IP67 vs IP69K Lights: Which Rating Does Your Truck Need?
IP67 and IP69K both mean a light is dust-tight, but they prove different things about water. IP67 means the light survives temporary immersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. IP69K means it survives close-range, hot, high-pressure spray. For most highway trucks and trailers, IP67 or IP68 covers rain, road spray and a flooded boat ramp. IP69K earns its cost only when lights get pressure-washed or steam-cleaned on a routine schedule.
TL;DR
- Both ratings start with a 6, so both are fully dust-tight. The second digit is where they differ.
- IP67 is a submersion test (1 m, 30 minutes). IP69K is a washdown test (80 to 100 bar, 80°C water, close range). Neither is simply “higher” than the other.
- Long-haul tractors and standard dry-van or flatbed trailers usually do well with IP67 or IP68. Food haulers, waste trucks and construction fleets that wash daily may justify IP69K.
- “IP69” without the K is not the same promise. Ask for the full IP69K rating on the datasheet.
- No IP rating replaces DOT compliance. Lights still have to meet FMVSS 108.
Table of Contents
- What the two digits in an IP rating actually say
- IP67 vs IP69K lights, side by side
- What IP67 really proves
- What IP69K really proves
- What about IP68?
- Which rating fits your fleet
- A rating does not replace DOT compliance
- Where water gets in even on a rated light
- Our view: match the rating to the wash, not the hype
- Lights in our range, by rating
- FAQ
- Sources
What the two digits in an IP rating actually say
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The first digit rates protection against solid objects and dust. The second rates protection against water. As one plug and connector manufacturer explains, a 6 in the first position means dust-tight, with no dust getting in, and IP67, IP68 and IP69K all share it.
That shared 6 matters. It means that when you compare IP67 with IP69K, dust is not the question. You are only comparing two different water tests.
A common mistake is to read the numbers like a ladder, where 9 beats 7 in every situation. Lighting guidance from Leviton does say that higher numbers generally mean more protection. But the same guidance stresses that a rating is a baseline, and you still need to check the actual stresses your equipment faces. A submersion test and a hot pressure-spray test are different problems, and a light can be built to pass one without being designed for the other.
IP67 vs IP69K lights, side by side
| IP67 | IP68 | IP69K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust | Dust-tight | Dust-tight | Dust-tight |
| Water test | Temporary immersion, up to 1 m for 30 minutes | Immersion beyond the IP67 test, depth and time set by the manufacturer | Close-range jets, 80 to 100 bar at 80°C |
| Simulates | Heavy rain, road spray, a flooded lot, a boat ramp | Longer or deeper submersion | Pressure washer or steam cleaning |
| Typical use | Highway trucks, trailers, side markers, license plate lights | Submersible trailer lights, boat trailers | Food transport, waste, construction, wash-bay fleets |
The IP67 and IP69K figures come from Nema LED’s comparison, which lists the IP69K spray at 80 to 100 bar (1,160 to 1,450 psi) and 80°C from 100 to 150 mm away. For IP68, Pocket-lint’s explainer notes that the 8 signals water resistance beyond the IP67 standard. Because the exact depth and duration for IP68 are set by the maker, read the datasheet for the number rather than assuming one.
What IP67 really proves
The IP67 test dunks the light, powered down, in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. If the housing, lens seal and wire exit keep water out, it passes.
On a truck, that translates well. Tires throw spray at marker lights and tail lights for hours. Trailers sit in standing water at yards and loading docks. A trailer axle may dip into a flooded ramp or washed-out crossing. IP67 was designed around that kind of wet, not around a nozzle.
Two caveats from the field:
- The rating applies to the sealed light as tested. A cracked lens, a pinched wire or a missing grommet changes the result. We cover that below.
- It is not a pressure-washer rating. A narrow, high-pressure jet can force water past seals that handle immersion fine.
What IP69K really proves
IP69K is the toughest washdown rating used on vehicle lighting. It comes from the road-vehicle world: it is defined in ISO 20653, and the IP69K information sheet from Designplan describes it as a rating for applications where high-pressure, high-temperature washdown is used to sanitize equipment.
The test is much harsher than what most shops own. Hot water at 80 to 100 bar is well above a typical consumer-grade pressure washer. A light that carries IP69K has been engineered so the lens bond, gasket and cable entry hold up against that attack from several angles.
Watch the missing K
You will see “IP69” on listings. Industry guidance in that same Designplan document points out that the full designation is IP69K, and a product labeled only IP69 may not have been through the 80-bar, 80°C procedure. When you buy, look for the complete IP69K on the datasheet or test report, not just the product title.
What about IP68?
If you are also weighing IP67 against IP68, the practical difference is depth and duration. IP67 sets a fixed test at 1 m for 30 minutes. IP68 goes beyond that, with conditions the manufacturer specifies. That is why IP68 shows up on submersible boat trailer lights, where the fixture can sit underwater every time the trailer is backed down a ramp.
For a highway tractor-trailer, the difference between IP67 and IP68 rarely decides anything. Seal quality, wire exit design and how the light is installed matter more.
Which rating fits your fleet
The research is consistent here: for standard road weather resistance (rain, mud, road spray), IP67 or IP68 is the usual recommendation. IP69K is only necessary for components that take aggressive, routine high-pressure or steam cleaning, such as in food transport or heavy-duty construction.
