Standard Clarity
IPX7

IPX7 rating explained: survives temporary immersion, dust not rated

Immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes; the X means dust was not tested.

Maintained by Giorgi Gaprindashvili Published July 4, 2026 Updated July 19, 2026

X (first digit)Dust not tested or declared (not zero protection).
7 (second digit)Temporary immersion: 1 m depth for 30 minutes.

Want the full system, or to decode any other code? See the IEC 60529 standard explained or the IP rating decoder.

What IPX7 protects against

XSOLIDS AND DUSTNot declaredDust not declared7WATERTemporary immersion1 m depth, 30 minutesDoes not cover: Jets, a stated dust rating
IPX7 survives immersion in 1 m of water for 30 minutes. The X means a dust rating was not declared; on its own it is not a jet rating.

Key facts

Standard
IEC 60529 (Ingress Protection code)
Solids
X = not declared (a placeholder, not zero)
Water
7 = immersion to 1 m for 30 minutes
Best for
Wearables, earbuds, portable electronics
Does not cover
High-pressure jets, a stated dust rating

What IPX7 protects against

The second digit, 7, means the device withstands temporary immersion in water to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes without harmful ingress. That is the same water test as the full IP67 rating; the difference is only the first digit.

The X in the first position means the manufacturer did not test or declare a dust rating. Many wearables and portable devices carry IPX7 because water is the primary concern and a formal dust test was not part of the certification.

IPX7 and IP67

IPX7 and IP67 share the identical immersion test: 1 metre for 30 minutes. The difference is that IP67 also certifies the enclosure as dust-tight (first digit 6), while IPX7 leaves the dust rating undeclared.

So if you see IPX7, you know about its water protection but not its dust protection. If both matter, look for IP67. As with any immersion rating, IPX7 does not imply resistance to high-pressure jets.

IPX7 at a glance

PropertyIPX7
First digit (solids)X - not declared
Second digit (water)7 - temporary immersion
Immersion depth1 m
Immersion time30 minutes
High-pressure jetsNot covered
 IPX7 uses the same immersion test as IP67 but leaves the dust rating undeclared.

IPX7 vs IPX8

Both leave dust undeclared and both are immersion ratings, so they differ in depth and duration. IPX7 is fixed at 1 metre for 30 minutes. IPX8 covers deeper or longer immersion at a depth and time the manufacturer defines.

IPX7 suits devices that might be dropped in water briefly; IPX8 suits devices designed for deeper or sustained submersion. Neither certifies dust protection or jet resistance.

See the full IPX8 rating page

Frequently asked questions

What does IPX7 mean?
IPX7 means a device survives temporary immersion in water to 1 metre for 30 minutes. The X means dust protection was not tested or declared; it does not mean zero.
Is IPX7 the same as IP67?
The water test is identical: 1 metre for 30 minutes. The difference is that IP67 also certifies the device as dust-tight, while IPX7 leaves the dust rating undeclared.
Can I swim with an IPX7 device?
IPX7 covers still-water immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes, not the dynamic pressure of swimming. Unless the manufacturer states it is suitable for swimming, treat IPX7 as protection against accidental immersion.
Does IPX7 protect against water jets?
Not necessarily. Immersion and jets are separate tests, so an IPX7 device has not necessarily passed a jet test.
Does the X in IPX7 mean no dust protection?
No. It means the dust test was not performed or declared, not that there is no protection. For a certified dust rating, look for IP67.

Related

IPX8 rating explainedIPX4 rating explainedIP67 rating explainedIEC 60529 standard explainedIP rating decoderIP rating chart (all codes)

Sources: IEC 60529 (IEC Webstore) · IEC: IP ratings. An overview for design reference - verify against the current edition before relying on it for compliance.