How to choose waterproof led strip lights?
Pick the rating by where the strip goes, then seal every joint:
- IP65 has a silicone coat. It is for indoor use and can be fixed with its adhesive backing; IP20 strips are for dry indoor spaces only and IP65 suits covered outdoor spots and bathrooms; exposed outdoor runs need IP67, and an aluminum channel does not make a strip waterproof.
- IP67 has a silicone sleeve. Use it outdoors, along the eaves or soffit, around a deck or patio or outlining the house, fixed with mounting clips and screws.
- IP68 is a filled tube. It is for outdoor and wet areas too, and our IP68 range is sold as IP68 LED strip lights for pools.
Whatever the rating, a waterproof strip is only as waterproof as its joints: use IP67 or IP68 connectors and keep the power supply dry.
Choosing a waterproof LED strip comes down to three questions: where will it go, how will it be fixed, and how will every joint be sealed? At SuperLightingLED we sell IP67 and IP68 LED strips together with the waterproof connectors and power supplies that go with them. This page puts the rules from our installation guide and our wiring library side by side. What the two digits of an IP rating mean is explained in what does the waterproof IP rating mean.
IP65 vs IP67 vs IP68 LED strip lights
The three ratings differ in how the strip is sealed, and that decides where it can go, how it is fixed and how it is cut and joined:
| IP65 | IP67 | IP68 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is sealed | Silicone coat | Silicone sleeve | Filled tube |
| Where to use it | Indoors. Not for outdoor use, even inside an aluminum channel | Outdoors and wet areas: eaves, soffits, decks, patios, the outline of a house | Outdoors and wet areas; our IP68 range is sold for pools |
| How to fix it | Its adhesive backing, on a clean and dry surface | Mounting clips and screws, not tape | Mounting clips and screws, not tape |
| How to cut it | Cut at the mark with scissors, peel the coating off the last pad | Cut, slide the sleeve back to expose the pads | Cut, then re-seal the new end with the end cap and silicone |
| How to join it | Every cut is a new joint that has to be sealed | IP67 clip for strip-to-wire, double clip for strip-to-strip; seal with the silicone cap or heat-shrink | IP67/IP68 male-female plug connectors with the O-ring seated; end caps filled with neutral-cure silicone |
| Where to find it | The “Select Waterproof Rating” option on a strip’s product page | IP67 water resistant LED strip | IP68 LED strip lights for pools |
The short version. Outdoor and wet areas need an IP67 or IP68 LED strip. IP20, the non-waterproof version, belongs indoors with IP65. Why not tape outdoors? IP67 and IP68 strips are too heavy for adhesive to support, and sun, rain and cold weaken adhesive on outdoor surfaces.
Which waterproof rating for which place?
| Where the strip goes | Choose | How to install it |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings, cabinets, kitchens, bedrooms, stairs | IP20 or IP65 | Adhesive backing, or an aluminum channel. An aluminum channel is not waterproof, so it is for indoor use |
| Eaves, soffit, deck, patio, the outline of a house | IP67 or IP68 | Mounting clips and screws; IP68 waterproof connectors on every joint; a waterproof power supply in a dry, sheltered spot |
| Garden runs, docks, facades | IP67 or IP68 | Mounting clips and screws; IP67/IP68 plug connectors, a PG cable gland into every box and a drip loop at every joint |
| Swimming pools | IP68 | Our IP68 LED strip lights for pools; seal the joints and keep the power supply in a dry, sheltered spot |
| A finished channel look outdoors | A waterproof strip inside a waterproof channel | A waterproof LED light channel protects the strip and hides the dots |
| Outdoors, with an IP20 or IP65 strip | A flex LED neon tube, which is IP67 rated | See silicone neon LED diffuser and how to make LED neon lights |
Want everything matched in one box? Our weatherproof LED strip light kits come with a matching strip, controller and power supply.
Cutting, connecting and sealing waterproof LED strips
C12, C13 and C6 are drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team; C5 comes from our wiring guides on the blog. Wire colors follow our house convention (red V+, black V-/GND). Click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.
