Advertisement

When you want a room painted, you can decide on painting it yourself or hiring a professional. Whichever decision, you want to know how long does it take to paint a room and know how long does it take for paint to dry. Both of these are important as you will need to plan when you will be able to use the room again.

It is often a job that is rushed as many people decide to renovate while living inside the home. You will have to remove furniture and then move it back. Painting is a disruptive period and numerous factors determine drying time between coats of paint and determining how long does it take to paint a room. The paint dry time will depend on the type of paint that will determine the paint cure time, room size, etc.

The type of paint, for example, oil-based paint drying time will vary significantly from fast drying wall paint. The paint layers and different colors will also determine the time for paint to dry. When you go according to standard estimation, paint drying time is estimated under the assumption that a room gets two layers of paint.

How long does it take to paint a room?

ELK-Lighting-Five-Light-Brushed-Nickel-Up-Chandelier-by-We-Got-Lites How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before starting
Image source: We Got Lites

Now you ask the question before you continue your renovation process, how long does it take to paint a room? It is not a question with a straightforward answer though. How many people do you intend to use, which process are you going to use, what type of paint are you going to use, how many layers, all of these are considering factors that will determine how long does it take to paint a room.

Factors affecting the time to paint a room

Size of the Project

Hamptons-Style-by-RS-Myers-Company How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: RS Myers Company

Obviously, the main consideration to have an estimate in place of how long does it take to paint a room would be the room size. If you have a medium-sized 10-inch x 10-inch room, it would take a shorter time for paint to dry when compared to a room of twice its size.

Other considerations would include the number of rooms you are painting. If you have a single room and small painting projects within that room, it might take the same time when compared to three rooms of the same dimensions.

Consider that depending on the paint used, a standard 12 x 12 feet room will need paint drying time of around six hours between coats. In addition, windows, doors, baseboards, and trim will add time too.

How many coats of paint you will need?

Crisp-Architects-by-Crisp-Architects How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Crisp Architects

When you want a professional-looking room, you will need two coats of paint. At the same time, you need to keep in mind if you are covering a dark color with light-colored paint.

If it is a repainting surface or primed surface, you will need two coats of paint. Usually, a ceiling takes one coat of paint. A single layer will obviously take a much shorter period.

Work complexity

Family-Room-by-Dresser-Homes How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Dresser Homes

Tray ceilings vaulted or coffered ceilings are a costly and time-consuming task when painting. If you are tackling a custom painting project, it cannot be compared to a simple painting job. When you take a simple large and flat surface and compare it to any complex painting jobs it would make a huge difference on answering a question on how long it takes paint to dry and completing the project.

The condition of the walls

Portfolio-by-Mark-Howell-Painting-Inc How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Mark Howell Painting Inc.

Look at what needs to be done, do the ceilings or walls need repairing or cleaning first? It would add additional time to determine when you ask, how long does it take to paint a room?

You will find that in many instances the preparation and cleaning take longer than the actual painting job itself.

The Weather

Humidity and temperature play a role in paint cure time and how fast it occurs.

High humidity equates to longer dry time

Steveston-Character-Home-by-The-Spotted-Frog-Designs How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: The Spotted Frog Designs

When the moisture levels are high, the paint takes a longer period to dry. When you want faster drying times the humidity levels must be lower. Humidity means there is more moisture in the air which results in longer paint drying times.

Skills and experience

Classic-Bedroom-by-Fringe-Home-Design How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Fringe Home Design

If you have never painted a room, you might take longer to paint than when you use a professional painter. When you hire a professional painter that knows which steps to take, from prepping to finishing, take considerably shorter than when you paint a room yourself.

When you have experience or hire a professional painter, he would know that he has eight hours per day to prep the room and paint the room as well as ceilings which would take two days to complete. Skill and experience play a large role when you are trying to estimate how long does it take to paint a room.

Other factors that would influence how long it takes to paint a room

Temperature can also affect your painting project

Harbor-Cottage-Maine-by-Justine-Hand How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Justine Hand

When you ask, how long does it take for paint to dry, you have to consider the temperature too. Paint reacts to temperatures regardless if you are painting indoors or looking at exterior paint dry time. Do you wonder how long does it take for interior paint to dry as opposed to how long does paint take to dry outside?

If you are looking for the ideal paint drying temperature, it is between 40 to 90 degrees for oil-based paint cure time. If you need to know how long does it take for exterior paint to dry, you have to consider that it must not be extremely hot though. It is important that it must neither be too hot nor too cold.

Dry time

White-kitchen-and-breakfast-room-with-fireplace-and-arches-by-Huestis-Tucker-Architects-LLC How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before startingImage source: Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC

Many people ask, how long does it take for paint to dry, but that as shown above, depend on several factors including temperature and room size. While oil-based take between six to eight hours and a day in-between layers to dry, latex paints dry much faster.

When people ask how long does enamel paint take to dry as opposed to how long for latex paint to cure, it is because these two paint types have different drying times. Oil based also have a different drying time, which is between six to eight hours.

Tools make a difference

painting How long does it take to paint a room? Info to know before starting

The painting method or tools also make a difference in the paint drying times. When you want faster results a paint roller and good wheater conditions are determining factors. Rollers offer an even, smooth and thin coat without runny streaks. When you use a brush, it causes streaks and inconsistency which also add to the paint drying time.

If you enjoyed reading this article about how long does it take to paint a room, you should read these as well: