Is Painting In High Humidity OK? (What You Need To Know)

Does humidity affects paint? What is the maximum humidity that is acceptable before you risk paint failure? The level of moisture in the air can have a major effect on how paint dries and the time it takes. 

Humidity levels refer to the amount of moisture in the air; if there is high level of humid weather, the paint will have a harder time for drying process properly. 

As a rule, the water or oil in the oil based paints and water based paints should evaporate before the solvents, but paint in high humidity makes that difficult.  

If you are begin painting with an oil-based paint, the ambient temperature should be above 45°F for at least 48 hours. 

Latex and acrylic paints typically require higher temperatures above 50°F. Some paints, however, are formulated to dry at lower temperatures, even as low as 35°F.

There are a variety of effects that high humidity affect paint when painting using water based or oil based paint, including: 

With the right know-how, you can avoid these issues; check out our methods and get it right every time. 

Humidity and painting outdoors are often at odds as there is less you can control. While the ideal and maximum temperatures and humidity still apply, most who exterior paint regularly accept high level of humidity as a common issue.

The perfect humidity level for painting, particularly outdoors, is between 40 and 50 percent relative humidity. For optimal results, the painting should be completed when relative humidity is between 40-50%.

Latex and acrylic paints typically require higher temperatures above 50°F. Outdoor paint is harder than indoor paint and can have properties that help, but it can still be a difficult task when working in the summer season.  

Working with the sun and avoiding morning dew is incredibly important. If your paint dries in the sun too fast, you can cause paint flashing – it cures too fast, leaving brush marks and an uneven glossy finish. Get your timing right, however, and you could find a way to finish the paint job without too much hassle. 

Will paint dry in high humidity? There is no such thing as zero humidity regardless of where you are; however, some humidity does not spell the end of your painting project.

As we briefly mentioned, most experts would put the ideal humidity levels for painting between 40 and 60 percent, with any higher than 80 percent spelling potential disaster. Lower than this could see the paint set strangely.  

In terms of temperature, the ideal range is 40-to-90-degrees Fahrenheit. Low temperatures could see bubbles on condensation lifting your paint off the walls or freezing on its surface.

High temperatures could make it almost impossible for the paint to dry properly, forcing it to flash dry or gain a patchy, gummy texture. While you can’t remove all moisture, trying to get your environment to these levels should help your paint job go smoothly. 

Alongside trying to find the balance between temperature and humidity, there are a few ways to help things along while painting. 

Can you paint in high level of humidity? Yes, it can sometimes be difficult but not impossible. Follow our tips above and try to ensure you have the best possible humidity and temperatures to avoid wasting cash and time.