Skip to Content

How Long Does Gloss Paint Take to Dry? (Read This First!)

Gloss paint is a paint that is used for a variety of purposes and is commonly popular among people for its versatile characteristics.

It helps to provide you with a fresh and clean look on the surfaces. In today’s article, we will discuss how long glass paint takes to dry. 

How long does gloss paint take to dry? 

It takes about 8 hours for gloss paint to dry on any surface. In addition to that, gloss paints are usually found in water-based and oil-based formulas. Water-based gloss paint dries in less than an hour. Oil-based gloss paints, on the other hand, take around 4 to 8 hours to dry completely.

Drying the gloss paint is an important part of the painting process. When you need to apply multiple coats of gloss paint, you need to make sure that the previously applied coat has been dried fully before applying a second coat on top of it.

This will ensure durability, hardness, and smoothness on the surface. The drying time may get affected due to application thickness, painting surface, and even environmental conditions.

Below is a brief discussion on how long does it take to dry different type of gloss paints: 

Semi-gloss paint: 

Generally, a semi-gloss paint takes about two hours to fully dry so that you can apply another top coat on top of it. But considering the curing process, it can take up to 24 hours to fully cure and dry.

High gloss paint: 

Generally, the high gloss paint will take about 6 to 8 hours to completely dry. Requires multiple layers of paint to get the best finish.

Behr gloss paint: 

Behr gloss paint is ready to touch when it is completely dried. It is recommended to provide the paint with 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 45 degrees Fahrenheit temperature and 50% humidity for four hours to dry completely.

Dulux gloss paint: 

It is recommended to leave the Dulux gloss paint for at least 16 hours to dry and make sure it does not get exposed to heat before drying.

Oil based gloss paint: 

Oil-based gloss paints require at least eight hours to dry. You can apply a second coat once the previously applied coat has dried properly.

Exterior gloss paint: 

Still considered to apply exterior gloss paints, it should be left at least for four hours to dry completely. The drying time may vary due to temperature, humidity, and even color.

Water-based gloss paint: 

Water-based gloss paint takes about 8 hours to dry completely.

White gloss paint: 

It takes very less time to dry white gloss paint. Usually, you should leave the white gloss paint for 1-2 hours to dry to touch.

Interior gloss paint: 

Interior gloss paint would take about 8 hours to dry completely, but you need to make sure that the paint is getting proper air ventilation so that it can dry faster.

Latex gloss paint: 

Considering the painting and curing process for the latex gloss paint, it should take around seven days to 30 days to fully dry the paint.

How long does gloss paint take to dry between coats? 

Typically, a gloss paint takes about 2 to 8 hours to dry. Since gloss paint is available in water-based and oil-based formulas, the drying time may vary.

Before applying the second layer of gloss paint, make sure that the previously applied layer has dried up completely.

So, it is recommended to keep an interval of four to six hours before applying another coat.

Generally, it is recommended to wait at least three hours before recoating the surface using paint or primer if it is water-based. It is ideal to wait at least 24 hours when you use oil-based paint and primer.

How long does gloss paint take to cure? 

When you consider painting surface using a glass paint, you need to keep into consideration the curing process as well.

Curing is an important part of maintaining any surface. However, if you use water-based gloss paint, it will take less time for the curing process to complete.

On the other hand, using oil-based gloss paints will take a longer time to complete the curing process. Below is a brief discussion on how long does gloss paint takes to cure in different conditions: 

Outside: 

Generally, it should take no less than 16 to 24 hours for the gloss paint to fully dry and cure when done in the outside environment. 

Inside: 

It will only reach its maximum hardness and cure inside when it is completely dried up. For oil-based gloss paints, it takes seven days to cure and for latex paints, it takes 30 days to cure.

In cold weather: 

It is recommended to provide the painted surface with 75 degrees Fahrenheit temperature for four to six hours to make sure the curing process is done properly. 

On the front door: 

It takes around 8 hours to dry on the front door depending on the base paint mixture.

Before lying carpet:

You will need to wait at least 24 hours before lying on a carpet on the painted surface. In addition to that, you will need another 24 hours so that you can clean the glass painted surface with any cleaner.

3 factors that affect gloss paint drying time 

When you consider painting a surface, drying time is one of the important things that you need to keep your eyes on. Generally, if the paint is not fully dried up, you cannot use the surface.

So, you need to be very careful when painting a surface and keep the drying time into consideration.

Generally, the drying time may vary due to the type of paint you are using to apply on the surface.

In addition to that, some other factors affect the gloss paint drying time, such as the temperature, humidity, and even the paint type.

Below is a brief discussion of few factors that affect the gloss paint drying time: 

Temperature: 

If you paint at a lower temperature, it will make the paint thicker. As a result, a thicker layer of paint will take longer to dry. 

Humidity: 

It is very important to maintain the humidity when applying gloss paint on a surface. If the place where you are painting a surface is hot or has a lot of humidity, it will take the paint longer to dry. 

Paint type: 

Generally, using water-based gloss paints let you dry your paints within a very short amount of time. On the other hand, using oil-based gloss paints will take longer to dry.

Why is my gloss paint not drying? 

If you’re using water-based gloss paint, it will take less time to dry. On the other hand, if you are willing to use oil-based gloss paint, it will take much longer to dry.

But in case your paint is not drying, there might be some other reasons that you need to figure out. Below is a brief discussion on what can cause your gloss paint not too dry: 

Thickness: 

In case you have made the mixture of your paint thicker, it will take a lot of time for your paint to dry. 

Humidity: 

If you are not able to provide your paint with the proper humidity that is required for the paint to dry, it will not be able to drive the paint quickly. 

Air ventilation: 

Air ventilation is very important for the paint to dry, so you need to open all the windows and doors so that the paint can dry quickly.

How can I get gloss paint to dry faster? 

When painting a surface, you need to ensure a proper environment for the paint to dry. In addition to that, it is very important for the gloss paint to dry so that it can become durable and harden the surface.

Generally, it takes around 6 to 8 hours for the gloss paint to dry completely. But depending on the paint type, you can reduce the drying time. You can simply follow the steps below to get your gloss paint to dry faster: 

Choose water-based gloss paint:

There are water-based and oil-based gloss paints available in the market. But the water-based paint dries quickly compared to the oil-based gloss paints. So, it is highly recommended to use water-based brass paint so that it can dry quickly. 

Ensure airflow: 

You need to ensure proper airflow throughout the room. It will help the paint to dry quickly and provide you with a smooth finish 

Apply a thinner layer of paint: 

Although applying a thinner layer of paint will let you paint multiple layers on top of each coat. But it will dry quickly. 

Final thoughts

When you consider applying gloss paint on any surface, you need to make sure that you use the right type of paint, which will dry quickly. In addition to that, water-based paints take less than an hour to dry completely, and oil-based paint can take up to 8 hours without curing.