IP65 Downlights

What IP65 means for a downlight

Every downlight we stock on this page is rated IP65, which covers both dust and water. The fitting is dust-tight, so dust cannot get inside, and it is protected against jets of water, a step beyond coping with the odd splash. It is not the same as waterproof, though: an IP65 downlight is not made to sit under water.

Read the full IP rating on the product page too, as it can show which part of the fitting is protected. Where the protection covers only the face, the part you see below the ceiling, the back of the light sits in the ceiling void, which needs to stay dry.

Where IP65 downlights belong

Most of the IP65 downlights we stock suit bathrooms, and most suit kitchens, where steam from cooking rises to the ceiling. An IP65 rating suits a wet room too. In a bathroom, the space around the bath and shower is divided into zones, and the closer a light sits to the water, the more protection it needs, so ask a qualified electrician where an IP65 fitting can go in your room.

Many of these downlights also suit hallways and living rooms, so you can carry the same look from the bathroom ceiling through the rest of the house. For outside, we stock outdoor-rated downlights for covered areas such as soffits and porches. Check that the product page says outdoor-rated before you fit a downlight outside.

Integrated LED or replaceable bulb downlights

Most of our IP65 downlights have an integrated LED, built into the fitting. There is no bulb to buy, which suits anyone who wants a light that is fitted and then left alone. The trade-off is that you cannot change the LED itself, so read the listing closely before you buy.

Many others take a replaceable bulb. That puts the choice of brightness and shade of white in your hands, and you can change it whenever you like. Check the product page to see whether a bulb comes in the box, and buy the same bulb for the whole room so the lights match.

Choosing a white for IP65 downlights

We stock warm white, soft white, cool white and daylight downlights, and the white sets the mood more than the fitting does. Warm white, around 3000K, gives a gentle glow for a bathroom you unwind in, and 2700K is warmer still. Cool white, around 4000K, is crisper and good for detail at a kitchen worktop or a shaving mirror. Daylight is cooler again, with a sharp, bright feel.

Many of our downlights have a switchable colour temperature, so you choose the white after the light arrives rather than before you order. That is handy if you are unsure, or if you want to match lights you already have. With a bulb fitting, the bulb you buy sets the white.

Dimming an IP65 downlight

Many of the downlights we stock here are dimmable. Some are not, so check the product page before you plan a dimmer switch. Dimming earns its place in a bathroom late at night, or in a kitchen, bright for cooking and softer for supper.

For a dimmable integrated LED downlight, use a dimmer made for LED lighting and look in the listing for any dimmer or driver it asks for. With a bulb fitting, the bulb needs to be dimmable too. If a run of downlights shares a dimmer, make sure the dimmer can carry their combined load. A non-dimmable light on a dimmer can flicker or buzz, so give it an ordinary switch.

Finishes and trims for IP65 downlights

We stock these downlights in white, black and chrome. White trims blend into a white ceiling, black suits a dark ceiling or a bolder look, and chrome picks up the shine of bathroom taps. A matt surface shows water marks less, which helps in a steamy bathroom. For a warmer metal, a few come in brass.

A few have an anti-glare design, which takes the harshness out of looking straight up at a light. A few others tilt, so you can angle the beam onto a picture or a wall.

Fitting IP65 downlights safely

Please have a qualified electrician fit your downlights, especially in a bathroom or outside, where the wiring rules are stricter. Before you order, check the cut-out size against the hole you have or plan to cut, and make sure the ceiling void is deep enough for the body of the light, with room to clear joists, pipes and insulation.

We also stock fire-rated IP65 downlights. A fire-rated design helps a ceiling hold back fire where a hole has been cut for the light, which matters in a ceiling with a room above it. Your electrician can tell you whether your ceiling calls for fire-rated fittings, and if you are replacing old downlights, measure the existing holes beforehand so the replacements cover them neatly.