Does buffer time block the calendar?

Yes. Buffer minutes after a service count as busy time — no overlapping bookings during the buffer.

How slots are calculated

How Sway combines hours, blocks, buffers, smart booking, and staff into bookable times.

Quick answer: Sway starts from your open hours, then removes closures, breaks, time off, and existing bookings. Flexible services add a time grid from client start times; smart booking hides awkward gaps. Service duration and buffer define each slot's length.

Incomplete guide3 min readFor BusinessReviewed 9 June 2026

Open Scheduling in Sway

Overview

Available slots are not entered manually — Sway calculates them from your rules each time a customer opens your booking page. Understanding the layers helps when slots look wrong or disappear unexpectedly.

Layer	Where it lives	Effect
Business hours	Scheduling settings	Base open/closed days and times
Booking horizon	Scheduling settings	How far ahead customers can book
Closures & breaks	Scheduling / calendar	Removes specific periods
Staff hours & time off	Team	Per-person availability on Team
Service duration & buffer	Service editor	Slot length and gap after
Client start times	Scheduling settings	Grid spacing for flexible services
Smart booking	Scheduling settings	Hides gap slots that waste calendar space
Existing bookings	Calendar	Occupied times removed

What affects availability

Screenshot coming soon

Every layer must allow a time for it to appear on your booking page.

Before you start

Scheduling settings overviewRead →Flexible scheduling servicesRead →

How each service type works

Flexible 1:1 services
Sway generates start times at your client start time interval (e.g. every 15 or 30 minutes) within open hours, then removes blocked and booked periods. Duration plus buffer must fit before the next booking or closing time.
Screenshot coming soon
Greyed-out times are blocked, booked, or filtered by smart booking.
Fixed sessions & one-off events
Customers pick from defined session times, not a free grid. A session is unavailable when at capacity, blocked, or past your booking horizon.
Smart booking
When enabled, Sway hides start times that would leave an unusable gap before your next booking or closing time — packing your calendar more efficiently.
Screenshot coming soon
Turn smart booking off if you want every grid slot visible.
Team & staff assignment
For services with assigned staff, a slot is only shown if at least one eligible team member is free, within their hours, and not on time off.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Manual bookings can be placed outside customer rules. Check horizon, buffers, smart booking, and staff assignment.

Still need help?

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