Controlling start time intervals in Acuity Scheduling

Use the Start time intervals scheduling limit to control which appointment start times are offered on your scheduling page. For example, if you’re available from 2 PM to 4 PM and set the start time intervals to 30 minutes, clients can book appointments that start at 2 PM, 2:30 PM, 3 PM, and 3:30 PM.

By default, Acuity calculates start time intervals for you. This guide explains how start time intervals work, how to switch to a different start time interval, and how to pick individual start times by updating your availability. 

Default start time intervals

By default, your start time interval is the highest number that can be multiplied into all the different appointment durations available on a particular calendar. For example, if you have a 30-minute appointment type and a 45-minute appointment type on the same calendar, the default start time interval is 15 minutes.

If you have more than one calendar, or are using availability and scheduling limits by appointment type, the start time interval is calculated separately for each calendar or appointment type group. For example, if one of your calendars offers only 45-minute appointments, start time interval on that calendar will be 45 minutes. If you have another calendar that offers 30-minute appointments and the 45-minute appointments, the start time interval on that calendar will be 15 minutes.

Change start time intervals

When you change your start time interval, the new setting applies to all your calendars. However, if you choose to have your start times calculated automatically, the actual interval will vary by calendar.

To pick a new start time interval:

1. In Acuity, click Availability.
2. Click Global scheduling limits, then click Start time intervals.
3. Select Automatically based on your appointment type durations, Every 30 minutes, or Every and enter the number of minutes you want between appointment start times.
4. Click Save.

List start times

If you want start times that don’t follow an even interval, or if you want start times that are different on different calendars, you can list specific start times in your availability.

Instead of entering a time frame, enter each specific start time, separated by commas. For example, instead of entering your availability as 2 PM to 4 PM, enter it as 2 PM, 3 PM, 3:30PM, so that only those three times are available as appointment slots.

You can also combine these start times with the time ranges that use the start time intervals. For example, if you set your start time interval to 30 minutes and enter your availability as 11 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM - 4 PM, clients can book appointments at 11 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 2:30 PM, 3 PM, and 3:30 PM.

Keep in mind

• Acuity doesn't suggest start times that would carry the appointment past the end of your availability. For example, if you're available from 2 PM to 4 PM, the last time for a 30-minute appointment will be 3:30 PM.
• When you block time, Acuity hides any affected start times, but it doesn't stop and recalculate start times based on your blocked time. For example, if you have appointments available at 8:30 AM, 8:50 AM, and 9:10 AM, then block time from 8:30 AM to 9 AM, the first start time after the blocked time will remain 9:10 AM. 
• Start times are calculated based on the base durations of your appointment types. Add-ons aren't included in the calculation.