How the estimate works
Paint makers print drying and recoat times measured at about 77°F (25°C) and 50% relative humidity. The calculator starts from typical label times for each product and slows them down for your conditions: drying roughly doubles for every 18°F (10°C) colder, and humidity above 50% slows it further.
Dry to the touch is not ready to recoat
Paint can feel dry within an hour while the film underneath is still soft. Recoating too early can lift or wrinkle the first coat and leave marks. Waiting the recoat time gives a smoother, stronger finish.
Curing takes much longer
Even after the last coat, paint keeps hardening for days or weeks. Until it cures, avoid scrubbing walls, putting heavy objects on shelves, and closing doors tightly against fresh trim.
How to help paint dry
Keep air moving with an open window or a fan pointed away from the wall, run a dehumidifier in damp basements, and keep rooms above the minimum temperature on the can. Thin, even coats dry faster and better than thick ones.
Results are estimates. Coverage depends on the product, the tools and the wall; the rate printed on your can wins.