A typical room is often painted in a day, but the real timeline is set by prep and by the paint's dry, recoat and cure times. Benjamin Moore lists its Regal Select wall paint at 1 to 2 hours to recoat and washable after two weeks, while its Advance trim enamel needs 16 hours between coats.
All at 77°F and 50% humidity, as listed by Benjamin Moore; cooler, humid conditions take longer.
Dry to the touch means you can lightly touch the surface; cured means the film has reached full hardness. Benjamin Moore says Regal Select walls can be washed after two weeks and that Advance develops full hardness over time, with shelves and tabletops kept from heavy use for 5 to 7 days. Furniture can go back sooner, but scrubbing and heavy contact should wait.
It depends on the number of rooms, whether ceilings and trim are included, and whether the house is occupied. Because trim enamel needs 16 hours between coats, painting walls and trim across many rooms is usually organized so walls in one area are painted while trim elsewhere is drying.
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Walls in an average room can often be finished in a day with a quick-drying paint; Benjamin Moore lists Regal Select at 1 to 2 hours to recoat at 77°F and 50% humidity. Adding trim in enamel, which needs 16 hours between coats, wall repairs or a primer coat for a color change can extend it to two days.
Follow the product's data sheet. Benjamin Moore lists Regal Select at 1 to 2 hours, its Waterborne Ceiling Paint at 1 to 2 hours, Fresh Start 046 primer at 1 hour and Advance enamel at 16 hours, all at 77°F and 50% humidity. Cooler or more humid rooms need longer.
Once walls are dry to the touch, usually about an hour for premium wall paints, but keep furniture a few inches off walls for the first day. Benjamin Moore says Regal Select can be washed after two weeks, and Advance trim needs 5 to 7 days before heavy use.
Low-VOC paints, such as Benjamin Moore Regal Select at under 50 grams per liter, have less odor, and most fades within a day or two with ventilation. Alkyd primers, listed at much higher VOC, smell stronger and longer. Keep windows open and fans running while paint dries.
Sources: Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior Eggshell (N549) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint (N508) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (046) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Undercoater and Primer/Sealer (032) technical data sheet; Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Interior Alkyd Semi-Gloss (793) technical data sheet; Gypsum Association GA-214, Recommended Levels of Gypsum Board Finish; EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E. Figures checked October 2026.
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