How Long Does It Take For Primer To Dry? (By Type & More)

Your spray painting surface also affects the drying time of your epoxy primer.

Some of this is due to the newly primed surface itself (how sealing porous surfaces, it is, how thick the shellac primer needs to be for proper coverage, etc.), and some is due to the specific formulas you need for various surface types like darker surface.  

How Long Does It Take For An Oil-Based Primer To Dry On Wood? 

When spray painting wood surfaces, you may choose an oil-based paint primer or shellac primer or zinsser cover stain primer because of its ability to seal the grain. The shellac primer and zinsser cover stain primer stops the possibility of tannin bleeding—when the wood’s oils stain your paint color.  

Oil-based primers should be thinned before application, to avoid a tacky thin coat with visible brushstrokes and other imperfections. 

Although this increases the time span long does primer take to dry, the smooth result is well worth it. On a sanded wooden surface, expect an oil-based primer to require eight hours to fully dry.  

Once the first coat of primer is dry, you have 2 weeks of a “workable” newly primed surface.  This means if you wait longer than for applying paint, you’ll need another thin coat of primer after first coat. The exception would be if your fast drying primer application uses an extended formula.  

How Long Does It Take For Latex (Water-Based) Primer To Dry On Wood or bare wood? 

Latex or water based primers takes much less time to dry on wood or bare wood or stained wood than oil-based.  With great ventilation and high humidity, you should expect a dry time of an hour or two before you’re ready for most self priming paint.

With high humidity, you don’t need to wait too long: after 30 days, you’ll need to apply thin coats of water based primers again. This is because applying paint primer seals your darker surface for painting project, and after a certain amount of time, that sealant is compromised and requires reapplication.  

How Long Does It Take For An Oil Based Primer To Dry On Metal? 

Oil-based primers will dry to the touch, in ideal conditions, up to four hours on priming metal surfaces.  Wait 24 hours before applying a second coat of fast drying primer.  

While it’s tempting to reach for a latex primer application to most self priming paint your priming metal projects, that faster dry time comes at the cost of much worse adhesion. 

Oil primers are thicker and “grip” the surface better, whereas most latex primers sit on the surface. As a result, you’ll probably notice peeling or chipping very soon, requiring you to complete the project all over again.  

How Long Does It Take For An Oil-Based Primer To Dry On Plastic? 

You’ll want to wait about 8 hours before applying a second coat of primer to your plastic surfaces, and up to 24 hours before applying your paint.

Like metal, plastic won’t take water based primers very well: it will sit on the surface and compromise your apply paint later.  

How Long Does It Take For An Acrylic Or Latex Primer To Dry On Concrete? 

The time that latex primer take to dry will  up to four hours or up to three hours that are enough for a second primer coat, and 8 hours after the final primer coat before you can applying paint your concrete.  For acrylic primers, ideal conditions will provide a dry time of about 4 hours or up to three hours.  

Because concrete tends to be very porous, it may absorb your primer quickly and give the impression of much faster drying process times. 

Be careful not to rush ahead with a second coat before the full time is reached, however, as you can still have wet primer below the surface.  

Additionally, avoid using an oil-based primer on most concrete surfaces, as it will peel or chip faster than most latex primers. Some people do have luck with oil-based primers on concrete, depending on the floor type.  

Garage slabs, which tend to sit directly on the ground (providing less ventilation and more moisture absorption), will not take oil-based primer and self priming paint as well as patios with a crushed stone foundation, for example.  

Waiting to apply your topcoat is annoying—and sometimes it’s downright impossible, if you’re on a tight schedule or have other renovation projects in the pipeline. To help your primer dries faster, try these tips and tricks:  

The ideal temperature for fast dry times varies based on primer formula and brand, but 75 degrees Fahrenheit is a good target. 

Besides turning up the heat (or cutting the gently blow air conditioning for a while), you can speed up your primer’s drying time by using a heat gun or hair dryer.   

Sweep it back and forth over the surface evenly to help the solvents in the primer evaporate more quickly. This method also increases cold air setting flow‚ which is another trick to make your primer dry faster.  

Keeping the air moving doesn’t just decrease fumes; it also helps your primer dry much faster than if the air remains still.  Furthermore, great circulation can decrease humidity.  

When priming, it can be tempting to start low and then hit the higher areas or do all your easiest areas first. Instead, focus on completing one entire wall or big space at a time.  

This will allow each section to dry thoroughly, allowing for a second coat of primer or your first topcoat much sooner than waiting on a bunch of half-dry walls or corners.  

Since paint sprayers apply primer in thinner coats, you won’t have to wait nearly as long between recoating.  What’s more, how many coats of primer, spraying paint on your surfaces is faster than constantly fiddling with brushes or rollers, and puts far less strain on your wrist and arm.  

A beautiful paint job relies just as heavily on its primer as its topcoat quality, if not more so.  Think of primer as the foundation of a house: it provides an even, stable surface for everything that follows.

Choosing a quality primer and allowing for proper drying times will ensure your apply thin coats adhere better, apply more evenly, and last much longer than if you skipped this crucial step.