Most interior latex (water-based) wall paints are dry to the touch in about 1 hour and can take a second coat after 1 to 4 hours, measured at 77°F and 50% relative humidity. Being dry is not the same as being cured: the paint keeps hardening for about two weeks or more, and you should wait that long before scrubbing it or pushing furniture against it. Oil-based and alkyd paints dry more slowly, and cool or humid rooms slow every paint down.
Working out how much paint to buy for two coats? Use the paint calculator.
Dry vs recoat vs cure
- Dry to the touch: the surface no longer feels tacky. Dust will not stick, but the film is soft.
- Recoat time: the earliest you can apply the next coat without lifting or dragging the first one.
- Cure: the paint has reached its full hardness and washability. Until then it marks, scuffs and sticks more easily.
Dry times by product
| Paint | Dry to touch | Recoat | Cure / washable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Moore Regal Select Flat (latex) | 1 hour | 1 to 2 hours | Washable after 2 weeks |
| Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior Satin (latex) | 1 hour | 4 hours | Not stated |
| BEHR PRO i300 Eggshell (latex) | 1 hour | 2 hours | Full cure 2 weeks |
| Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Semi-Gloss (waterborne alkyd) | 4 to 6 hours | 16 hours | Up to 30 days for full hardness and sheen |
As general rules, Sherwin-Williams gives about 1 to 2 hours to dry and 2 to 3 weeks to cure for latex, and 6 to 8 hours to dry with 5 to 15 days to cure for oil-based paint. Dunn-Edwards puts latex cure at 14 to 30 days. The spread reflects real differences between products and conditions, so use the figures on your can.
What slows paint drying
- Cool temperatures. Every data sheet above assumes 77°F. Most latex paints should not be applied below 50°F, and the drying chart for Benjamin Moore ADVANCE treats 50 to 70°F as slow drying conditions.
- High humidity. Water-based paint dries by evaporation, so damp air slows it. Benjamin Moore notes that high humidity and cool temperatures lengthen dry, recoat and service times.
- Thick coats. A heavy coat takes longer than two thin ones. Sherwin-Williams lists film thickness as a factor alongside temperature and humidity.
- Poor ventilation. Moving air carries moisture away. Open windows when weather allows, or run a fan that does not blow dust onto wet paint.
- Sheen. Semi-gloss and gloss enamels, especially alkyds, generally need longer before recoating than flat wall paint.
How long to wait before…
| Before you… | Wait about |
|---|---|
| Apply a second coat | The recoat time on the label, typically 1 to 4 hours for latex wall paint |
| Remove painter’s tape | Once the final coat is dry to the touch, and before it fully hardens, pulling at an angle |
| Hang pictures and replace switch plates | At least a day; longer in cool or damp rooms |
| Push furniture against walls, use the room normally | A few days, avoiding pressure on the paint |
| Wash or scrub the walls | About 2 weeks for latex (Benjamin Moore, Behr); up to 30 days for alkyd enamels |
Frequently asked questions
Can I sleep in a freshly painted room?
Many people wait until the paint is dry and the smell has faded, with the window open. Low-odor latex paints are easier; follow the ventilation advice on the label.
Why is my paint still tacky after a day?
Usually cold, humid air, a thick coat or paint applied over a glossy surface without primer. Improve ventilation and warmth, and give it more time before recoating.
Does primer have a dry time too?
Yes. Most water-based primers can be topcoated within a few hours; check the primer label. The primer calculator helps with quantities, and how many coats of paint explains when one coat is enough.
Sources
- Benjamin Moore Regal Select Flat (N547) technical data sheet (dry, recoat and washing times at 77°F, 50% RH)
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Satin product data sheet (touch and recoat times)
- BEHR PRO i300 Interior Eggshell product data sheet (via Home Depot) (dry, recoat and full cure times)
- Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Waterborne Interior Alkyd Semi-Gloss (793) technical data sheet (dry, recoat and hardness times; temperature and humidity chart)
- Sherwin-Williams: How to Make Paint Dry Faster (latex and oil dry and cure times)
- Dunn-Edwards technical bulletin: Dry Time versus Cure Time of Paint (difference between drying and curing)
