How Fast Is Paint Drying?

Latex paint dries to the touch in about an hour and cures fully over 30 days. The film hardens to roughly 10-20 microns thick — proverbial slowness, but the molecules are absolutely on the move as the chemistry sets.

Paint dries through evaporation of solvent first, then chemical curing. Latex paint can take 30 days to fully cure — touchably-dry isn't the same as fully cured.

• Roughly 3× faster than fingernails grow
• 5× slower than grass grows