How long to allow paint to dry

Brooke Grasley, founder of Restore Decor and More, says as a general rule—in ideal conditions— you can usually apply the second coat within two to four hours of the first coat.

While the painting process could technically be completed overnight you want to ensure that your paint is thoroughly dry before moving forward. A few things to consider are temperature, humidity, type of paint and finish. Sheen is another aspect to consider. Matte paint dries faster than glossier paint, in fact, using a glossier paint can add up to an hour to your total dry time. According to professional DIYer and interior designer Cara Newhart, there are three important time frames when it comes to paint drying: dry time, recoat time and cure time.

Thickness and application of your paint can directly affect how long it takes your paint to dry. Your dry time will also vary greatly depending on how you choose to paint your wall. A paint roller is best for smooth to semi-smooth walls and will apply paint in a thinner coat. For the initial drying time, it usually takes 30 to 90 minutes to be dry to the touch. Paint drying time depends on the type of paint, sheen, thickness of application and application method.

Andrew Wilson, a contractor with Contractor Advisorly, says there is much more paint when using a brush. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer. The time it takes for paint to harden completely, so that it resists scratching, is called curing. The wait time required for your paint to become dry to touch could be as soon as an hour, but for it to be dry enough for a second coat could take up to a day.

However, having it dry enough to wash or subject to other use could take weeks. We recommend giving it one to three weeks, depending on the humidity and temperature in the room. Wait for your paint to cure before mounting anything or moving furniture back into place. Now that you have an idea about paint dry times and the conditions that can impact them, consider how long to wait between primer and paint coats.

Primer, a mixture of paint and glue, prepares a surface for the best possible paint adhesion. It can also hide surface imperfections that might otherwise show through paint.

The first layer of paint applied over primer is called the base coat, and the crucial second layer is the topcoat. All quality paint manufacturers recommend at least two coats of paint for durable, long-lasting results. More coats might be required if, for example, painting a light color over a darker shade. Wait at least 4 hours between coats of latex paint.

Oil paint takes longer to dry than latex paint, so practice patience and wait 24 hours between coats. Dry time refers to the recommended length of time between coats of product. It is often also called recoat time, so the terms are interchangeable. Cure time is the ideal length of time to wait before the surface can withstand daily use. For latex paint, cure time is typically between 2 and 4 weeks. Low-gloss paint will cure more quickly.

Interestingly, though oil-based paint takes more time to dry, it should be fully cured within 7 days. If you still want more information about paint dry times, consider the answers to these frequently asked questions. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance.

Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Helping Oil-Based Paint Harden Faster Oil-based paint oxidizes and hardens, which differs from water-based paint that dries via water evaporation. Featured Video. Related Topics. Interior Painting.

Read More. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSpruce. Written by: Glidden Published by: Glidden. Com Copyright holder: Glidden on Monday, November 13, Q: How long does paint take to dry and cure?

A: It depends on many factors, as well as what type of paint you are using.