How Long Does Paint Take to Dry & Cure? Top Factors to Consider

You probably have noticed that wet concrete needs time to cure. And if you step over it, it will get ruined. Likewise, when doing home interior or exterior painting, or when applying more than two coats of paint, you need to let the paint cure to get appealing, lasting & smooth surfaces. So, today, we’ll answer a crucial question: how long does paint take to dry?

How Long Does Paint Take to Dry? Paint Drying Times Depend on the Paint Type

How long does paint take to dry? Latex paint is dry to the touch in one hour, and you can apply a second coat in four hours. But oil-based paint takes longer to dry, eight hours, and you must wait 24 hours before applying a second coat.

How Long Does Latex Paint Take to Dry?

Water-based latex paints tend to dry quicker than oil-based paints. Latex paint is dry to the touch in one hour.

But that doesn’t mean it’s ready for applying a second coat.

In one of our recent posts, how to paint without streaks, we gave one of the most crucial painting tips: to give each coat enough drying time.

It’s super important you follow this rule because you need to avoid paint blocking and streaks.

If the moisture in the air is low and the temperature ranges between 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you can apply a second coat in four hours.

Keep in mind that the higher levels of moisture in the air and the wrong room temperature make paint take longer to dry.

How Long Does Oil-Based Paint Take to Dry?

Oil-based paints take longer to dry. Oil-based paint takes six to eight hours to dry to the touch.

And since the level of moisture in the air and the temperature affects paint drying times, we recommend the following:

If you’re using oil-based paint, the ideal temperature is from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. And also, make sure you have adequate ventilation in the room you’re painting. What happens is that poorly ventilated rooms make paint take longer to dry completely.

So, if you take care of these conditions, you must wait 24 hours to apply a second oil paint coat.

4 Factors that Affect Paint Drying Time

High Moisture in the Air

One of the factors that determines how long it takes for paint to dry is moisture in the air.

The higher the moisture in the air, the longer it will take for your paint to dry.

Moisture is the opposite to dry. So, the paint’s water content won’t evaporate as quickly in high humidity. And this will prolong the amount of time needed for your paint to dry.

For example, it’s a bad idea to paint if it has just rained outside or if it’s a day with high humidity.

To make sure the paint dries within the estimated time, you better paint during a day that has a humidity level of around 50%.

How do I know it’s a good day to start your painting project?

You only need to search in Google: what’s the humidity in “your city”? And there you’ll get updated and crucial information about the weather.

It’s essential to paint on days with dry weather so that water in the paint evaporates quickly. In this way, you will prevent tacky paint and paint blocking.

Temperature When You’re Painting

The temperature strongly affects how fast the paint dries. As we mentioned before, if you’re using latex paint, the ideal temperature to paint is between 50 °F and 85 °F.

Oil-based paint dries without problem in a temperature range from 40 °F to 90 °F.

For interior paint projects, we recommend adjusting your HVAC system to maintain a consistent temperature. However, when doing an exterior paint project, you need to avoid painting on a very hot or freezing day.

Painting in frigid temperatures will slow down the evaporation process and cause tacky paint. But if the temperature is too hot, the top layer will dry too quickly. And this will cause the bottom layer to remain wet, causing bumps and blisters.

The Room’s Ventilation Impacts How Fast Paint Dries

Air influences our daily existence. So, it’s not a surprise it’s one of the most influential factors for paint drying time.

Keeping adequate ventilation in the room will help paint dry quicker. So, we advise you to turn on a box fan or ceiling fan to assist with the room’s airflow. Adequate ventilation will encourage the water molecules to evaporate and allow the paint to cure.

Choosing the Right Painting Technique

Life is fascinating since the way you choose to do things will always affect the result.

For a shorter paint drying time, you should paint the walls using a foam roller. And if you paint with an even hand and paint in one direction, you will obtain a paint finish without streaks.

Use a paintbrush for small surfaces only. This is because applying paint with a brush leads to thicker coats of paint. Then, the paint will take an extra few hours to dry. Another drawback of using a brush for large surfaces is that you might end up with soggy edges and runny streaks.

We also recommend applying paint in two thin coats. A thick coat will take much longer to dry than a thin coat. Never use less or more than two coats of paint. And make sure that the first coat is completely dry before you apply the second one.

You already know that when using latex paint, you can apply a second coat in four hours. But oil-based paint takes longer to dry, and you must wait 24 hours before applying a second coat.

The Final Remarks about Paint Drying Time

Be mindful when you decide to start your painting project. First, choose a day or a week with good weather.

Then, you should know the type of paint you’re using. Latex paint dries faster than oil-based paint. So, you have to wait until the ideal time before applying the second coat of paint.

Also, keep in mind the factors that affect paint drying time. Moisture in the air, temperature, room ventilation, and the right painting technique play a vital role in adequately curing paint.

Now that you know how long does paint take to dry and the factors that affect its curing process, it’s time you start your painting project.