Printable finish dry time chart
The same numbers as the full chart, laid out to print on one sheet. The full chart has the sources, the tiers behind each number and the reasons.
One page on Letter or A4. To save a PDF, pick “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.
For a sheet that matches the screen, choose portrait, Letter or A4, and 100% (actual size) scale in the print dialog. Saved as a PDF, it opens on a phone or tablet in the shop with no signal. The numbers change only when the full chart’s sources do, so check the full chart now and then against the copy on your wall.
| Product | Kind | Touch-dry | Recoat | Full cure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane | Oil-based polyurethane | — | 3–4 h | — |
| General Finishes Arm-R-Seal | Oil-based polyurethane | 12+ h | 24+ h | 30 days |
| General Finishes High Performance | Water-based polyurethane | 30 min | 2 h | 21 days |
| Minwax Polycrylic | Water-based polyurethane | — | 2 h | — |
| Watco Wipe-On Poly | Wipe-on polyurethane | 2–4 h | 4–6 h | 1 day |
| Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane | Spar urethane (outdoor) | — | 4 h | — |
| Varathane Oil-Based Spar Urethane | Spar urethane (outdoor) | 2 h | 8 h | — |
| General Finishes Exterior 450 | Spar urethane (outdoor) | 30 min | 2 h | 21 days |
| ProLuxe (Deft) Brushing Lacquer | Nitrocellulose lacquer | 30 min | 2 h | — |
| Minwax Brushing Lacquer | Nitrocellulose lacquer | 30 min | 2 h | — |
| Sherwin-Williams Sher-Wood Hi-Bild Precat | Pre-catalyzed lacquer | — | 30–50 min | — |
| General Finishes Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer | Water-based lacquer | 10 min | 1 h | 21 days |
| Target Coatings EM6000 | Water-based lacquer | 25–30 min | 25–30 min | — |
| Gilly's Pure Tung Oil | Pure tung oil | — | 24 h | 28 days |
| Finico Linseed Oil | Boiled linseed oil | — | 12–24 h | — |
| Sunnyside Boiled Linseed Oil | Boiled linseed oil | — | — | — |
| Watco Danish Oil | Danish oil | — | — | — |
| Osmo Polyx-Oil Original | Hardwax oil | — | 8–10 h | — |
| Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C | Hardwax oil | — | — | — |
| Howard Cutting Board Oil | Cutting board oil and bowl finish | — | — | — |
| Behlen Salad Bowl Finish | Cutting board oil and bowl finish | — | 6 h | — |
| Minwax Wood Finish | Oil-based penetrating stain | — | 2–3 h | — |
| General Finishes Gel Stain | Gel stain | 8+ h | 24+ h | 30 days |
| Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac | Shellac | 10–15 min | 20–60 min | — |
| Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat | Shellac | 5–15 min | 20–60 min | — |
| General Finishes Enduro-Var II | Water-based polyurethane | 30 min | 2+ h | 21 days |
| General Finishes Gel Topcoat | Oil-based polyurethane | 8+ h | 24+ h | — |
| General Finishes Wood Bowl Finish | Oil-based polyurethane | 12+ h | 24+ h | 30 days |
| General Finishes Oil Based Wood Stain | Oil-based penetrating stain | 8+ h | 24+ h | — |
| Varathane Crystal Clear Polyurethane | Water-based polyurethane | 30 min | 2 h | — |
| Varathane Outdoor Water Based Spar Urethane | Spar urethane (outdoor) | 30 min | 2 h | — |
| Varathane Oil-Based Interior Polyurethane | Oil-based polyurethane | — | 4 h | — |
| Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain | Oil-based penetrating stain | 1 h | 1 h | 1 day |
| Minwax Gel Stain | Gel stain | — | 6 h | — |
Each product’s technical data sheet; times at the temperature and humidity the maker names. Cooler, damper air slows every finish. woodworkingmath.com/finishing/finish-dry-time-chart/ Version 8 Nov 2026. Free to share under CC BY 4.0: credit Woodworking Math (woodworkingmath.com).