How Long Does It Take For Polyurethane To Dry?

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It depends on  the type of polyurethane you use, how you apply it, and what the external conditions are like.

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Polyurethane can be water or oil based and both of these have unique drying times.

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Water-based polyurethane is a safer and less toxic option and has a much faster drying time.

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Next layer:  8 hours Dried to touch:  24 hours Fully cured:  20 days

Water-based Cure Times

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Oil-based polyurethane is thicker and the dry time significantly longer, but it has a stronger, more durable finish.

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Next layer:  24 hours Dried to touch:  48 hours Fully cured:  30 days

Oil-based Cure Times

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Factors That Influence Curing Times

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The best conditions would be anywhere around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature

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Ideally, you want a humidity of 50 – 70% when applying polyurethane finishes to the wood.

Humidity

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Quite simply, the thicker the coats, the longer the polyurethane will take to dry.

Thickness of Layers