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Exterior Painting Weather in South Carolina: Best Months by City

Exterior Painting season in South Carolina, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Charleston leads with 264 workable days a year; Columbia runs the shortest at 154.

South Carolina is not one climate: Charleston banks 264 workable exterior painting days a year while Columbia gets 154 — a spread the table below itemizes month by month. Season boundaries mark the first and last month averaging 8+ workable days against the label rules (50–90°F, nights 35°F+).

If one month anchors the South Carolina calendar it's October, the statewide leader in workable days. Use this page to pick the month, then the city page's 10-day strip to pick the days — and the national exterior painting guide for the physics behind each rule.

Cities in South Carolina

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Charleston Oct, Nov, May year-round 264
Columbia Oct, May, Apr March–June 154
Greenville Oct, Sep, May April–November 164
Myrtle Beach Oct, May, Mar February–December 202
Rock Hill Oct, Sep, May March–June 158
Spartanburg Oct, Sep, May March–June 161
Mauldin Oct, Sep, May April–November 164
North Charleston Oct, Nov, Mar February–June 197
Mount Pleasant Oct, Nov, May year-round 264
Florence Oct, Nov, Mar March–June 159

The rules behind these numbers

Typical label thresholds for exterior painting — the single ruleset used by every check on this page.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 50–90°F (low-temp formulas from 35°F) Standard latex wants 50°F+. Some low-temperature formulas are rated down to 35°F.
Overnight low ≥35°F during the first 24 h (≥40°F preferred) Paint keeps curing overnight; a low under 40°F stalls standard latex.
Dry before ≤0.05" rain in the prior 12 h; watch back to 24 h The surface must be dry to the touch and out of a recent soak.
Dry after <0.05" rain for 24 h after Rain inside the first 24 hours can streak or wash fresh paint.
Evening dew-point spread ≥5°F from 6–11 pm Surface should stay at least 5°F above the dew point; dew flat-spots fresh paint.
Daytime humidity ≤80% High humidity extends recoat and cure times.
Wind ≤15 mph (brush only up to 20 mph) Wind dries the leading edge too fast and carries overspray.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.

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