Waterproofing Grades Compared

By GETAUVE Editorial Team · Published September 22, 2026

Waterproofing Grades Compared: What Each IPX Rating Actually Lets You Do

Waterproof and splash-proof get printed on the same boxes. Only one of those claims means you can put the toy in water.

This guide breaks down what each IPX grade certifies, how that maps to sink rinsing versus a real bath, and which level is worth insisting on.

The Short Answer

For most buyers, IPX6 is the floor and IPX7 is the useful target. IPX6 covers a running tap, which handles every cleaning job you have. IPX7 adds brief submersion near 3 feet for about 30 minutes, which covers a bath. IPX8 goes deeper, but you'll rarely use the difference. IPX4 means a damp cloth and nothing more, so you won't rinse it and you'll have to work carefully around the seam. If a toy never leaves the bedroom, IPX6 is enough and there's no reason to chase a higher number.

What the X in IPX7 Actually Means

The code comes from IEC 60529, an international standard for enclosure protection. The first digit covers solid particles such as dust. When a maker hasn't tested it, an X goes in that slot, so IPX7 tells you the dust rating wasn't measured, not that the toy blocks dust. The second digit carries the water claim, and it's the one worth reading.

That second digit isn't a quality score. It's a test condition. IPX4 means water splashed from any direction for a set period. IPX6 means a strong jet from a nozzle. IPX7 means immersion in still water at a stated depth for a stated time. A toy can pass IPX7 and still carry no IPX6 jet rating, because the two tests measure different failure modes. Neither one is "better" in the abstract.

IPX4 Through IPX8: Where the Lines Fall

• IPX4 — splash resistant. A damp cloth and careful drying, no tap rinsing.
• IPX5 — low-pressure jets. Rinseable, with attention around the port.
• IPX6 — strong jets from a nozzle. Full sink rinsing is in scope.
• IPX7 — immersion near 3 feet for about 30 minutes in still water.
• IPX8 — continuous immersion beyond IPX7 conditions, at a depth the maker states.

Why the Charging Port Decides More Than the Shell

Most water damage doesn't start at the seam. It starts at the port. A sealed silicone body can carry an IPX7 rating while the charging contacts sit behind a flap that only seals when it's fully seated. Magnetic pins are easier to keep dry than an open USB-C cavity, but neither survives a soak with the connector still wet.

One limitation worth knowing: no rating covers a port left open during charging, and that's the most common failure people report. The practical rule is short. Dry the port before you charge, and don't charge within about 30 minutes of a bath. By the time the surface feels dry, the recess usually isn't. If you can't reach the port with the corner of a towel, pick a toy with a magnetic connector instead. It's a small design choice that removes most of the risk.

Match the Grade to Where You'll Use It

Three situations cover nearly everyone. Bedroom only, cleaned at the sink — IPX6. Shower or bath a few times a month — IPX7. Travel, where you can't control the drying time between use and packing — IPX7 plus a magnetic port. That's the whole decision.

What doesn't matter is depth beyond a bathtub, and any claim about continuous submersion. Nobody holds a toy 3 feet down for 30 minutes. The number is a test condition, not an invitation. If you've ever read IPX8 as "indestructible," that's the misread to drop.

What the Rating Doesn't Cover

IPX tests use clean fresh water. Bath oil, bubble solution, and soap change surface tension, and that makes it easier for water to creep past a seal. Salt water is a separate problem, since it leaves conductive residue behind. Hot water isn't part of the test either, and a hot bath narrows the margin the standard assumes.

The other thing the rating doesn't cover is age. Seals are usually gaskets or overmolded joints, and they wear. A toy that passed IPX7 on day one won't necessarily pass it in two years, particularly if it's put away damp. Store it dry, open to air, and the rating means what it says for far longer.

Where a Higher Rating Isn't Worth It

If you don't bathe with toys, IPX7 buys you almost nothing over IPX6 beyond a slightly easier rinse, and the trade-off is usually a permanently sealed body that can't be opened for service. Higher submersion ratings also tend to sit on simpler shells, which can mean fewer articulation points. And when you're choosing between a better motor and a deeper water rating, take the motor. You'll feel the motor every single session. You'll only think about the water rating on cleaning day, and skip the depth number entirely if you've never once wanted to use a toy underwater.

Sources

• International Electrotechnical Commission — publisher of IEC 60529, the standard that defines IP codes and the test conditions behind each water digit.
• ASTM International — maintains voluntary standards for consumer products and body-contact materials sold in the US.
• US Consumer Product Safety Commission — federal guidance on consumer product safety, hazards, and incident reporting.

This article is general education about product specifications. It isn't medical advice, and it doesn't replace the care instructions that come with your own device.