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Coating Drying CalculatorCoating & Finish Drying Time Calculator

Estimate touch-dry, recoat and full-cure times for wood finishes adjusted for your workshop temperature and humidity. Plan multi-coat schedules and avoid the defects caused by recoating too soon.

Touch / Recoat / CureTemp + Humidity Adjust7 Finish TypesTotal Project TimePDF Report
CD

Coating Drying Calculator

Coating & Finish Drying Time Calculator

Coating
coats
Environment
deg C

Workshop / ambient temperature.

% RH
OK
Coating Drying Results
-
touch
Touch Dry
-
recoat
Recoat Time
-
cure
Full Cure
-
total
Project Time
StageTimeDetail
Drying Calculation
About Coating Drying Calculator
Drying times printed on a tin assume ideal conditions - usually 25C and 50% humidity. In a cold or humid workshop, a finish can take far longer to dry and recoat, and rushing it ruins the job. This tool estimates touch-dry, recoat and full-cure times for common wood finishes adjusted for your actual temperature and humidity, and totals the whole multi-coat project time.
Where Is This Used?
Finishing + Spray ShopsProduction SchedulingFurniture CoatingWorkshop PlanningQuality ControlSite Finishing
Formulas & Factors
Temperature factor = 2 ^ ((25 - Temp) / 10)(drying roughly halves per +10C, doubles per -10C)Humidity factor = 1 + (RH - 50) / 100Adjusted time = Base time x Temp factor x Humidity factorProject time = (Coats - 1) x Recoat + Full cure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between touch dry, recoat and cured?
Touch dry means the surface is dust-free and lightly touchable but still soft - do not handle or stack. Recoat is when the film is hard enough to accept the next coat without lifting. Cured (often days to weeks) is full hardness and chemical resistance - only then is the piece ready for heavy use.
Why does cold weather slow drying so much?
Solvent evaporation and the chemical curing reactions of finishes are temperature-driven - they slow dramatically as it gets colder, roughly doubling the time for every 10C drop. Below about 15C many finishes will not form a proper film at all, staying soft or going cloudy. Warmth (within the product's range) is your friend.
How does humidity affect finishing?
High humidity slows the evaporation of water and solvents, extending drying. For lacquers it can also cause blushing - a milky cloudiness as moisture is trapped in the drying film. Water-based and moisture-cure finishes are most affected. Aim for moderate humidity (40-65%) and good airflow for the best results.
ResourcesView the formulasFormula Library
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