penetrate the enclosure and thus they can be used in dirty places.

2^nd number of the IP rating or the moisture protection

0 – there is no protection and thus, no rating.

1 – there is protection from falling drops of water, including condensation. This ensures that there is negative damage to the components when the enclosure is upright.

2 -  there is protection from water drops up to 15 degrees from the vertical.

3 – there is protection from water sprays up to 60 degrees from the vertical.

4 – there is protection from water splashing in every direction. The enclosure was tested for 10 minutes (minimum) using an oscillating water spray.

5 – there is protection from water pumped in low-pressure jets at 6.3 mm at all angles.

6 – there is protection from directly aimed high water pressure jets.

7 – there is protection from immersion in extended periods and higher water pressures (depths).

8-  there is protection from the full immersion of the enclosure up to 30 min in a 15 cm to 1-meter water depth.  The product cannot be submerged in water for a long time.

9 –  or K. There is protection from high temperature, pressure jet sprays as well as steam cleaning and wash down procedures. The product is fully waterproof.

IPX7 vs IP67 ratings 

Looking at IPX7 and IP67 ratings, let’s compare these according to the standards mentioned above.

What is IP67 certified?

IP67 products have the following characteristics:

• The product is completely dust-tight and therefore, no dust and other particles can't enter. The item may be vacuum sealed and thus, passed a test for continuous airflow.
• The product may be completely immersed in water for up to 30 minutes.
• The product may stay in the water with a depth of 15 cm to 1 meter for half an hour.
• IP67 products include consumer electronics, toys, gadgets, etc.

What is IPX7 certified?

IPX7 products have the following characteristics:

• The product has no intrusion characteristics and hence, instead of a number, it has the letter “X.”
• The product may be placed in water that’s 15 cm to 1 meter deep.
• The product may remain completely immersed in water for up to 30 minutes. The water resistance rating of IPX7 is 7.
• IPX7 products included consumer electronics, high-end devices and gadgets, and more.

Which rating is better?

When it comes to IPX7 vs IP67, you should select products rated as IP67 as it's better due to an additional intrusion rating. You can use an IP67 rated product in an area where there's dust and other tiny particulates as it won't let these microscopic particles inside damage its components. Plus, an IP67 product is fully waterproof so you can use it in wet or high-moisture environments.

Meanwhile, the IPX7 product is completely waterproof but cannot be used in environments with high dust and dirt. Therefore, if you want an all-weather product that can take the rain, dust, moisture, and wind then you should go with an IP68 rating.

Products and devices that are used in extreme weather conditions must be dustproof and waterproof. You must also consider drop-proof as a bonus feature as this means that the product or device will not be damaged when dropped from a certain height.

Wrap Up

When you’re comparing IPX7 vs IP67, you need to consider your environment and how you're going to use the device. For consumer electronics, go for an IP67 rating to make sure that the product is dustproof and waterproof. Always look for the IP rating aside from the features of the product or device. Every rating is unique, always refer to the IP rating guide when buying quality consumer electronics and other household