Enter Conditions
All times are estimates based on industry standards. Verify with your paint's technical data sheet.
Touch Dry
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Surface won't transfer paint to touch
Recoat Window
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Safe to apply next coat
Full Cure
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Max hardness & washability
Tips for These Conditions
Why Paint Labels Are Often Wrong
Paint manufacturers test and state dry times under laboratory conditions: 70°F (21°C) and 50% relative humidity. These are ideal conditions that rarely exist on an actual job site. In the real world, a 65°F morning with 75% humidity can double or triple the stated recoat time — and applying a second coat too early is one of the most common causes of peeling, delamination, and rework.
Latex vs oil-based drying — what's the difference?
Latex (water-based) paints dry through water evaporation — so temperature and humidity are the primary factors. Oil-based paints dry through oxidation (a chemical reaction with oxygen), making them less humidity-sensitive but much more affected by cold temperatures and poor airflow. Oil-based paints also have significantly longer cure times — often 7–30 days to reach full hardness.
What happens if I recoat too early?
Applying a second coat before the first is ready traps solvents beneath the new coat. This can cause wrinkling, bubbling, or intercoat delamination — where the coats separate and peel. Once this happens, the only fix is stripping back to bare substrate and starting over. Always err on the side of waiting longer, especially in cool or humid conditions.
Does sunlight speed up drying?
Direct sunlight can increase surface temperature significantly — sometimes 20–30°F above air temperature on dark surfaces. This can dramatically speed surface drying, but it can also cause the paint to skin over before solvents fully escape, leading to bubbling and poor adhesion. Working in shade or following the shadow of the building is often better than painting in direct midday sun.