Buffer time rules create a gap or break between successive bookings for non-admin users. These may be necessary for teardown, cleaning, setup, and/or changeover reasons (for example, a room or studio that staff need to reset after each use).
The limit of how many Buffer time rules you can create depends on the subscription plan you are on. Check out our different plans and limits here for Workplace and here for Flex.
You can also check our FAQs here!
Create a buffer time rule
Rules can vary by space, and each rule can have a different buffer duration. The buffer times you can choose from are based on your time granularity settings.
Buffer times will only be applied to any bookings made after the buffer rule is implemented.
If multiple conflicting buffer rules are created for the same space, the maximum of those rules will be used. We recommend avoiding creating multiple buffer rules for a space to avoid confusion!
How users see buffer times
Skedda clearly shows the buffer periods around existing bookings in light grey. If someone tries to book during a buffer time an informative error is shown.
System users can still book over a buffer period. They will see the buffers but they're not strictly required to respect them.
Spaces that are connected via space sharing will have buffers propagated through the same connections. As shown above, Meeting Room 1 has a 30-minute buffer and the Lecture Hall 1 hr, since both of those spaces are connected to the Entire Venue space through space sharing, the Entire Venue space shows the buffers as well in a lighter grey color. The dark grey and light grey times are not bookable by regular users.
FAQs
The smallest buffer time I see is 30 minutes, but I need 15 minutes.
Head to your time granularity settings in Basics to make the smallest unit of time across the platform 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes. 15 minutes is the smallest we can go currently!
Do buffer times overlap?
Yes! Regular users can't book during a buffer time, but the buffer from their booking can overlap with the buffer of another booking. For example, we have a buffer of 30 minutes. User A books from 9 - 10 am, creating buffers from 8:30 - 9 am and 10 - 10:30 am. User B can now book at 10:30. The buffer from after User A and before User B is allowed to overlap!
Can buffer times just be set up to come after bookings? Ex. I just need a time for cleaning after the booking, not before.
Buffer times come before and after a booking to ensure there is a set amount of time between bookings. Let's say you need 30 minutes to clean up after a booking so you have a 30-minute buffer. User A books from 9 - 10 am, creating buffers from 8:30 - 9 am and 10 - 10:30 am. 10 - 10:30 is Reserved for user A's clean up and 8:30 - 9 am is reserved for the clean up of anyone who may book right before, ex. User B from 8 - 8:30 am. If you need 30 minutes to clean up and 30 minutes to set up, then create an hour buffer time. Regardless of which order bookings get made onto your schedule, our buffer time feature ensures that there's always an appropriate gap between them.