NEMA Enclosure Rating Chart
Tick what the enclosure must withstand to find the NEMA types that fit, or look up any NEMA type and its minimum IP rating.
This free NEMA enclosure rating chart shows which NEMA 250 enclosure types meet the requirements you choose, and the IP rating each one meets at least. It runs in your browser, with no sign-up needed. You set the location as indoor or outdoor, then tick the conditions the enclosure must handle: dust, water, ice, corrosion resistance, or oil and coolant. The tool lists every type that meets all of your ticks, with the minimum IP rating for each. You can also look up a single type to see its description, or open the full chart to compare every type.
The full chart at the bottom lists every type.
How to use the NEMA Enclosure Rating Chart
- Choose a mode. Use Find types to match a set of requirements, or Look up a type to check one NEMA type.
- In Find mode, select the location: Indoor or Outdoor.
- Tick each condition the enclosure must meet: dust, water, ice, corrosion resistance, or oil or coolant. Each tick narrows the list.
- Read the results. Every type that meets all your ticks is shown with its minimum IP rating. Results update as you type.
- In Look up mode, choose the type to see its description, use, and the IP rating it meets at least.
- Open the full chart to see every type with its description and the IP rating it meets at least.
- Open How it was calculated to see the formula and each step, using your numbers.
Click Copy result to copy the result lines with a link. Copy link copies the page address, which stores all your inputs (in the ?s= part of the URL), so opening it later restores the same calculation. Print / save as PDF prints the inputs, results, calculation steps and the date.
The presets show an outdoor enclosure for rain and ice, a hose-down enclosure with corrosion resistance, indoor circulating dust and prolonged submersion. Hazardous-location types (7 to 10) appear only as notes, because they need certified equipment.
What is the difference between NEMA 4 and 4X?
NEMA 4X is NEMA 4 with added corrosion resistance. Both are rated for indoor or outdoor use and protect against hose-directed water, splashing, windblown dust, rain and external ice. Choose 4X when corrosion is a concern, such as equipment that is hosed down regularly.
What does NEMA 3R mean?
NEMA 3R is an outdoor enclosure type that protects against rain, sleet, snow and external ice. It does not protect against windblown dust, so it is the wrong choice where dust is a concern. Manufacturer cross-references list it as meeting at least IP14, lower than the IP54 listed for type 3.
What is NEMA 12?
NEMA 12 is an indoor enclosure type that protects against circulating dust, lint, fibres and dripping non-corrosive liquids. It has no knockouts, which are the pre-punched openings used for conduit. Type 12K is the same enclosure with knockouts. Manufacturer cross-references list type 12 as meeting at least IP52.
What is the IP equivalent of NEMA 4X?
Manufacturer cross-references such as APG’s list NEMA 4X as meeting at least IP66; Mersen’s more cautious table lists IP56. NEMA itself states that a NEMA type meets or exceeds an IP rating but is not equivalent to one. The chart lists the conservative cross-reference value for every type, so treat it as a minimum and check the enclosure’s own IP marking.
Which NEMA enclosure for outdoor use?
There is no single answer, because outdoor types differ in what they resist. Rain, sleet, snow and external ice point to types 3, 3R, 3S, the X versions of these, and 4 and 4X. Windblown dust rules out 3R and 3RX, leaving types 3, 3S, 3X, 3SX, 4 and 4X. Hose-directed water and corrosion point to type 4X.
Can I convert an IP rating to NEMA?
No. The equivalence works in one direction only, from NEMA to IP. NEMA 250 also tests corrosion resistance, ice, oil and construction, which an IP rating does not cover. Start from your NEMA requirements, then compare the IP ratings each type meets.
Sources
Checked October 2026:
- NEMA, NEMA Enclosure Types (NEMA 250 summary) for what each type protects against
- NEMA enclosure FAQ: NEMA types meet or exceed an IP rating but are not equivalent to one
- APG NEMA–IP cross-reference and Mersen’s “NEMA Ratings & IP Cross-Reference” for the conservative IP minimums; NEMA’s own table A-1 shades some types higher
- NEMA is a trademark of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association; this site is not affiliated
For estimation; verify critical designs against the applicable standard.
Worked examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| outdoors, windblown dust, hose-directed water, corrosion resistance | 4X, 6P (IP66: type 4X · IP67: type 6P) |
| outdoors, rain, sleet, snow, external ice formation | 3, 3R, 3S, 3X, 3RX, 3SX, 4, 4X, 6, 6P (IP54: type 3, 3S, 3X, 3SX · IP14: type 3R, 3RX · IP66: type 4, 4X · IP67: type 6, 6P) |
| indoors, circulating dust, lint, fibres, dripping or light splashing | 4, 4X, 6, 6P, 12, 12K, 13 (IP66: type 4, 4X · IP67: type 6, 6P · IP52: type 12, 12K · IP54: type 13) |
| indoors, prolonged submersion | 6P (IP67: type 6P) |
| Type 12 | Indoor use. Protection against circulating dust, lint, fibres, and dripping non-corrosive liquids; no knockouts. Meets at least IP52 |
Calculated by the tool above with these values.
Frequently asked questions
Which NEMA enclosure for submersion?
For temporary submersion at limited depth, choose type 6. For prolonged submersion, choose type 6P, which meets at least IP67. Choose where the enclosure is used and the water condition to confirm the result for your site.
Which NEMA enclosure for indoor use with dust and dripping?
Indoor circulating dust, lint, fibres and dripping or light splashing point to types 12, 12K and 13. Types 12 and 12K are listed as meeting at least IP52, and type 13 IP54. Choose 12K if you need knockouts.
Does the NEMA enclosure rating chart work on a phone?
Yes. It works on a phone. All calculations run in the browser, and nothing is uploaded.
Can I use the results in a quote or report?
Yes. Results may be used in designs, quotes, documentation and reports without attribution.
Is NEMA 4X stainless steel?
4X only means corrosion resistance is required; enclosures meeting it are often stainless steel, fibreglass or polycarbonate. Check the maker’s material.
What is the difference between NEMA 12 and NEMA 13?
Both are indoor types against dust and dripping liquids; type 13 also resists spraying, splashing and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolant, which is why it is common on machine tools. Neither is rated for hose-directed or spraying water. Type 12 meets at least IP52 and type 13 IP54.
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