How Long Does It Take To Paint a Car? Informative Guide 2023

How long does it take to paint a car cannot be answered; nevertheless, the time required might range from some days to many weeks, depending on the task size. Because so many variables are involved in painting an automobile, it’s sometimes impossible to provide an accurate date.

How Long Does It Take To Paint a Car?

How long it will take to paint your automobile depends on its color, manufacture, and size, the level of harm (if any), and the type of paint that is required. I’ll go through each of these in this blog article including how long it would take to paint a car.

How long does it take to paint a car

Factors Affecting The Time Required Painting A Car:

Car paint drying time depends on 4 different variables. I have discussed some essential elements to help you understand how long car paint takes to dry.

Step#1: Preparation

Preparation is the initial step in painting an automobile. You need to prepare and treat it, with a primer, like gloss Rustoleum, to the car. For deeper colors, use a dark primer; for lighter hues, use a light primer. The next step is to take the vehicle’s trim off.

All the things that are moveable such as doors, hood, and trunk need to be trimmed off. If you cannot remove any of them, tape over handles, windscreens, side windows, rear windows, reflectors, tail exhaust, engine bay, and tires as a precaution.

Before sanding the automobile using 300- or 400-grit paper, apply a good quality detergent and oil remover after the chosen primer. Fill the dents with Bondo and carefully smooth out any blisters that may occur.

Step#2: Painting

Paint the car with a foam paint roller that is 4 inches broad. You need to start by mixing nail polish and rust remover in a blending can and bringing the mixture to a liquid uniformity resembling water. This often requires using at least one qt of acetone to finish the application. Make careful to stir the solution, not shake it.

Sand the car in between each application of paint for the best results. Depending on the vehicle, you could need to apply up to ten coats, which might include many sanding procedures.

Step#3: Allow to Dry the Paint

Let the paint dry for between 30 and 90 minutes after applying the primer (10 to 15 minutes should elapse between each application). Specific colors need 24 hours to cure, so the process will undoubtedly take one day.

Painting dry time is not fixed as it depends upon the type of paint and the vehicle surface. Usually, colorful paint takes more time to dry than black and white paint. Rustoleum paint takes 30 to 90 minutes to dry.

Different types of paint for the car may take additional times to dry. In my experience, new car paints have significantly less drying time. Water-based paint for cars also has lesser drying time, reducing car paint drying time.

How Long Does It Take To Paint a Car — **How long does it take to paint a car**

What Affects the Painting Time of any Car?

This is true whether you’re painting your car a more attractive shade or restoring it to its former glory. Although the issue may seem straightforward, the solution is more nuanced and depends on various variables.

1. Model

The type and year of manufacturing of your car is perhaps the most prominent item on this list. Generally speaking, painting a full-body passenger van will take longer than painting a coupe. If all you want is touch-up repair, your car’s model would have a far lower influence on the procedure.

2. Body Work

The time required to paint an automobile also depends on the bodywork, which is particularly crucial when repairing a vehicle.

Any dings or other types of damage must be fixed before painting an automobile to make it seem its best. The time it takes to finish bodywork depends on the extent of the damage.

3. Preparing Phase

There are several phases in the preparation stage. Make sure you have the appropriate paints on hand for the project first. Second, sand down the surfaces that will be painted.

Third, tape and cover any windows or areas that you want to avoid painting on. Preparation often takes several days at most.

4. Applying Paint

The process of applying paint is often the one that takes the least time when assessing how long it takes to paint an automobile. A priming coat is initially required and will need time to dry. The time required to apply the color coats might differ.

How Much Long Would It Require For the Paint on Cars to Dry?

Automotive paint is soft to the touch when it has dried. When any remaining water in color escapes from the surface and the paint begins to harden, a process known as curing decreases softness. It is often asked, “how long does car paint take to cure?” On average, it takes 24 hours for car paint to cure.

Also, it is often asked, “how long does it take for interior paint to dry?” As interior paint is less exposed to air, it might take some more time to dry compared to exterior paint, but this difference is not noticeable.

Frequently Asked Questions- How Long Does It Take to Paint a Car

The time required to apply the color coats might differ. Rustoleum is one brand of paint that dries possibly in as short as half an hour to an hour and a half, while other brands require an overnight drying time.

Overall, a paint job might take several days to a few weeks to complete, including any necessary touch-up work.

A high-quality car’s paint job lasts for over 15 years. While the paintwork on most current vehicles lasts between 10 and 15 years, it only lasts between 5 and 10 years on cars built before the 1960s.

Wrapping Up- How Long Does It Take to Paint A Car

There often come times when a car needs to be repainted. Either you can get your car painted for a fresher look, or you might want an entirely different color for your vehicle.

Irrespective of both, waiting for your car makes the owners impatient. So, I addressed a commonly asked question, “how long does it take to paint a car?” If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask us anytime.