How Long Does It Take Spray Paint to Dry?

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Spray paint is a type of aerosol paint that comes in an easy-to-use can, making it a quick and effective method for painting furniture, metalworking projects, siding, and home improvement projects. After application, it typically takes anywhere from five minutes to eight hours for spray paint to dry and 24 hours for it to fully cure. However, the drying time depends on several key factors, including the type of paint, material, surface texture, temperature, humidity, and airflow. Read on to learn how long spray paint takes to dry and if you can quicken the process.

How Long Does Spray Paint Take to Dry?

Type of Spray Paint

There are a variety of spray paint types to choose from including fast-drying, acrylic, latex, oil-based, lacquer, epoxy, and rust-preventive enamel spray paint, all of which have different drying times.

Material and Texture

The type of material and the texture of the target surface can also affect the drying time of the spray paint. Common materials include wood, metal, and plastic, while the texture can vary between rough, smooth, porous, and nonporous. Here's a general guideline for drying times:

• Wood: Unfinished and untreated wood are naturally porous and finished wood is considered semi-porous. It will typically take about one hour to dry to the touch and about 24 hours to fully cure after painting a wood surface.

• Metal: The material is nonporous so spray paint dries quickly after application. Expect to wait 10 minutes for the paint to dry to the touch and 24 hours to fully cure after painting a metal surface.

• Plastic: It's nonporous and smooth but spray paint has difficulty properly adhering to the surface. On average, spray paint takes about 30 minutes to dry on a plastic surface and an additional 24 hours to fully cure.

• Rough and porous textures: These surfaces soak up the spray paint and help it adhere. It typically takes longer for spray paint to dry on a rough, porous surface than on a smooth, nonporous surface.
  

Tip

Dry to the touch is different from cured paint. Drying means the moisture has evaporated from the paint which makes it feel dry but it is not yet cured. Curing is when the paint reaches its maximum level of hardness.

Climate

Your local climate, including the temperature and humidity, will influence the drying time of painting projects. Apply spray paint when the ambient temperature falls between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level reaches between 40 to 50 percent. Here are the specifics:

• Arid climates: Spray paint dries quickly in arid climates with high winds and low humidity. However, if the humidity is too low, the paint could crack. Set up a humidifier to increase the humidity indoors where the item is drying to help prevent this issue.

• Humid climates: Paint takes considerably longer to dry when there's moisture in the air. When the humidity outdoors is too high, spray paint indoors where you can use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture.

• Warm climates: Paint dries quickly in warm climates but in hot climates, paint can dry unevenly, crack, or blister. Plan painting projects for spring or fall to avoid this issue.

• Cold climates: Cooler temperatures cause adhesion and drying issues. In addition to increasing the paint's drying time, cold air may cause the paint to freeze, and crack, and longer drying times may lead to accumulated moisture and mold and mildew.
  

How to Make Spray Paint Dry Faster

If you're on a tight timeline, here are a few ways to speed up the drying process:

• Apply thin coats: Go thin on your coats; spraying heavy coats of paint makes the drying process much longer.

• Increase the air circulation. Open any doors or windows and set up one or more fans to increase the air circulation. (Don't point the fan's cool air at the paint, though.) More airflow can hasten drying time.

• Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity. Set up a dehumidifier where the item is drying to pull moisture from the air and speed up the drying process.

• Apply a fast-drying spray paint. Use fast-drying epoxy or polyurethane spray paint products that guarantee the paint dries to the touch in just a few minutes.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get spray paint to dry in two hours?

Depending on the product's directions, you may need to wait two hours between coats of spray paint. However, even after the last coat of spray paint, it will be dry to the touch in two hours, but not completely hardened or cured.

What can I do to make spray paint dry quicker?

You can make spray paint dry quicker by heating up the space in which the item is drying. But make sure the heated space does not become humid, which will stall the drying process.

Does heat or cold make spray paint dry quicker?

Heated air typically makes spray paint dry and cure faster. Always check the product's label to see if heat helps the drying and curing process.

Read Next: How Long Does Paint Last? How to Tell if It’s Expired

Read the original article on The Spruce.