> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cal.id/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Event Buffers or Break between the Events
> Add padding time before or after your Cal ID events so you never end up with back-to-back meetings and always have space to prepare or wrap up.
In **Cal ID**, **Event Buffers** automatically add "padding" before or after your appointments so you always have time to prep, take a breath, or wrap up notes, and never end up with back-to-back meetings.
## Adding buffer time to your events
Buffer times are "blocked" periods on your calendar that guests cannot book. They act as a protective layer around your meetings.
### Why use event buffers?
* **Avoid exhaustion:** Prevent back-to-back calls that leave you no time to even grab water.
* **Prep and wrap-up:** Use "Before" buffers to prepare for a call and "After" buffers to finish your meeting notes.
* **Travel time:** If you meet in person, buffers provide the time needed to get from one location to another.
## How to set up buffers
Click on **Event Types** in the left sidebar.
Click on the event you want to edit (e.g., "Introductory Call").
Click on the **Limits** tab in the top menu bar of the event editor.
* **After Event:** Enter the number of minutes you want free **after** every booking.
* **Before Event:** Enter the number of minutes you want free **before** every booking.
Click the **Save** button at the top right.
## How it works with availability
* **Invisible to guests:** Guests don't see your buffer times; they simply see those slots as "Unavailable" on your booking page.
* **Automatic calculation:** If you have a 30-minute meeting with a 15-minute "After" buffer, Cal ID will block a total of 45 minutes on your calendar to ensure you stay protected.
* **Multiple durations:** If you use **Multiple Durations**, the buffer applies to whichever length the guest chooses.
A common setup is a 5-minute "Before" buffer for quick prep and a 10-minute "After" buffer for follow-up tasks. For team-based meetings, buffers apply to the specific team member who is booked, keeping their individual schedule manageable.
## An example
Given the availability from 9am to 5pm (09:00-17:00) and a 60-minute event with a 30-minute buffer before and a 30-minute buffer after, the total calendar time required for an event is indeed 120 minutes. But the buffer is applied around busy times and **not to the start or end of the working day**. So, in this scenario (considering you didn't modify the **Custom time-slot intervals** in this example):
1. The first available time slot starts at 9am. The buffer before doesn't push this since there's no preceding busy time.
2. The event itself is for 60 minutes.
3. There's a 30-minute buffer before and 30-minute buffer after the event. But again, if there's no following busy time immediately after, this buffer doesn't push the next available slot.
Thus, the sequence is:
* **9:00-10:00am**: First available slot
* a. **10:00-11:00am**: If Slot 1 is booked, this slot will be blocked as buffer (after) to allow the buffer period relative to the 9-10am slot.
* b. **10:00-11:00am**: If Slot 1 is free, this slot will be free.
* c. **10:00-11:00am**: If Slot 2 (10:00-11:00) is booked, since booking slot 1 (9:00-10:00) would imply that there will not be an after buffer (as 10-11 is already booked). Hence, slot 1 will not remain bookable anymore.
## Related topics
- [Minimum Notice for the Booking](/docs/event-types/limits/minimum-notice.md)
- [Custom or Fixed Time-Slot Intervals](/docs/event-types/limits/time-slot-intervals.md)
- [Limit Booking Frequency](/docs/event-types/limits/booking-frequency.md)
- [How to set Availability for an Event type?](/docs/event-types/setup/event-availability.md)
- [Limit total Booking Duration](/docs/event-types/limits/total-duration.md)