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Exterior Painting · state guide

Exterior Painting Weather in Washington: Best Months by City

Exterior Painting season in Washington, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Tacoma leads with 165 workable days a year; Marysville runs the shortest at 97.

20 Washington cities, ranked by season

Washington is not one climate: Tacoma banks 165 workable exterior painting days a year while Marysville gets 97 — 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 Washington calendar it's August, 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.

Chasing the season across state lines? Step back to Exterior Painting in Virginia or push on to Exterior Painting in West Virginia.

Cities in Washington

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Seattle Jul, Aug, Jun April–October 159
Spokane Aug, Jul, Sep May–September 127
Kennewick Sep, Jun, May April–October 140
Bremerton Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 139
Tacoma Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 165
Olympia Jul, Aug, Jun May–October 125
Vancouver Aug, Jul, Sep April–November 160
Marysville Aug, Jul, Jun May–September 97
Bellevue Jul, Aug, Jun April–October 158
Yakima Sep, Jun, May May–September 107
Kent Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 157
Bellingham Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 145
Everett Jul, Aug, Jun April–October 137
Spokane Valley Aug, Jul, Sep May–September 127
Renton Jul, Aug, Jun April–October 158
Federal Way Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 165
Kirkland Aug, Jul, Sep April–November 153
Auburn Aug, Jul, Sep April–October 157
Wenatchee Sep, Jun, May April–October 145
Pasco Sep, Jun, May August–October 104

Top 10 Washington calendars for exterior painting

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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