Set your thermometer, and if it is too humid, try a dehumidifier. Inside it is a bit easier to manage temperature and humidity control. The temperature and humidity recommendations apply to both indoor and outdoor primer use. It’s best to wait until the temperature is steady before applying primer. If the air is too cold, then the primer may become too thick (especially for oil-based primers), and applying it can be challenging. If the air is too hot or humid, the primer will take much longer to dry than necessary. For instance, the Zinsser Cover Stain Primer recommends primer application environments be between 40-80☏ (4-27☌) with a maximum of 85% humidity. Many brands will recommend an ideal room temperature. Most self-priming paint is dry to the touch within two hours, with many being ready for another coat in less than one hour. It’s designed to save you time and money since you don’t need to wait between applying each product. Self-priming paint is a paint and a primer in one. Like latex, shellac primers dry quickly, usually within 60 minutes. These primers work well on all surfaces, including wood, metal, plaster, and plastic. Shellac primers are great for covering stains, so if you’re painting onto a wall with water or smoke damage - this is the best option. They dry slower than other types of primers, though, often taking up to four hours to dry. They are perfect for bare wood and sealing porous surfaces to provide a better foundation for the paint. All the ones I have called listed should dry within an hour. They’re great for unfinished drywall and dry quickly. There are four main types of primer: latex, oil-based, shellac, and self-priming. Several factors impact the drying time, such as the primer type, temperature and humidity of the room, coating thickness, ventilation, and the surface you’re priming. Brandįactors That Impact the Drying Time of Primer There are four main types: oil-based, latex (or water-based), shellac, and self-priming.īelow is a table depicting the actual drying times for several popular primers so you can have a rough idea of how long it takes. What Happens if You Paint Over Primer Too Soon?Īctual Drying Times of 20 Popular Primersĭrying times vary by brand and the type of primer.Factors That Impact the Drying Time of Primer.Actual Drying Times of 20 Popular Primers.

A quick overview of the factors that impact drying time.The drying times of 20 popular primers, according to the manufacturers.In the following sections of this article, I provide: Most manufacturers advise waiting at least 60 minutes before painting over the coat of primer. However, the exact drying time depends on the primer type, room temperature, humidity, and the surface you’re painting.

Primer takes between one and four hours to dry on average. Whether you’re planning ahead, or you’re in the middle of a painting project, you might be wondering:

How long does it take for paint to dry