Set booking buffer time between appointments

Buffer time changes which appointment slots customers can see. Availability can also depend on service duration, staff schedules, branch hours, time off, minimum notice, and any booking rules configured for the service.

Before changing buffer time

• Confirm which service or staff schedule needs the buffer.
• Check the normal appointment duration before adding extra time.
• Decide whether the buffer should apply before, after, or around the appointment where supported.
• Review same-day booking rules or minimum notice if customers are booking too close to the appointment time.

Set the buffer where supported

Open the relevant Bookings service, staff, or booking settings and look for buffer, cleanup time, travel time, or minimum-notice controls. Labels can vary by workflow. If a buffer field is not available, use staff availability or time-off blocks to protect the unavailable time.

Test the customer booking flow

1. Open the public booking flow for the service.
2. Choose the same staff member, branch, and date you changed.
3. Check whether slots before and after an appointment are hidden as expected.
4. Try a near-term booking to confirm minimum-notice rules behave as expected.
5. If slots still look wrong, review staff availability, service assignment, branch hours, and time off.

Avoid overblocking the calendar

Long buffers can remove more customer-facing slots than expected, especially for short services or busy staff schedules. Start with the smallest practical gap, review a few real days on the calendar, and adjust after staff confirm the timing works.