Free car paint drying timer. Touch dry in 30–60 min, hard dry in 2–8 hours, full cure in 24–72 hours. Track each stage with a clear alarm. Start instantly.
Touch-up paint (brush-on or aerosol): surface dry in 20–30 minutes, touch dry in 60 minutes, hard dry in 2–4 hours. Full cure to maximum hardness and chemical resistance: 24–72 hours depending on paint type, temperature, and humidity.
Dry to touch: the surface film is set — you can touch it without marking. Hard dry: the panel can be washed or light polished. Fully cured: maximum hardness, chemical resistance, and colour stability achieved. Rushing any stage risks damage — water spotting, polishing through the paint, or fish-eye in subsequent coats.
Yes — warm, low-humidity conditions accelerate drying. Ideal: 65–75°F (18–24°C), relative humidity below 60%. Avoid applying paint below 50°F or above 90°F. Infrared heat lamps used in body shops can reduce cure times significantly but risk runs if applied before the surface is properly set.
This depends entirely on the paint system. Aerosol touch-up: typically 5–10 minutes between coats. 2K (two-pack) paint: follow manufacturer's re-coat window (usually 20–60 minutes). Applying a coat too early traps solvents and causes lifting or solvent pop.
Hand wash with mild shampoo: 72 hours minimum. Pressure wash or automatic car wash: 30 days minimum after fresh paint. The water pressure and aggressive chemicals in automatic washes can damage paint that hasn't fully hardened.