M12 IP67 vs IP68: Which Protection Do You Need?

On this page

• Quick Answer
• What IP Ratings Mean
• How IP Ratings Are Tested
• IP67 Explained
• IP68 Explained
• IP67 vs IP68 at a Glance
• Which One Do You Need?
• Maintaining an M12 Connector's IP Rating
• Beyond IP68: IP69K
• FAQ

Quick Answer

For M12 connectors, IP67 and IP68 are both dust-tight; the difference is in water protection. IP67 withstands temporary immersion in water up to 1 m for 30 minutes, while IP68 covers continuous immersion beyond 1 m under conditions set by the manufacturer. Choose IP67 for general industrial and outdoor use, and IP68 when the connector may be submerged or exposed to constant moisture. Either rating only applies once the connector is mated and tightened.

What IP Ratings Mean

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are defined by IEC 60529 and use two digits. The first digit rates protection against solids and dust (0–6), and the second rates protection against water (0–9K). For both IP67 and IP68 the first digit is 6, meaning fully dust-tight; only the second digit differs. For the full breakdown of every digit, see the IP rating guide.

How IP Ratings Are Tested

The two ratings differ because they are verified by different tests. IP67 is checked by immersing the connector in water to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes and confirming no harmful ingress. IP68 uses immersion that is deeper and/or longer than IP67, with the exact depth and duration specified by the manufacturer rather than fixed by the standard — which is why an IP68 figure always needs the maker's stated conditions to be meaningful.

For both ratings the first digit, 6, is verified separately as full dust-tightness: no dust ingress at all. The key practical consequence of how these are tested is that the numbers describe a mated, sealed connector under controlled conditions — not a connector left open, under-tightened, or with a worn seal. Treat the rating as the ceiling a healthy, properly installed connector can reach, not a guarantee under any condition.

IP67 Explained

IP67 means the connector is dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion — specifically, immersion in water up to 1 m deep for up to 30 minutes. In practice this covers the vast majority of industrial situations: outdoor equipment exposed to rain, machinery that is hosed down or splashed, and installations where occasional standing water is possible.

Most M12 connectors achieve IP67 once mated and properly torqued, which is part of why the M12 form factor is so popular in automation. If your application involves humidity, splashing, rain or brief contact with water but not sustained submersion, IP67 is usually the right and most cost-effective choice.

IP68 Explained

IP68 means the connector is dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion in water, at a depth and for a duration defined by the manufacturer (beyond the 1 m / 30 minutes of IP67). Because the exact conditions are set by the maker rather than fixed by the standard, an IP68 rating should always be read together with the manufacturer's stated depth and time.

IP68 is the choice when a connector may remain submerged, sit in a location that floods, or face long-term moisture rather than an occasional splash. It typically requires a connector with enhanced sealing, so it can cost more than an equivalent IP67 part — worth it when the environment genuinely demands it, but unnecessary for ordinary splash-and-rain conditions.

Typical IP68 applications include sensors mounted in sumps or tanks, equipment on washdown lines where pooling water is constant, outdoor installations subject to flooding, and any device that could end up underwater for extended periods. When specifying IP68, treat the manufacturer's stated depth and time as part of the rating: a connector rated for 1.5 m for 24 hours and one rated for deeper, indefinite immersion are both "IP68" but suit very different conditions. Reading that fine print is the difference between a connector that survives and one that floods.

IP67 vs IP68 at a Glance

The table below summarises the protection levels (all are dust-tight; the difference is water):

Which One Do You Need?

Match the rating to the worst-case water exposure the connector will see. For outdoor use, washdown splashing, or occasional standing water, IP67 is sufficient and economical. For continuous moisture, possible submersion, or installation in a spot that could flood, step up to IP68 and confirm the manufacturer's rated depth and time meet your conditions.

Two points matter regardless of which you choose. First, the rating only holds when the connector is mated and tightened — cap any unused ports, because an open port has no protection. Second, ratings degrade over time as seals wear, so inspect and replace damaged seals to keep the protection you specified. To find connectors by IP rating directly, use the connector selector, or tell us your requirements through the inquiry form.

Maintaining an M12 Connector's IP Rating

A rating on a datasheet only translates into real protection if the connector is installed and maintained correctly, so a few habits matter as much as the number itself. Always tighten the coupling to the specified torque: under-tightening leaves the O-ring seal uncompressed, and even an IP68 connector will leak if it is not done up properly. Fit a sealing cap on every unused port, because an open or unmated port has no rating at all regardless of what the connected ports are rated.

Seals also age. Mechanical wear from repeated mating, plus chemicals, UV and temperature cycling, gradually degrade the gasket, so inspect seals periodically and replace any connector showing seal damage, cracking or deformation. Finally, choose the rating for the worst case the connector will actually face over its life, not the average day — it is cheaper to specify the right sealing up front than to chase intermittent faults caused by moisture later. To shortlist connectors by IP rating, use the connector selector.

Beyond IP68: IP69K

For the harshest cleaning environments — food, beverage, dairy and vehicle washdown — there is IP69K, which tests resistance to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. It is important to understand that IP69K covers a different test than IP68: high-pressure hot water rather than deep immersion. A connector can be rated IP69K without meeting IP68, so always check a product's full rating list rather than assuming. For how IP67, IP68 and IP69K compare in full, and which M12 products meet each, see the IP rating guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IP67 and IP68 on an M12 connector?

Both are dust-tight (first digit 6). IP67 protects against temporary immersion in water up to 1 m for 30 minutes, while IP68 covers continuous immersion deeper than 1 m under conditions defined by the manufacturer. Choose IP68 when the connector may stay submerged or face long-term moisture.

Is IP68 better than IP67?

IP68 offers higher water protection than IP67 — it covers continuous, deeper immersion rather than a short, shallow dip. Both are dust-tight. IP68 is the safer choice for submersion or constant wet conditions, but IP67 is sufficient and more economical for most general industrial use.

Does an M12 connector keep its IP rating when unplugged?

No. The IP rating only applies when the connector is correctly mated and tightened to the specified torque. An unmated or uncapped port has no rated protection, so fit a protective cap on unused ports.

What about IP69K?

IP69K rates resistance to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets used in washdown, which is different from deep immersion. It does not automatically imply IP68, so check the product's full rating list. See our IP rating guide for the complete picture.