> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to set a buffer time

> Keep stock free for a set time before or after every booking, on a SKU or on one stock item, and decide what happens to bookings the new time does not fit.

> [card] [Open in TWICE Admin](https://admin.twicecommerce.com/inventory/skus)
>
> inventory/skus

Set a buffer time on a SKU to keep each of its stock items free before every booking for preparation, and after it for cleaning, servicing or transit: a bike serviced between rentals, a meeting room reset between bookings. [Listing Availability](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/concepts/catalog/availability.md#the-booking-decision) explains how a buffer holds the calendar.

## Prerequisites

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Required permissions:**
>
> * **Create and edit SKUs** (`inventory:sku:manage`) to set it on a SKU.
> * **Create and edit stock items** (`inventory:stock_item_fulfilment:manage`) to set it on one stock item.
>
> Every built-in role holds both, Member included. See [Users & Roles](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/settings/users-roles.md).

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Have ready before you start:**
>
> * **How long the work takes**, before a booking and after it, in minutes, hours or days.
> * **Where it belongs.** Set it on the SKU, which every stock item under it takes. Set it on one stock item only when that unit needs a different time.

## The walkthrough

**1. Open the SKU**

Open **Inventory → SKUs** and click the SKU's row. The SKU opens on its **General** tab.

**2. Open the Fulfilment tab**

Click the **Fulfilment** tab. The **Buffer time** card sits under **Fulfillment fields**, with a **Before each booking** row and an **After each booking** row.

To set the time for one stock item instead, open that stock item's **Fulfilment** tab and click **"Set a custom time for this item"** under the rows. They become editable.

**3. Set the time before each booking**

Enter the preparation time as a number in the **Before each booking** row, and choose its unit, such as hours, in the menu beside it. Leave it at **No limit** for no time before. A bar opens at the top of the page with **Discard** and **Save changes**.

**4. Set the time after each booking**

Enter the time for cleaning, servicing or transit in the **After each booking** row, and choose its unit beside it.

**5. Save the change**

Click **Save changes** in the bar at the top. When the new times fit every booking, the bar closes and every stock item without a time of its own takes them. When they do not fit, the **Buffer time** dialog opens instead.

**6. Read the bookings it would overlap**

Read the heading in the dialog, **"Increasing buffer time would overlap 1 booking"**, and the bookings listed under it with their dates. **View order** opens one of them and discards your change, so you can move that booking and save again.

**7. Keep those bookings on their current buffer**

Select the checkbox under the list, **"This booking keeps its current buffer time"**, then click **Save anyway**. The new times apply to every booking they fit, and the listed ones keep the buffer they had. **Cancel** discards the change instead.

## How do I know it worked?

* **The bar at the top is gone**, and the two rows show the times you set.
* **A stock item under the SKU** shows the same times on its own **Fulfilment** tab, with **"This buffer time is inherited from the SKU."** under them, unless it sets its own.
* **The stock item's Events tab** shows the new times in the **Buffer time** chip on its upcoming order rows.

## Troubleshooting / common pitfalls

> [accordion] The rows are greyed out on a stock item
>
> The stock item takes its times from its SKU. Click **"Set a custom time for this item"** under the rows, or set the time on the SKU. See [Stock Item - Fulfillment](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/inventory/stock-items/fulfillment.md).

> [accordion] The card reads Buffer time cannot be edited for multiple items
>
> You are editing several stock items at once, and bulk editing does not reach buffer time. Set it on their SKU instead. See [SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/concepts/inventory/skus.md#inherited-fields).

> [accordion] A customer's cart reads Not available - start time is too soon
>
> The start is sooner from now than the time before each booking, and the storefront calendar still offers it. Give the listing an order deadline at least as long. See [Listing Availability](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/concepts/catalog/availability.md#the-booking-decision).

## Related articles

> [card] [Listing Availability](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/concepts/catalog/availability.md)
>
> How a buffer holds the calendar around each booking.

> [card] [Availability and preparation](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/guides/inventory/buffer-times-and-bin-locations)
>
> Every walkthrough for availability, buffer times and fulfillment fields.

> [card] [Check availability](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/guides/inventory/check-availability.md)
>
> Find out why a stock item cannot be booked for given dates.

> [card] [Purchase and booking limits](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/guides/catalog/purchase-and-booking-limits.md)
>
> Set the listing's order deadline, which takes starts that are too soon off the calendar.

> [card] [SKU - Fulfillment](https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/inventory/skus/fulfillment.md)
>
> The SKU's Fulfilment tab, card by card.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.