How to Add Buffer Times Between Appointments
Buffer times give you breathing room between appointments to clean your treatment room, sanitize tools, and prepare for your next client. Set them once and they’ll apply automatically!
✨ Best for:
Estheticians who need time between appointments for room preparation and cleanup
Quick Steps
- Go to Settings → Appointment Settings
- Find the “Buffer Times” section
- Enter buffer time before appointments (e.g., 10 minutes)
- Enter buffer time after appointments (e.g., 15 minutes)
- Click Save Settings
✅ Done! Buffer times will now automatically block time around all your appointments.
Understanding Buffer Times
Buffer times work like invisible appointments that protect your schedule:
- Buffer Before: Time blocked BEFORE an appointment starts (e.g., for client arrival and greeting)
- Buffer After: Time blocked AFTER an appointment ends (e.g., for cleanup and room reset)
Example: 60-Minute Facial with Buffers
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Open Settings
Click the ⚙️ Settings icon in the sidebar, then select Appointment Settings.
Step 2: Find Buffer Times Section
Scroll down to the “Buffer Times” section. You’ll see two fields:
- Buffer time before appointments
- Buffer time after appointments
Step 3: Set Your Buffer Times
Enter the number of minutes you need:
- Buffer Before: 5-10 minutes (for greeting and setup)
- Buffer After: 10-15 minutes (for cleanup and room reset)
💡 Recommended Times: Most estheticians use 10 minutes before and 15 minutes after. Adjust based on your needs!
Step 4: Enable Buffer Times
Make sure the “Enable buffer times” toggle is ON. This applies buffers to all your appointments.
Step 5: Save Your Settings
Click “Save Settings” at the bottom of the page.
What Happens Next?
- ✅ All future appointments will automatically include buffer times
- ✅ Your calendar will show the buffer time as blocked (shaded differently)
- ✅ Clients won’t see the buffer time when booking online
- ✅ You’ll have protected time for preparation and cleanup
Common Questions
Do buffer times apply to existing appointments?
No, buffer times only apply to NEW appointments created after you save the settings. Existing appointments keep their original timing.
Can I have different buffer times for different services?
Not yet, but this feature is coming soon! Currently, one buffer time applies to all services. If you need a longer cleanup time for specific treatments, consider adding it to the service duration.
What if I don’t need a buffer before OR after?
You can set either buffer to 0 minutes if you don’t need it. For example, if you only need cleanup time, set “Buffer Before” to 0 and “Buffer After” to 15.
Do buffer times show on my calendar?
Yes! Buffer times appear as shaded blocks on your calendar, so you can see exactly when you’re blocked vs when you’re with a client.
Can clients book during buffer times?
No, buffer times are blocked from online booking. Clients can only book when you’re truly available, preventing double-bookings.
Pro Tips
⚡ Reduce No-Shows: A 10-minute buffer before appointments gives you time to confirm if a client is running late before your service time.
🧼 Cleanup Buffer: Use 15 minutes after appointments if you offer intensive treatments that require deep cleaning between clients.
📊 Track Your Time: After a few weeks, review if your buffers are too long or too short. Adjust as needed!
🎯 Back-to-Back Bookings: Buffer times automatically prevent back-to-back appointments, reducing your stress and improving service quality.
Temporarily Disable Buffers
Need to fit in an extra appointment during a busy day? You can temporarily disable buffers for a single booking:
- When creating the appointment, look for the “Skip buffer time” checkbox
- Check it to book without buffers (use sparingly!)
- Your default buffers remain active for other appointments