What Is Buffer Time?
TL;DR
Buffer time is a padding rule on a calendar that blocks a set number of minutes before or after a meeting so nothing else can be booked against it. It exists because back-to-back bookings leave no room for notes, travel, or a call that runs over.
How does buffer time work?
The scheduling tool treats the padding as busy while it renders open slots. With a 15 minute buffer after meetings, a call ending at 14:00 removes 14:00 to 14:15 from the offered times even though the calendar itself shows nothing there.
Buffers apply to the booking surface rather than to the calendar. Colleagues looking at the same calendar see the meeting and not the padding, which is why a buffer prevents a self-serve booking and does not stop a manual invite.
How much buffer time is worth setting?
Enough to write the notes and log the call, which after a 30 minute discovery call is usually 10 to 15 minutes. A leading buffer matters more for meetings held in person, where the gap is travel rather than admin.
Two neighbouring settings finish the job: a minimum notice period, so nothing can land in the next hour, and a daily cap, so a day cannot fill end to end with calls that leave no time to act on any of them.
Frequently asked questions
No. A buffer protects the time around an existing meeting, and a minimum notice period protects the near future by refusing anything booked closer than a set number of hours from now. Most teams need both rules switched on.