Use this as a decision guide:
- Long-haul dry van, reefer exterior, flatbed, tanker. IP67 is the sensible baseline. Spend on build quality and seals, not on a washdown rating you will never use.
- Boat, utility and camper trailers. IP67 at minimum. IP68 if the lights are routinely submerged at the ramp.
- Construction and dump fleets. Look at IP69K if crews blast mud off lights and body daily. If you rinse with a hose, IP67 is typically fine.
- Food, dairy, waste and sanitation trucks. These are the cases IP69K was made for, where hot, high-pressure sanitation is part of the routine.
- Trailer builders and upfitters. Match the rating to the end customer’s wash cycle, and document it.
The common error is over-specifying the whole fleet to IP69K. For standard highway lighting, that adds cost without improving real-world performance for the duty cycle.
A rating does not replace DOT compliance
An IP rating tells you nothing about whether a light is legal. In the U.S., lamps on commercial vehicles must meet FMVSS 108, and a light can be IP69K and still be the wrong color, position or brightness for its job. Industry guidance summarized by Leviton treats IP ratings as a performance benchmark and not a substitute for application-specific checks.
So check both. Look for DOT/SAE marking on the lens first, then the IP rating for durability. Our guides on DOT lighting requirements before an inspection and marker light rules for U.S. fleets walk through placement and counts. If you want the broader picture on picking a rating for trailers, see our IP rating guide for trailer lights.
Where water gets in even on a rated light
Most failures we hear about are not a light failing its rating. They are an installation or wiring problem around a good light.
- Wire exits and connectors. Water follows the wire. A sealed light on a corroded, unsealed connector will still fail. Our truck light maintenance guide covers voltage checks and connection care.
- Grommets and mounting holes. A flush-mount marker light sits in a hole in the trailer. If the grommet is cracked or the hole is oversized, the light’s rating stops at the housing.
- Sealed versus potted construction. How the internals are protected affects long-term life. We compare both in sealed vs potted LED lights.
- Pressure washing close to the lens. Even with an IP67 light, keep the nozzle back and avoid blasting at the wire exit.
If your trailer lighting problems keep coming back and you would rather have a technician look at the circuit, a shop that handles automotive lighting and electrical repair can check the wiring and bulbs for you. The same IP logic applies: a good light on a bad circuit will still go dark.
Our view: match the rating to the wash, not the hype
We build our lighting range around the problems drivers actually describe: leaks, dim lenses, corroded wiring and lights that quit in bad weather. Our products are designed with leak-proof housings, brighter LEDs and thicker copper wiring, and built to exceed DOT standards for long hauls and harsh conditions.
Here is how we would think about the IP question:
- Start from the cleaning routine. If lights are rinsed, not blasted, IP67 is the right target. If lights are hit with hot, high-pressure spray on a schedule, ask for IP69K in writing.
- Treat the whole circuit as the product. The light, the wiring, the connector and the grommet all have to hold. That is why we sell them together.
- Do not pay for a rating you will not use. Over-specifying every light on a fleet is a budget leak, and it can hide the real causes of failure.
- Verify the full designation. IP67, IP68 or IP69K, and never a bare “IP69”.
The ratings in our range are listed on the product pages, so you can see what each light is rated for before you order.
— All
Lights in our range, by rating
Here are examples listed on our site, with the rating shown in the product title:
- IP67 side markers: the 3-1/7" round LED marker and clearance light and the 3.7" oval bar-style LED marker.
- IP67 fender and license plate lighting: the double-face pedestal fender marker and the 4 LED surface-mount license plate light.
- IP68 for submersion: the 12V LED trailer light wiring kit, made for boat trailers that go in the water.
If you are ready to upgrade a tired trailer, you can browse our full range of lighting, wiring and reflective products and match each light to the way your equipment is used.
FAQ
Is IP69K better than IP67?
Not in every case. IP69K proves a light survives hot, high-pressure washdown, while IP67 proves it survives temporary submersion. They solve different problems, so the better rating is the one that matches how your lights are exposed. For highway trailers, IP67 is usually enough.
What does IP69K mean on a truck light?
It means the light is dust-tight and has passed a test with water at about 80°C sprayed at 80 to 100 bar from close range. That simulates pressure washing and steam cleaning. Look for the full IP69K on the datasheet, since plain “IP69” may not reflect that test.
Is an IP67 light waterproof enough for a truck or trailer?
For road spray, heavy rain and brief submersion, yes. IP67 covers immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. If a light will sit underwater regularly, such as on a boat trailer, step up to IP68. If it will take hot pressure washing, look at IP69K.
What is the difference between IP67 and IP68?
Both are dust-tight. IP67 is tested at 1 meter for 30 minutes. IP68 goes beyond that, with depth and duration set by the manufacturer, so check the datasheet for the actual figures.
Sources
- IP69K vs IP67: What’s the Difference? | Nema LED
- What’s the Difference Between IP67, IP68, and IP69K?
- IP69K information | Designplan
- Understanding IP Ratings | Leviton
- IP68 vs. IP69K: What’s the difference? | Pocket-lint
