What are buffers and booking limits?
Meeting buffer time is time reserved before or after an appointment for preparation, notes, or a break. Booking limits are rules that restrict when or how often appointments can be scheduled. They can set a minimum notice period, cap repeat bookings, or limit how far ahead someone can book. In LunaCal’s appointment booking software, configure these controls under Event Types → select an event → Booking Limits.Which booking setting should I use?
Configure only the options you need. Buffer time, advance notice, and the advance booking limit are optional; leaving them at their default values does not prevent the event from working. Booking limits and buffers work alongside your availability schedule, connected calendars, and meeting duration.
How to set buffers and booking limits in LunaCal
Select the event type
Open Event Types and select the event you want to edit. Click the event card or use its gear icon.
Open Booking Limits
Click Booking Limits to configure the event’s booking rules.
Add a buffer before meetings
In Booking Limits, set Buffer Before to leave preparation time before a meeting. Before- and after-meeting buffers each support up to 120 minutes. Recommended starting value: 10 minutes before the meeting. Example: Before a demo, add a 10-minute buffer to review notes and open your presentation.
Add a buffer after meetings
Set Buffer After to leave time after the meeting and avoid back-to-back calls. Recommended starting value: 15 minutes after the meeting. Example: After a sales call, allow 15–20 minutes to write follow-up points and prepare for your next appointment.
Set minimum booking notice
Under Advance Notice, set the minimum booking notice: the lead time required between making a booking and the appointment starting. Choose minutes, hours, or days to prevent last-minute bookings. Recommended starting value: 2 hours. Example: Require at least 2 hours’ notice so attendees cannot book a meeting that starts immediately.
Limit bookings per person
Use Max Bookings per Event to control how often the same person can book this event within a day, week, month, or year. You can add up to four limit rules for an event. Example: For coaching, limit each person to two sessions per week to manage booking frequency.
Set how far ahead people can book
Use Advance Booking Limit to control how far into the future attendees can see and book appointments. Allow bookings within a window or specify the exact days you want open. Recommended starting value: 30 days. Example: Show only the next 30 days so attendees cannot book months ahead. Changes to Advance Booking Limit and Advance Notice apply to new bookings. Existing bookings remain unchanged.
Save your settings
Click Save to apply your booking limits and buffers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to save, which leaves the previous settings active.
- Setting buffers but leaving advance notice at zero, which still permits last-minute bookings.
- Adding overlapping frequency limits, such as one booking per day and one per 24 hours, that complicate availability.
- Setting a short advance booking window and expecting later dates to remain available.
Suggested settings to start with
- Buffers: 10 minutes before and 15 minutes after meetings.
- Advance notice: 2 hours.
- Booking frequency: One booking per day per person for longer sessions; no frequency limit for quick 15-minute chats.
- Advance booking window: 30 days.
Why use LunaCal for booking limits and buffers?
LunaCal’s scheduling tool gives each event separate controls for preparation time, repeat bookings, and the booking window:- Allow different preparation and follow-up times. Set before- and after-meeting buffers independently, so a short preparation period does not have to match a longer follow-up period.
- Control repeat bookings by each attendee. Per-person limits let you set a booking frequency for individual clients, useful for coaching sessions or other appointments that need a repeat-booking cap.
- Change future booking rules without moving existing appointments. Updates to advance notice and the booking window affect new bookings while leaving confirmed appointments unchanged.