What IP Rating Do You Need for Bathroom Lighting?

IP44 is the minimum for most of a bathroom, and IP65 where the fitting will be hit by water directly. Anything inside the bath or shower itself needs IP67.

That is the short answer. The longer one matters, because the rating you need depends entirely on where in the room the light is going — and the rules are not a matter of taste. They are wiring regulations.

What the two numbers actually mean

IP stands for Ingress Protection. The first digit is protection against solid objects; the second is protection against water. Higher is more sealed.

For lighting, the second digit is the one that decides whether a fitting is safe in your bathroom:

4 — protected against splashing water from any direction
5 — protected against water jets
6 — protected against powerful water jets
7 — protected against immersion

So an IP44 fitting handles splashes and steam. An IP65 fitting handles being sprayed directly. An IP67 fitting can go underwater.

The first digit follows the same logic for solids: 4 means protected against objects over 1mm, 5 means dust-protected, 6 means fully dust-tight.

The zones, and what each one needs

UK bathrooms are divided into zones, and each zone has a minimum rating.

Zone 0 is inside the bath or the shower tray. Anything here needs IP67 and must run on low voltage. In practice this means recessed floor or tray lights, and it is not where most people are shopping.

Zone 1 is directly above the bath or shower, up to 2.25m from the floor. IP44 minimum. If the space is likely to be cleaned with a jet or the shower head can reach the fitting, specify IP65.

Zone 2 extends 0.6m beyond zone 1, and also covers the area within 0.6m of a washbasin tap. IP44 minimum. This is where most bathroom wall lights actually go — beside a mirror, flanking a basin.

Outside the zones, there is no regulatory IP requirement. A standard fitting is permitted. But bathrooms hold steam regardless of zones, and a fitting with no moisture protection will corrode faster in that air than it would in a bedroom. IP44 remains the sensible floor for the whole room.

Where this leaves you in practice

Most bathroom lighting decisions come down to zone 2, which means IP44 is enough — and that opens up far more than people expect. The Louise rippled-glass wall light and the Lothian in carved alabaster are both IP44, and neither looks like a bathroom fitting in the utilitarian sense.

If the light is going somewhere more exposed — above a shower, or in a room where you want one specification to cover everything — IP65 removes the question entirely. The Aosta is IP65 and small enough to work in pairs; it is also rated for full outdoor exposure, which is a useful thing in a room that gets steam every day.

There is a middle rating worth knowing about too. IP54 adds dust protection over IP44 without going to full jet resistance, which suits utility rooms and covered outdoor spots as much as bathrooms.

Two things people get wrong

A high rating is not a substitute for correct installation. Most bathroom fittings are earthed Class I, which means they must be wired in by a qualified electrician. An IP65 light installed badly is not safe because it is IP65.

Ratings apply to the fitting, not the bulb. A sealed fitting protects the bulb inside it. Choosing an IP-rated light does not mean you can use any bulb anywhere.

Browse the full range of bathroom lights, or see our wall lights for the rooms where ratings are not a concern. Pieces built to your specification sit in made to order.