| Group | Type of IED | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Electronic | Can be target specific OR random in crowded area |
| Time | Mechanical | Can be target specific OR random in crowded area |
| Time | Igniferous | Can be target specific OR random in crowded area |
| Time | Chemical | Can be target specific OR random in crowded area |
| Command | Command Wire (CWIED) | Firer within line of sight or can use a dicker |
| Command | Command pull | Firer has to be close to target |
| Command | Radio Controlled (RCIED) | Radio or phone, garage door opener and similar |
| Command | Firer within line of sight or can use a dicker | |
| Victim Operated | Pressure plate (PPIED) | Can be classed as improvised landmines. Can be modified if patterns set, to delay disposal, to target unwary operator. |
| Victim Operated | Tripwire (TWIED) | Can be classed as improvised booby traps. Can be modified if patterns set, to delay disposal, to target unwary operator. |
| Victim Operated | Infra-red passive | Area Burglar alarm, motion sensor |
| Victim Operated | Infra-red active | Burglar alarm for doors, windows etc |
| Victim Operated | Anti-lift | Under any item, micro-switch |
| Victim Operated | Tilt switch | Under vehicle, in container etc – mercury tilt switch, home-made tilt switch |
| Victim Operated | Pressure switch | Under carpets, car tyre etc. Micro-switch, improvised matchbook and similar |
| Victim Operated | Light sensitive | Detect change in light levels |
| Victim Operated | Magnetic | Detect change in magnetic field, metallic items |
| Victim Operated | Motion sensitive | Detect ground tremors |
| Victim Operated | Household switches | |
| Victim Operated | Any type of switch | Switches only limited by the IED maker's imagination |
| Projected | Recoilless (Projected Recoilless Improvised Grenade (PRIG)) | Shoulder launched, firing point detected by counterweight |
| Projected | Improvised hand grenade | Thrown. Can have standard grenade type initiation (i.e. safety fuse to detonator) or improvised (e.g. micro-switch held in closed position by glass etc) |
| Projected | Mortar (normally allocated model numbers for similar bombs) | Can be any calibre |
| Projected | Rocket (improvised types normally allocated model numbers for similar rockets) | Can be home-made or military rocket fired by improvised launch system |
| Projected | Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP) | Refers to main charge type but can be classed as projected |
| Suicide | Vehicle borne (SVBIED) | Usually hand activated switch by person in car, often with back up time or RC switch |
| Suicide | Person borne (SIED) | Usually hand activated switch by person carrying IED, often with back up time or RC switch |