Spray-can and airbrushed topcoats are touch-dry in 10–30 minutes, safe to handle gently in about an hour, and fully cured in 24–48 hours depending on chemistry and humidity. Lacquer clears cure fastest and hardest; water-based acrylic clears take the longest to reach full toughness.
The practical rule: wait overnight before masking over, decaling over, or posing aggressively. And spray on a dry day — humidity trapped in a curing matte coat is what causes white frosting.
Go deeper in our top coats & finishing guides.