Figuring out how long to wait between coats of paint depends on several factors, like the type of paint used, its application, the temperature and humidity, and ventilation in the room. If youre rushing to finish your paint job in one day with multiple coats, knowing the wait time between layers is essential.
DRY & RECOAT Dry and recoat times are based on 70°F (21°C) and 50% relative humidity. Allow more time at cooler temperatures. Dries to the touch in 20 minutes, to handle in 1 hour and is fully dry in 24 hours. Apply a second coat or Clear Coat within 1 hour or after 48 hours.
Recoat Time for Water-Based Latex Paint
The average recoat time for water-based latex paint is four hours. Water-based paint should be dry to the touch in about one hour.
Paint binders hold the color pigments together. Flat paints have fewer binders than glossy paints. Binders in these formulations also translate into longer drying times.
The flatter the paint sheen, the faster it will dry. Glossy paints take the longest amount of time to dry. Eggshell and semi-gloss paints, since they are in the middle of the paint sheen scale, represent average paint drying times.
| Paint Types | Drying Time | Recoat Time |
| Flat or matte paint | 30 minutes to 1 hour | 1 to 2 hours |
| Eggshell paint | 1 hour | 2 hours |
| Semi-gloss paint | 1 hour | 2 hours |
| Glossy paint | 1 to 1-1/2 hours | 2 to 2-1/2 hours |
| Primer | 30 minutes | 1 hour |
Factors That Affect Drying Times
Even if youre painting indoors, the temperature of the room and the surface youre painting affect drying and recoat times. Always apply paint within the temperature parameters specified by the paint manufacturer.
Car Painting Basics: How Long Do I Wait Between Coats?
FAQ
How long between coats of acrylic enamel?
Does enamel paint need two coats?
Do you need to clear coat acrylic enamel?
How do you paint with acrylic enamel?
How long between coats of acrylic paint?
Knowing how long between coats of acrylic paint is not straight forward as it depends on the type of acrylic paint you are using. It can be anywhere from 5 min for high flow acrylics to days for thick impastos of heavy body acrylic paint.
How long does acrylic paint take to dry?
Most acrylic enamel instructions say to spray 2-3 coats with a dry time in between of 20-30 minutes. This is where almost EVERYONE screws up their paint. Too much paint (too many coats or coats that are too thick) can’t dry properly. It’s the same with re-coating before the last coat is dry to the touch.
How long should you wait between spray paint coats?
For spray paint, it’s best to wait about 30 minutes to an hour between coats. This allows time for the paint to dry enough to accept another coat. But always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, as spray paint formulations can differ. How long should I wait between painting wall coats?
How long does a second coat of paint take to dry?
It is typically safe to apply a second coat after four hours for latex paint and 24 hours for oil-based paint. Latex paint is dry to the touch in about one hour, while oil-based paint is dry to the touch in about six to eight hours. One of the surest ways to ruin paint is to apply subsequent coats before paint recoat times have elapsed.