When buyers search for LED strip lights on Alibaba.com, one of the first specifications they encounter is the IP rating. This two-digit code—ingress protection rating—is the industry standard for defining how well a product resists solid objects and liquids. For LED strip lights, the most common ratings are IP20, IP65, and IP67, each serving distinctly different application scenarios.
The first digit indicates protection against solid objects (dust, fingers, tools), while the second digit defines water resistance. A rating of IP65 means the strip is dust-tight (6) and protected against water jets from any direction (5). IP67 goes further—the 7 indicates the strip can withstand temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. IP20, by contrast, offers no water protection whatsoever and is designed exclusively for dry indoor environments [1].
The physical construction differs significantly across these ratings. IP20 strips have exposed LEDs with no protective coating, maximizing heat dissipation and light output. IP65 strips typically feature an epoxy resin or silicone coating over the LEDs, providing water resistance while maintaining reasonable flexibility. IP67 strips use full silicone sheathing or tubing, creating a complete waterproof barrier but adding bulk and reducing heat dissipation efficiency [4].
