The work aims to understand the law of water loss during the curing process of water-based adhesives. The curing time measurement method based on the paper adhesive system and drying mode was established, and the "effective curing" concept of water-based adhesives was put forward. The drying curve of water-based adhesives was fitted with the Peel model, and the drying curves of five water-based adhesives at different drying temperature were studied. The results showed that the Peel model could better fit the drying curve of water-based adhesives. There was an inflection point in the curing rate between 80% and 90%, and the specific position was related to the drying temperature. When the curing rate reached 70%, the paper adhesive system basically completed the bonding, and the corresponding effective curing time could be shortened by 74.60%~83.70% compared with the complete curing time. At constant drying temperature, the curing time of different water-based adhesives was different, and the difference was mainly reflected in the low-temperature drying area. In summary, at constant drying temperature, the curing time of water-based adhesives with low glass transition temperature, small particle size, high solid content, and high viscosity is shorter.