Touch-dry, recoat and fully cured
Paint tins usually give two times: 'touch dry' and 'recoatable'. Touch dry means the surface won't come off on your finger. Recoatable means it's safe to apply the next coat without disturbing the one underneath. Then there's curing – the point at which the paint has reached its full hardness, which can take days or even weeks.
| Paint | Touch dry | Recoat | Fully hard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based emulsion | Around 1–2 hours | Around 2–4 hours | Several days to a couple of weeks |
| Water-based trim paint | Around 1–2 hours | Often 4–6 hours | Up to a couple of weeks |
| Oil-based gloss | Several hours | Often 16–24 hours | Can be weeks |
| Masonry paint | Around 1–2 hours | Often 4 hours or more | Depends on weather |
Typical drying times in normal room conditions (always check the tin)
What slows paint down
Cold, damp and still air all slow drying. Thick coats take much longer than thin ones. Dark colours can also take a little longer. In a cold room in winter, paint might take twice as long as the tin suggests.
- Low temperatures
- High humidity – bathrooms, kitchens, wet days
- Poor ventilation
- Heavy, thick coats
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Living with fresh paint
Once a room is finished you can usually use it again the same day or the next, but be gentle for a while. Avoid scrubbing walls, leaning furniture against them or putting heavy items on freshly painted window sills and shelves for a week or so. Doors painted with trim paint can stick to their frames if they're closed too soon.
Outside: watching the weather
Exterior paint needs to stay dry until it has set, and many products have a minimum temperature for application and drying. Dew in the evening and frost overnight can spoil a finish just like rain. That's why exterior painters keep an eye on forecasts and may stop work early on autumn afternoons.
