IP67 and IP68 both mean a device is fully dust-tight and survives being dunked in water. The difference is how long and how deep. IP67 is a fixed test: 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. IP68 means deeper or longer immersion, at conditions the manufacturer chooses and states. So IP68 is not automatically “better.” It is only as good as the number printed next to it, and for most everyday gear, IP67 is plenty.
TL;DR
- Both ratings start with a 6: completely dust-tight. Only the second digit, water, differs.
- IP67 is a standardized test (1 m, 30 minutes). IP68 has no single fixed test, so you need the manufacturer’s stated depth and time.
- Both tests use still, clean fresh water. Salt water, pool chemicals, hot water and pressure jets are not covered.
- Rated does not mean you should swim with it. Liquid damage is often excluded from warranties.
- For boats and rough use, look past the IP number to corrosion resistance, seals and build quality.
Table of Contents
- What the two digits in an IP rating mean
- IP67 vs IP68 at a glance
- Why “IP68” can mean very different things
- Does IP68 beat IP67 in real life?
- What IP ratings do not cover
- Can you swim or shower with an IP67 or IP68 device?
- Warranty: what a water rating does and doesn’t promise
- How to choose: a quick guide by use
- Our perspective: read the spec, then think about the environment
- Examples of IP67 gear that makes sense
- Shop waterproof and weather-ready gear with us
- FAQ
- Sources
What the two digits in an IP rating mean
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The code is defined by the international standard IEC 60529, and the first digit covers solids and the second covers liquids. The scale for solids tops out at 6, which is full dust-tightness. The water scale runs higher, and the numbers describe different kinds of exposure, not a simple ladder of quality.
Read “IP67” as two separate statements:
- 6: no dust gets in.
- 7: it survives temporary immersion under defined conditions.
You will also see codes like IPX7. The X means the device was not tested for dust, only for water. An IPX7 gadget and an IP67 gadget have the same water claim, but only one has a dust claim.
IP67 vs IP68 at a glance
| IP67 | IP68 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dust protection | Fully dust-tight (6) | Fully dust-tight (6) |
| Water test | Up to 1 m of fresh water | Deeper than 1 m, set by manufacturer |
| Duration | Up to 30 minutes | Set by manufacturer |
| Test standardized? | Yes, fixed conditions | Conditions agreed between maker and test lab |
| Typical use | Phones, Bluetooth speakers, outdoor cameras | Flagship phones, sensors, sealed enclosures, underwater-oriented gear |
The pocket-lint comparison gives example IP68 depths from roughly 1.5 m to 6 m, depending on the product. Which brings us to the catch.
Why “IP68” can mean very different things
Unlike IP67, IP68 testing depends on an agreement between the manufacturer and the test laboratory. Two IP68 products can have been tested to quite different depths and times.
Apple’s own support page shows how much this varies inside one brand. It lists some iPhone models as IP68 at a maximum depth of 4 meters for up to 30 minutes, others as IP68 at 2 meters, and older ones as IP67 at 1 meter. Same label family, three different promises.
So when you compare two IP68 products, look for the footnote: depth in meters, time in minutes. If a listing says only “IP68” and nothing more, treat the claim as incomplete until you find the spec sheet.
Does IP68 beat IP67 in real life?
Often the gap does not show up in daily use. Consider what actually happens to gear:
- Rain, splashes, a spilled drink: IP67 covers all of it.
- A drop in a shallow puddle or sink: IP67 covers it, as long as you fish the device out within the rated time.
- A longer or deeper dunk, like a dropped phone sinking in a lake: this is where IP68, with a documented depth well past 1 meter, adds real margin.
- Constant exposure, such as gear mounted outdoors for years: the rating matters less than seal quality, gaskets and how the product ages.
If you are choosing between two similar products and one is IP67 and the other IP68, ask three questions. What depth and time is the IP68 claim? What do I realistically expose this to? And is there anything else I care about, like price, battery life or sound, that should decide it? A well-built IP67 speaker will beat a poorly documented IP68 one for most people.
What IP ratings do not cover
This is where most buying mistakes happen. An IP number is a narrow lab result.
Salt water, chlorine and chemicals
The tests use still, clean fresh water only. They do not guarantee resistance to salt water, pool chemicals, oils, detergents or solvents. An IP-rated product can still fail from corrosion or chemical degradation. Apple’s page also warns that resistance is not permanent and can decrease with normal wear.
If you rinse a rated speaker in the sink after a day at the beach, you are following sensible practice. If you leave it sitting in salt spray on a boat for a season, the rating alone will not protect it.
Pressure jets and hot water
The second digit does not scale neatly. IP66 is rated for powerful water jets, and IP69K for high-pressure, high-temperature jets. As Polycase explains, these are different kinds of exposure, so a higher number does not mean better protection in every scenario. An IP68 device is not guaranteed to survive a pressure washer unless it is also rated for jets. Ratings are not cumulative unless the product was tested for both.
Shock, vibration and impact
An IP rating says nothing about shock, vibration, temperature extremes or physical impacts. A cracked case lets water in, whatever the label said when it left the factory. For marine and industrial use, PCWorld’s point is worth keeping in mind: the housing material and design need to match the whole environment, not just the water.
NEMA is not the same as IP
For enclosures and conduit, you may run into NEMA types as well. NEMA states that an IP rating cannot be treated as equivalent to a NEMA type, because NEMA also considers hazards such as icing, oil and corrosion. If your installation calls for those protections, shop for NEMA-rated equipment regardless of the IP number.
