Waterproof spotlight: choosing the right one for the zone and IP rating

Start by identifying the wet zone, because it decides everything. Under the shower, around the bathtub and on a terrace swept by rain, aim for an IP65 rating. Away from direct splashes, an IP44 is enough. The figure appears on the product data sheet, not on the packaging.

What is a waterproof spotlight, and how do you recognise one?

A waterproof spotlight is a light fixture whose body and seals block dust and water. Two IP digits on the data sheet confirm it: the first rates dust, the second water. Without that marking, it is still an indoor spotlight. It is designed together with the whole room, as detailed in our bathroom lighting project.

IP44, IP65, IP67: what the number really allows

The second digit is decisive. It ranges from a simple spray to powerful jets, and each one corresponds to a specific location.

In a survey of 56 references from our collection of waterproof outdoor wall lights, on 6 October 2026, 48% are rated IP65, 39% IP54, 11% IP44 and 2% IP67. The 5-year warranty covers 59% of that survey. The full range, 353 references on the same date, can be browsed in our selection of waterproof lights.

Flush-mounted models follow the same logic: the family of waterproof bulkhead lights is read with these four ratings, without exception.

Waterproof does not mean airtight

An IP65 stops water, not vapour. In a hot shower, moisture passes through the seal, condenses behind the glass and dulls the light.

• IP65 blocks jets, never vapour molecules
• Silicone seal: it hardens over the years and can be replaced on a detachable fixture
• Electronics: they are the first to suffer from permanent humidity
• Ventilation: an extractor deals with the cause, the spotlight only treats the effect

Which waterproof spotlight for the bathroom?

The room reads in two zones: the one where water sprays, and the one where it floats in the air. In line with the shower and around the bathtub, count on an IP65. On the rest of the wall, above the mirror or near the washbasin, an IP44 holds up without difficulty.

Can you put IP44 spotlights in a bathroom?

Yes, anywhere the spotlight is out of direct splashes. Above the mirror, in the toilet corner or away from the shower, an IP44 does the job. In line with the jet, you need to go up to IP65, otherwise water gets in through the seal and the metal oxidises.

For these sheltered locations, IP44 wall lights cover the need without weighing down the wall.

Waterproof shower spotlight: 12 V or 230 V?

12 V lowers the voltage on contact with water, which is reassuring under the shower head, but it requires a transformer housed outside the wet zone. 230 V removes that box and only needs a serious IP65.

• 12 V: low voltage, transformer to fit in a dry place
• 230 V: one cable, one IP65, nothing else to plan
• LED: the source heats up little and withstands humidity better
• Base: the choice between GU10 or GU5.3 spotlight decides the orientation

Once the rating is settled, the atmosphere remains: lighting your bathroom like a spa relies on three sources rather than one.

Which waterproof spotlight for outdoors, the terrace and the pool?

Outside, water comes from everywhere: rain, watering, sea spray. An IP65 covers the facade and an open terrace, an IP54 is enough under a deep awning. Only immersion, on pool coping or at the edge of a basin, requires an IP67.

Under an awning and at the entrance

Under an awning, rain does not fall straight: the wind pushes it against the wall. Stay at IP65 if the roof overhang runs just above the fixture; an IP54 is enough if it protects it generously.

At the entrance, light mainly marks the door. An outdoor wall lantern placed at handle height guides the eye without dazzling.

Around the pool and at the terrace edge

At the edge of the basin, water sprays then falls back: IP65 minimum, IP67 on the coping. It is all a matter of layers, as our guide to lighting your pool shows.

On a terrace, a single source flattens the space. Outdoor lighting for the terrace and garden is composed in three layers: a low halo, a facade, a focal point on the table.

For the facade, IP65 outdoor wall lights withstand the rain and are staggered along the wall.

How many spotlights, and at what distance from the wall?

Align an even number of spotlights along the length of the room, never a single central point. Then move the axis away from the wall: a spotlight stuck against the wall creates a vertical patch and leaves the rest in shadow.

Move the spotlight axis away from the wall

A spotlight too close to the wall lights the top of the wall and nothing else. Move the axis back, then keep the same distance between each source to avoid light gaps.

The precise calculation is detailed in our article on the distance between ceiling spotlights.

In a wet room, the quantity follows the surface actually lit. Spotlights per m² in a bathroom are counted vanity area by vanity area.

Drilling and the thickness of the surface

Before ordering, check the space available above the ceiling: between two joists or under a solid slab, the margin shrinks fast. The drill diameter of a spotlight and the height of the housing settle the question.

Before drilling, have what your room can really take listed: describe your room and come away with the right references.

Hammam and very damp rooms: what changes?

In a hammam or a windowless room, steam stays trapped for a long time. An IP65 protects against splashes, not condensation: favour a detachable fixture, whose seal can be replaced, and deal with the air before the light.

Does a sealed LED module hold up in a hammam?

It survives, but it cannot be repaired. A sealed module keeps mist behind its glass until the end of its life. An openable fixture, on the other hand, can be taken apart, wiped and put back. In a narrow wet room, a waterproof wall lamp often solves the problem without touching the ceiling.

How to settle the last doubt before choosing?

The rating, the voltage and the available space answer almost everything. If a doubt remains about a specific model, the verifiable customer reviews on the Google listing are worth more than a product page promise.