Scheduling Settings

Scheduling settings give you precise control over how long appointments last, how much space goes between them, and how far in advance customers can book. These settings work per appointment type, so you can tailor them to each service.

Where to find scheduling settings

1. Navigate to the Appointment Types page.

2. Click the appointment type you want to configure.

3. Open the Scheduling section in the editor.

Duration range

The duration range defines how long an appointment of this type can be:

• Minimum duration — The shortest possible appointment. Default is 30 minutes.

• Maximum duration — The longest possible appointment. Default is 2 hours.

Fixed-length appointments

If every appointment of this type takes the same amount of time, set the minimum and maximum to the same value. For example, a standard "AC Tune-Up" that always takes 1 hour would have both set to 60 minutes.

Variable-length appointments

If appointment length depends on the job, set a range. For example, a "Roof Inspection" might take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on the size of the roof.

When you set a range, you can use Duration Rules to automatically calculate the actual duration based on answers to booking questions. For example: "If roof size is over 3,000 sqft, add 60 minutes to the base duration."

Buffer minutes

Buffer time is the gap between the end of one appointment and the start of the next. It gives your team time to travel, clean up, prepare materials, or simply take a break.

How it works:

• The buffer is added after each appointment of this type.

• During booking, Driive checks that the time between this appointment's end and the next event is at least as long as the buffer.

• Buffers apply to the team member's full schedule — both Driive appointments and synced external events.

Recommended settings by service type:

Tip: It's better to start with a slightly longer buffer and shorten it later. Over-scheduling with tight buffers leads to late arrivals, which frustrate customers.

Minimum booking window

The minimum booking window controls how far in advance a customer must book. It prevents last-minute bookings that your team can't prepare for.

• Default: 24 hours — Customers must book at least 24 hours ahead.

• Setting it to 0 — Allows same-day booking (useful for emergency services).

• Setting it to 48 or 72 hours — Gives your team more prep time.

Examples

Maximum booking window

The maximum booking window controls how far out customers can book. It prevents bookings so far in the future that your schedule or pricing might change.

• Default: 90 days — Customers can book up to 90 days ahead.

• Setting it shorter (30 days) — Good if your schedule changes frequently.

• Setting it longer (180 days) — Useful for seasonal services that customers plan well ahead.

Finding the right balance

A shorter window keeps your calendar predictable. A longer window captures customers who plan ahead. Consider your industry:

• Seasonal businesses (landscaping, snow removal) — Longer windows let customers lock in dates early.

• On-demand services (emergency repair) — Shorter windows keep the schedule manageable.

• Recurring maintenance (HVAC tune-ups) — Moderate windows (60-90 days) work well.

How these settings work together

Here's an example of how all four settings combine for an appointment type called "Roof Inspection":

With these settings:

• A customer can book a Roof Inspection between 1 day and 90 days from now.

• The appointment will last between 1 and 2 hours (exact duration may be set by duration rules).

• After the inspection ends, the assigned team member's next available slot starts 30 minutes later.

Next steps

• Duration Rules — Set up variable durations that adjust automatically based on booking question answers.

• Team Eligibility — Control which team members can be scheduled for this type.

• Creating an Appointment Type — Go back to the creation wizard if you're setting up a new type.