Buffer time can preserve a gap between appointments offered through a Google Calendar booking schedule. Use it for preparation, notes, or moving between meetings. It is distinct from the appointment’s duration and from the minimum notice before a visitor can book.
Open the booked appointment settings
On a computer, create or edit the intended Appointment schedule. Review its duration and availability first, then open the booked appointment settings. Google’s guidance provides a buffer time option in this part of the configuration.
Choose an appropriate interval
Enable the buffer setting and enter the intended interval through the available controls. Consider how it interacts with short availability periods and the maximum number of bookings per day. A longer buffer can legitimately reduce the number of offered appointments.
Do not increase the advertised appointment length merely to simulate a private transition period unless that longer meeting is actually what visitors should book. Keep the service duration and the protected gap understandable.
Verify adjacent opportunities
Save and inspect the booking page around an appropriately authorized representative booking. Check the next offered start time and the end of the available period. Avoid making unwanted bookings just to test a customer-facing schedule. Review the actual account’s controls rather than assuming every subscription exposes identical settings. Existing appointments and unrelated calendar events need their own review; a schedule buffer is not proof that every commitment in every calendar has been separated. The useful result is a deliberate gap in the relevant booking workflow, with duration, availability, conflict checking, and daily limits all producing the intended visitor-facing opportunities.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 4, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.