More on cutting: can you cut LED light strips. More on connectors: how to choose LED strip light connectors.
Five rules for an outdoor install
- Choose the right rating. Use IP67 water resistant LED strip or IP68 LED strip, or LED neon strip lights. IP20 strips are for dry indoor spaces only and IP65 suits covered outdoor spots and bathrooms; exposed outdoor runs need IP67, and an aluminum channel does not make a strip waterproof.
- Mount with clips and screws, not tape. Sun, rain and cold weaken adhesive on outdoor surfaces.
- Protect every connection. Seal joints with IP68 waterproof connectors; fill end caps with neutral-cure silicone and let it cure before the strip meets rain.
- Keep the electrics dry. Put the waterproof power supply and the outdoor waterproof controller in a dry, sheltered spot; connectors and driver in an IP65 junction box, cables through glands.
- Plan the route before you cut. Measure each side of the house and cut only on the cutting marks.
Photos and step-by-step mounting for each method: how to install LED strip lights outdoors and on a house.
Waterproof power supplies and controllers
The strip is only half of an outdoor circuit. Outdoors, use a DC12V waterproof power supply or a DC24V waterproof power supply, and keep it, together with an outdoor waterproof LED controller, in a dry, sheltered spot.
Other outdoor-rated supplies in our range: MW UL-listed IP67 power supplies, MeanWell UL outdoor power supplies and rainproof power supplies. To size the supply for your strip, see how to calculate power for LED strip lights.
Waterproof LED strip FAQ
What is the difference between IP65, IP67 and IP68 LED strip lights?
How they are sealed, and so where they can go. IP65 has a silicone coat and handles splashes and rain in covered spots such as bathrooms. IP67 has a silicone sleeve and IP68 is a filled tube; both are for outdoor and wet areas.
Can IP65 LED strip lights be used outdoors?
Only in covered spots. IP65 handles splashes and rain, such as covered outdoor areas and bathrooms; exposed outdoor runs need IP67, and an aluminum channel does not make a strip waterproof. Outdoors, use an IP67 or IP68 strip, or put the strip in an IP67 LED neon tube.
Which waterproof LED strip should I use for a swimming pool?
An IP68 LED strip: our IP68 range is sold as IP68 LED strip lights for pools. Seal every joint with IP68 connectors and keep the power supply in a dry, sheltered spot.
Can you cut waterproof LED strip lights?
Yes, at the cut mark. On IP65, peel the coating off the last pad; on IP67, slide the sleeve back to expose the pads; on IP68, re-seal the new end with an end cap and silicone. Every cut is a new joint that has to be sealed.
Why do IP67 and IP68 LED strips need mounting clips instead of tape?
They are heavier, adhesive has limited holding power, and sun, rain and cold weaken it on outdoor surfaces. Mounting clips and screws hold the strip every time.
Shop waterproof LED strips and parts
Outdoor LED strip lightsIP67 and IP68 strips for eaves, decks and pools
IP67 water resistant LED stripSilicone sleeve, for outdoor runs
IP68 LED strip lights for poolsFilled tube; re-seal every cut end
Waterproof COB LED stripCOB strip for outdoor installs
Waterproof LED light channel seriesProtects the strip and hides the dots
Waterproof IP68 connector seriesSeal every outdoor joint
DC12V waterproof power suppliesFor outdoor 12V LED strip runs
DC24V waterproof power suppliesFor outdoor 24V LED strip runs
Outdoor waterproof LED controllersControllers for outdoor use
Weatherproof LED strip light kitsStrip, controller and power supply in one boxSend us a photo, the length and where the strip will go, and the SuperLightingLED team will suggest the rating, connectors and power supply. If your project needs a special length, voltage or waterproof rating, we can make it to order. Standard orders such as accessories and controllers ship within 24–48 hours; LED strip orders follow the production lead time shown on the product page. Contact our team