Which magnets can I use outdoors and what do I need to consider?

There are a few things to consider when using magnets outdoors, as many magnets are susceptible to rust and are therefore not necessarily suitable for this purpose. In this short article, you will find answers about the outdoor use of magnets:

 

Neodymium magnets for outdoor use:

Most of the neodymium magnets on offer have a nickel coating (Ni-Cu-Ni). This protects the magnets indoors, as it keeps the sensitive NdFeB alloy stable.
However, the magnets are not corrosion-resistant and we therefore do not recommend using them outdoors or in humid environments. Nevertheless, many of our customers are happy to use the magnets outdoors (e.g. covered areas in the garden, garden gates, etc.). Although the magnets will rust over time, they usually last a good while here too. You may need to replace them from time to time.

Conventional neodymium magnets can also be used, for example, for temporarily hanging up Christmas lights.

If you would like to provide the magnets with additional protection, you can coat them with rust protection paint or varnish, for example, or wrap them in waterproof packaging (shrink-wrap).

Of course, they should definitely not be used in safety-critical applications where, for example, objects could fall on people or similar if the performance of the magnets decreases due to rust.
 

Waterproof neodymium magnets

The following neodymium magnets are very well suited for permanent use outdoors and in damp rooms:

1. Waterproof magnets: These magnets have a plastic coating that makes them permanently corrosion-resistant.

2. Laminated magnets: These magnets are laminated in a PVC cover. They were originally designed to be sewn in, but can also be used outdoors.


Ferrite magnets
Ferrite magnets can generally be used outdoors as they are made of a ceramic material that is 100% corrosion-resistant (rustproof):
Ferrite disc magnets
Ferrite block magnets
Ferrite ring magnets

Our ferrite flat grippers, which are available in various designs, can also be used outdoors. The magnets are 100% corrosion-resistant. Some flash rust may form on the steel pots over time, but this does not impair their function: