# How Buffer time works in Cowlendar
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**This is a Pro feature of Cowlendar.** You need to upgrade your plan if you want to use this feature and you are a free user of Cowlendar.
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Give yourself breathing room between bookings. **Buffer time** adds extra minutes **before**, **after**, or **both** sides of an appointment so you can prep, clean up, or simply avoid back-to-back chaos. This article explains **what buffer time is**, **how it works across Services, Team Members, and Equipment**, and **exactly how to configure it**—including the **Global buffer** option for centralized control.
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### What is Buffer Time?
Buffer time is **additional, non-bookable time** you attach to a reservation. It can be:
* **Before** the appointment (prep/setup),
* **After** the appointment (cleanup/tear-down), or
* **Both** (prep + cleanup).
When buffer is active, the service stays **blocked** for the buffer window, so no other reservation can start or end during that period.
**Why it matters**
* Prevents “back-to-back” clashes.
* Protects staff time for preparation and wrap-up.
* Reduces operational stress and improves customer experience.
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### How buffer time is applied (Logic & scope)
Cowlendar lets you set buffer at **four levels**:
1. **Global** (one value you can apply to many services)
2. **Per Service**
3. **Per Team Member**
4. **Per Equipment**
**Control modes per item**
For **Services** and **Team Members**, you can choose:
* **Use Custom buffer for this service**, *or **more services***
* **Use Global buffer** (follows the value set in Settings).
For **Equipment**, you configure buffer **on that equipment** (custom per equipment).
> 💡 **Recommended strategy**
>
> Pick **one primary place** to manage buffer for a given booking flow:
>
> * If you run a rental business with shared resources, set buffer **on the Equipment** (applies consistently across any service using that equipment).
> * If your business is person-centric with many services, set buffer **on the Team Member**.
> * If a service has unique prep/cleanup rules, set buffer **on the Service**.
>
> Mixing multiple buffer sources can be confusing; keep a single source of truth whenever possible.
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### Setup A: Configure **Global Buffer** (centralized control)
Use this when you want many services to follow the **same** buffer values.
1. Go to **Cowlendar → General Settings**.
2. Find **Global Buffer Time** and **enable** it.
3. Set **Before** and/or **After** values (e.g., 15 min before, 15 min after).
4. **Save**.
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For a Service/Team Member to follow the Global buffer, you must also switch that item’s buffer mode to **Use Global** (see the next sections).
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### Setup B: Configure buffer **on a Service**
You can either set a Service-specific buffer or make it follow the Global one.
#### Option 1 — Custom buffer for **this** Service
1. Go to **Cowlendar → My Services**.
2. Click **Edit** on the target service.
3. Open the **Availability** tab.
4. Scroll to **Buffer time** and **enable** it.
5. Choose **Before**, **After**, or **Both** and set the minutes.
6. **Save**.
#### Option 2 — Make this Service **follow Global buffer**
1. Go to **Cowlendar → My Services → Edit** the service.
2. **Availability** tab → **Buffer time** → choose **Use Global**.
3. Make sure **Global Buffer** is enabled in **Settings** (see Setup A).
4. **Save**.
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### Setup C: Configure buffer **on a Team Member**
Team Members can also use a custom buffer or follow the Global one.
#### Option 1 — Custom buffer for **this** Team Member
1. Go to **Cowlendar → Team**.
2. Click **Edit** on the teammate.
3. Open the **Availability** tab.
4. Find **Buffer time** and **enable** it.
5. Choose **Before**, **After**, or **Both**, and set the minutes.
6. **Save**.
#### Option 2 — Make this Team Member **follow Global buffer**
1. Go to **Cowlendar → Team → Edit** the teammate.
2. Open the **Buffer time** tab (inside the teammate).
3. Select **Use Global**.
4. Ensure **Global Buffer** is enabled in **Settings** (Setup A).
5. **Save**.
> 🧠 **When to prefer teammate buffer:** If prep/cleanup depends mostly on the person (e.g., therapist, stylist), centralize buffer on that teammate so any service they handle respects the same margins.
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### Setup D: Configure buffer **on Equipment**
Ideal for rentals: bikes, boats, rooms, courts, tables, etc.
1. Go to **Cowlendar → Equipment**.
2. Click the equipment name or **Edit**.
3. Scroll to the bottom and **enable Buffer time**.
4. Choose **Before**, **After**, or **Both**, and set the minutes.
5. **Save**.
> 💡 **Tip:** If multiple services share the same equipment, configuring buffer here ensures the rules apply **consistently** across all of them.
***
### Choosing **Before**, **After**, or **Both**
* **Before only** → You need prep time (set up a room, preheat, adjust gear).
* **After only** → You need cleanup time (sanitize, restock, put away gear).
* **Both** → Premium experiences or delicate equipment where you need **reliable padding** on both ends.
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### How buffer affects availability (with examples)
Buffer time **extends the blocked period** of a booking:
* The **blocked window** =\
`Start time – (Before buffer)` **to** `End time + (After buffer)`
During this window, the service will **not** show as available.
#### A) Buffer **before** only
* **Workshop** (prep required)\
Duration: 2h (15:00–17:00)\
Buffer **before**: 30 min\
**Blocked:** 14:30–17:00\
**Effect:** No booking can start before 14:30 on that service.
#### B) Buffer **after** only
* **Cleaning service** (wrap-up needed)\
Duration: 1h (10:00–11:00)\
Buffer **after**: 20 min\
**Blocked:** 10:00–11:20\
**Effect:** Next booking can’t start before 11:20.
#### C) Buffer **before & after**
* **Bike rental** (prep + cleanup)\
Duration: 1h (12:00–13:00)\
Buffer: 15 min **before**, 15 min **after**\
**Blocked:** 11:45–13:15\
**Effect:** Comfortable turnaround on both sides.
#### D) Different resources, different buffers
* **Sport courts** with varying rules\
Hourly availability: 16:00, 17:00, 18:00…
* Court A → **after** buffer 30 min
* Court B → **no buffer**\
If Court A is booked 16:00–17:00:
* Court A next free: **17:30**, 18:30…
* Court B next free: **17:00**, 18:00…\
**Result:** Court A shows “in-between” start times; Court B stays on the hour.
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### “Why do I see odd gaps?” (and how to smooth them)
Most calendars show slots on fixed intervals (e.g., every 60 minutes). When you add buffers (e.g., 15–20 min), the resource may become available at **:15, :20, :30**, etc., **breaking the pattern**.
**How to make it look smooth**
* Shorten your **slot granularity** (e.g., 15-minute intervals).\
This “absorbs” the buffer into the normal cadence so the calendar still looks uniform to customers.
1. Go to **Cowlendar → My Services → Edit** the service.
2. **Availability** tab → **Customer should be able to book** → choose **15 min** or whatever time frame suits your needs.
3. **Save**.
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### Best practices & pro tips
* **Pick one level** (Service, Team Member, or Equipment) as your **source of truth** for buffer in a given flow.
* **Use Equipment-level buffer** for rentals; it scales best across multiple services using the same items.
* **Use Team Member-level buffer** if prep/cleanup depends on the person, not the service.
* **Use Service-level buffer** for unique services with special handling.
* If your availability looks “odd,” **use Customer should be able to book option.**
* Remember: **Customers don’t see** buffer; they only see available times.
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### Quick reference: Where should I put my buffer?
| Scenario | Best place to set buffer |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| Bike/boat/room rental | **Equipment** |
| Therapist/stylist with multiple services | **Team Member** |
| A service with unique prep rules | **Service** |
| Standardized margin across many items | **Global** |
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### FAQs
**Q: Can I use both Global and Custom at the same time?**\
A: For Services and Team Members, choose **one mode per item**: either **Use Global** or **Custom** for that specific item. Equipment uses its **own** (custom) buffer.
**Q: Does buffer reduce my bookable capacity?**\
A: Yes—buffer time blocks the resource longer. You’ll have fewer back-to-back bookings, but a much smoother operation.
**Q: Do customers see buffer in emails or on the booking page?**\
A: No. They simply won’t see those times as available.
***
### Need help?
If you want us to review your setup (Global vs Custom, level selection, slot granularity), ping us in the **in-app chat**. We’ll help you configure buffer time so your schedule runs smoothly—without sacrificing availability where you need it most.
