Service duration affects how long bookings last and how availability is calculated. This article explains how duration works with staff and services.

What Is Service Duration?

Service duration is how long a service takes to complete:

  • A haircut might be 30 minutes
  • A massage might be 60 minutes
  • A consultation might be 45 minutes Duration determines booking slot length and availability calculations.

Where Duration Is Set

Service duration is typically set at the service level, not per staff member:

  • The "Haircut" service is 30 minutes
  • This applies regardless of which staff member performs it This ensures consistency for customers and scheduling.

Duration and Booking Slots

Duration affects available time slots:

Example: 60-Minute Service

If Emma works 9 AM - 5 PM and offers 60-minute massages:

  • 9:00 AM slot
  • 10:00 AM slot
  • 11:00 AM slot
  • ...and so on

Example: 30-Minute Service

If Emma offers 30-minute consultations:

  • 9:00 AM slot
  • 9:30 AM slot
  • 10:00 AM slot
  • ...more availability Shorter services create more booking opportunities.

Buffer Time

Some businesses add buffer time between appointments:

  • 60-minute service + 15-minute buffer = 75 minutes blocked
  • Buffer allows for cleanup, preparation, or breaks Check your service settings for buffer options.

Multiple Services with Different Durations

Staff can offer services with varying durations:

Emma's services:

  • Haircut: 30 minutes
  • Color: 90 minutes
  • Consultation: 15 minutes The system correctly calculates availability for each service type.

Duration in the UI

When viewing services in the staff profile:

  • Duration is displayed for each service
  • Shown as hours and/or minutes
  • Helps you verify correct configuration

Changing Duration

To modify service duration:

  1. Go to Services (not Staff)
  2. Find the service
  3. Edit the duration
  4. Save changes The new duration applies to all staff who offer the service.

đź’ˇ Note: Changing duration affects future bookings only. Existing bookings keep their original duration.

Duration Best Practices

Be Accurate

  • Time actual service delivery
  • Include all parts of the service
  • Account for setup and cleanup if needed

Consider Customer Experience

  • Don't rush services
  • Allow adequate time for quality
  • Pad slightly if services often run over

Review Regularly

  • Monitor actual service times
  • Adjust duration if consistently too short or long
  • Different staff may have different speeds

Staff Speed Variations

Even though duration is set at the service level, staff may work at different speeds:

  • Senior stylist: faster, might finish early
  • Junior stylist: may need full time or longer Consider this when setting durations—use a reasonable middle ground that works for most staff.

Complex Services

For services with variable duration:

Option 1: Multiple Service Versions

Create separate services:

  • Quick Haircut (20 min)
  • Standard Haircut (30 min)
  • Detailed Haircut (45 min)

Option 2: Longest Duration

Set duration for the longest typical case and let shorter appointments end early.

Duration and Availability

Duration directly impacts staff availability:

  • Longer durations = fewer slots per day
  • Shorter durations = more slots per day
  • Mixed services = varied slot patterns The system calculates based on available time minus booked durations.