When buying LED strip lights, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right waterproof rating (IP rating). Pick the wrong one, and your lights could fail prematurely — or you’ll overpay for protection you don’t need. At Lightstec, we’ve manufactured waterproof LED strips for over 13 years, and this guide breaks down exactly what IP20, IP33, IP55, IP65, and IP67 mean — and which one you should choose for your project.
Last updated: August 2026 | Based on Lightstec’s factory production data and field testing.
What is an IP Rating?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. It’s a standard rating system that tells you how well an electrical product is protected against two things:
- First digit (0-6) — Protection against solid objects (dust, dirt, fingers)
- Second digit (0-8) — Protection against liquids (water splashes, rain, immersion)
For example, IP65 means: 6 = fully dust-tight, 5 = protected against water jets from any direction. Higher numbers mean better protection — but also higher cost and sometimes reduced heat dissipation.
IP Rating Comparison for LED Strip Lights
| IP Rating | Manufacturing Method | Protection | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP20 / IP33 | Bare PCB, no coating | Dust touch protection only; not waterproof | Indoor, dry environments |
| IP55 | Silicone glue dropped on surface | Dust-proof; splash-resistant | Indoor, kitchens, bathrooms |
| IP65 | Silicone tube sleeve | Dust-tight; water jet resistant | Covered outdoor, facades, signs |
| IP67 | Silicone tube + glue filling | Dust-tight; immersion up to 1m | Outdoor, pools, wet areas |
| IP68 | Silicone injection molding | Dust-tight; continuous immersion | Underwater, fountains |
IP20 / IP33 — Non-Waterproof (Indoor Only)
IP20 and IP33 LED strips are bare PCB boards with no waterproof coating. They are designed for enclosed fixtures and indoor use only.
An IP20 or IP33 LED strip should never be used outdoors unless housed in a sealed fixture. They are fine indoors in basic environments — living rooms, bedrooms, offices, retail displays — but should be avoided in high-humidity areas like bathrooms or saunas.
IP55 — Silicone Glue Dropped (Splash-Resistant)
IP55 LED strips have a layer of silicone glue dropped onto the surface of the PCB. This provides complete dust protection and resistance to water splashes — but not direct rain or immersion.
The silicone coating protects the LEDs and resistors from moisture in the air, making IP55 suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas with occasional humidity or splashing. It’s the most common “waterproof” rating for indoor wet-area applications.
IP65 — Silicone Tube (Water Jet Resistant)
IP65 LED strips are inserted into a transparent silicone tube sleeve. The tube provides complete dust-tight protection and resistance to water jets from any direction (6.3mm nozzle).
This is the minimum rating recommended for outdoor use. IP65 strips are commonly used for building facades, sign lighting, outdoor decorative lighting, and covered walkways. They can handle rain but should not be submerged in water.
IP67 — Silicone Tube + Glue Filling (Immersion-Proof)
IP67 LED strips combine a silicone tube with silicone glue filling inside. This construction is fully dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes.
IP67 is the highest standard waterproof rating for flexible LED strips. It’s ideal for outdoor lighting exposed to heavy rain, pool areas, fountains (above waterline), and industrial environments with frequent washing. For permanent underwater use, IP68 (silicone injection molding) is required.
Waterproof Materials: Silicone vs PU vs Epoxy
There are three main waterproof materials used in LED strip manufacturing. Each has different properties:
| Material | Advantages | Disadvantages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone | UV-resistant, flexible, long lifespan, easy to repair | Higher cost | Outdoor, long-term use (Lightstec standard) |
| PU Glue | Good clarity, moderate cost | yellows over time, less UV-resistant | Indoor, budget projects |
| Epoxy Resin | Lowest cost, hard finish | Brittle, yellows, poor heat dissipation | Short-term, low-cost applications |
Lightstec uses silicone as standard for all waterproof strips because it offers the best balance of durability, UV resistance, and heat dissipation. Learn more in our detailed comparison: Silicone vs Epoxy Resin Waterproof LED Strips.
How to Choose the Right Waterproof Rating
Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, retail displays → IP20/IP33
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements → IP55
Facades, eaves, signs, awnings → IP65
Uncovered areas, pools, fountains → IP67
FAQs
Not Sure Which IP Rating You Need?
Lightstec offers IP20, IP55, IP65, and IP67 LED strips with silicone waterproofing. Tell us your project details and we’ll recommend the right rating.
Learn More Professional Led Classes Which Less People Tell You Before You Make Mistake.
This post is very useful for us. I want to buy some IP65 led strip light for my hotel project.
Nice Kris,Our IP65 strip light is make with silicon tube.Hope received your mail soon .
Hi Lightstec, we need some led strip light in swimming pool,can you offer this material ?
Hi Jiscal,We don’t suggest using led strip light under water.It is not safe and after 6 months, the strip light will fail.
I had been interested in your products and were promoting it heavily to our clients.
It came as a great news to receive queries from our client. Hence, we would like to seek your advice on the below :-
1. What is the length of this fitting? Is it customizable to 2000mm? My client is interested to install it at a length of 4000mm.
2. Does this fitting comes with LED strip pre-installed? Do you offer 4200K color temperature LED?
3. What is the extending connector accessories for?
Hi Cathy , thanks for interesting in our led strip light and profile.We will send you detail by mail.
Dear Sirs,
I represent SysLLC.
The company operates on the Russian market and consists of several companies specialized in outdoor & indoor lighting, serving different scale projects for corporate clients.
Our main offices are located in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Also we have designated sales partners in the most economically active regions of Russia.
Primarily we work with our partners as a direct importer and distributor. We are open for new partnerships and highly interested in cooperation with your respected company and would be proud to present your products to our existing and future clients.
Could you please send the price list for the whole range of your products, sales conditions, lead times.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Dear sir , hope our professional products and service can fit for your request. I will send you our strip light and profile channel price to you .
Good day everyone,
We have find your company through google search and very interested in your products.
Could you please send us pricelist for your LED products with terms of payment and other relative information? It is really important for us to get your pricelist, because we should present your goods and price to our clients.
Our company is one of the leader Russian LED market and specialized in LED-goods distribution, that’s why we are also interested in possibly becoming your exclusive agent in Russia.
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Looking forward to a fruitful cooperation.
Dear Amooh, Nice you can find us!
I am not sure Russia market.I will send you our price list of led strip light and led aluminum profile.
You can check and give feedback to us. Hope we can coopearation in Russian market.
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I wanted to inquire about your RGB Flexible LEDs and Pricing please. I will be looking for 500-1000M.
I am also looking for a 24 Channel DMX Dimmer as well.
Dear bobby, We have RGB led strip light,and this can control with DMX controller. I will send you datesheet.
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Hi Lebih, thanks
Can you offer one bin color temperature in all order?
Hi Willain, small order such as 2000-3000meter, then we can use one bin. Big order we need to use 2 bin code led. And we keep the record.Next time you are ordering the same item ,then we can use the same bin for your order.
Better for us to know IP level .
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