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Home › Selection guide › IP44 vs IP67: what the two numbers really mean

IP44 vs IP67: what the two numbers really mean

The difference is not just a bit more water resistance. What IEC 60529 actually specifies, and how to choose for outdoor and wet areas.

The most common question when buying industrial plugs and sockets: IP44 or IP67? The price gap is real, and getting it wrong either wastes money or lets water in. Here is what the two ratings actually mean.

What the two digits stand for

IP means Ingress Protection, defined by IEC 60529. The first digit covers solids, the second water.

First digit (solids)4 = protected against objects over 1 mm (tools, thin wires)
Second digit (water)4 = splash-proof; 7 = protected against short immersion

So IP44 = protected against 1 mm solids + splash-proof, while IP67 = dust-tight + protected against short immersion. Note that IP67 starts with 6, meaning dust-tight — two levels above IP44 on solids alone.

How long can IP67 actually stay under water

The standard means 30 minutes at a depth of 1 metre without water entering. That covers rain pooling, floor washing and short flooding — but not permanent immersion (that is IP68).

When IP67 is mandatory

  • Outdoor positions without a roof
  • Food plants, car washes and other high-pressure wash-down areas
  • Basements and pits where water may collect
  • Dusty environments (foundries, cement, flour) — the dust rating matters too

When IP44 is enough

  • Indoor dry workshops, offices, server rooms
  • Covered areas that never see direct rain
  • Installation inside a distribution enclosure
Money-saving tip: if the location is indoors with the occasional splash, an IP44 plug and socket with a splash cover costs far less than switching the whole installation to IP67. But if it is genuinely outdoors, do not save that money.

A frequent misconception

"The plug is IP67 and the socket is IP44 — surely that still keeps water out?" — No. The rating of a mated pair is set by its weakest part, so both ends must have the same rating. Mixing them means the pair is only as good as the lower one.

Not sure which rating your site needs? Describe the environment and we will advise.

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