Can you swim or shower with an IP67 or IP68 device?
Do not plan on it. Experts advise against treating these ratings as a license for intentional underwater use, such as swimming or showering. Showers bring hot water, soap and steam, none of which the fresh-water, room-temperature test models. If a manual warns against swimming or immersion, damage from doing it may be treated as misuse.
That leads to the question many readers type next: warranty.
Warranty: what a water rating does and doesn’t promise
A water rating describes a lab test, not a guarantee against damage. Apple’s support page states plainly that liquid damage is not covered under warranty, though you may have rights under consumer law. Other brands write their own terms, so the habit worth building is simple: before you buy, find the manufacturer’s warranty page for that exact model and read the liquid-damage line.
On US versus international warranties, the practical advice is the same. A product built for another region may carry a warranty that is honored only in that region, and the water rating on the box does not change that. Check whether the warranty is valid for the country where you will use it, and keep your order records. If you are buying a high-value item such as a phone, a marine chartplotter or a camera, confirm the warranty terms with the seller and the manufacturer before you pay, not after something goes wrong.
How to choose: a quick guide by use
| What you’re buying | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth speaker for the pool, patio or campsite | IP67 is enough for splashes and short dunks. Rinse after pool or beach use. |
| Phone or earbuds | IP67 covers rain and spills. IP68 with a stated depth gives extra margin for accidental drops in water. |
| Outdoor camera or sensor | Check dust rating, seal quality and temperature range. Long-term exposure matters more than a 30-minute test. |
| Boat electronics and connectors | Look at corrosion resistance, marine-grade materials and proper seals, not just the IP code. |
| Cables and junctions exposed to weather | Seals and connectors matter. Match the seal to the cable and the environment. |
| Gear that gets pressure-washed | Look specifically for jet ratings such as IP66 or IP69K, not just IP68. |
Our perspective: read the spec, then think about the environment
We sell electronics, marine gear, automotive and RV parts, powersports accessories and camping equipment, so water and dust come up in nearly every category we carry. Our view is that the IP number is a useful starting point and a poor finishing point.
The mistake we would most like buyers to avoid is treating IP68 as a trophy. A clearly documented IP67 product from a maker you trust is often a better pick than an IP68 label with no stated depth. And for anything that lives on a boat, in a trailer or on a bike, the rating tells you very little about salt, vibration and sun. In those settings, connectors, seals and cable entries usually decide how long a system lasts. That is why we have written about why waterproof marine connectors matter on a boat and how to approach waterproof cable seal selection.
Our practical advice: match the rating to the worst realistic day, not the average one. Then check the warranty wording for the exact model, and keep the spec page.
— Matthew Vista
Examples of IP67 gear that makes sense
Portable speakers are the classic IP67 case: they get splashed, knocked off a dock edge or left on a beach towel, and a 1 meter, 30 minute test fits that life well. The Ultimate Ears MINIROLL is listed on our site as an IP67, dustproof portable Bluetooth speaker with a 131 ft (40 m) range. It is a good illustration of the point above: a clearly stated IP67 rating on a compact speaker that is meant for outdoor use.
For anything beyond a speaker, our automotive and marine electronics buying guide walks through what to check before you order, and our piece on selecting surge protection for expensive electronics covers the other half of protecting costly gear: power, not just water.
Shop waterproof and weather-ready gear with us
We stock more than 250,000 in-stock products across consumer electronics, marine and boating, automotive and RV, powersports and camping, with nationwide shipping across the United States. If you are shopping for gear that will see water, start with our electronics collection or our marine and boating collection, and check each product page for the stated rating before you order. Need it soon? Our guide to expedited shipping for electronics explains your options.
FAQ
Is IP68 better than IP67?
Only if the stated IP68 conditions are better for your use. IP68 means immersion beyond 1 meter or longer than 30 minutes, set by the manufacturer, so the details vary from product to product. For rain, spills and quick dunks, IP67 already does the job.
Is IP68 fully waterproof?
No. No officially recognized waterproof rating exists. IP68 means the device passed a specific fresh-water immersion test, and it says nothing about salt water, chemicals, hot water or pressure jets. Seals can also wear over time.
Can I wear an IP67 device in the shower?
It is better not to. Soap, hot water and steam are outside what the IP67 test covers, and a manual that warns against it can leave you without coverage if something fails. Rain and sweat are fine, which is what the rating is designed for.
Does the same rating mean the same thing for a phone and a sealed enclosure?
The code is defined by the same standard, but real protection also depends on materials, gaskets and use. Enclosures may also need NEMA ratings if icing, oil or corrosion are concerns. Treat the IP code as one input, not the whole answer.
Is a US warranty different from an international one?
It can be. Warranty terms are set by the manufacturer and may apply only in certain regions, and many exclude liquid damage whatever the IP rating. Read the warranty for your exact model and region before you buy.
Sources
- IP67 vs IP68: What’s the difference? (Pocket-lint)
- Water resistance: IP ratings explained (Consumer NZ)
- IP67 vs. IP68 Enclosure Ratings (Polycase)
- Knowledge article on IP ratings (SICK Support Portal)
- IP codes explained (PCWorld)
- IP65, IP67, IP68: What do protection ratings mean? (maxon)
- NEMA FAQ on enclosures
- About splash, water, and dust resistance of iPhone 7 and later (Apple Support)