> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.limecall.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.limecall.com/ai-receptionist/calendar-and-booking.md).

# Calendar & booking

Let callers book straight into your calendar.

Open **AI Receptionist → Calendar & Booking**.

## What it does

The assistant can check real availability and book an appointment during the call — not promise a callback to arrange one.

## Connect a calendar

Connect your calendar under **Settings → Scheduling** or via [Google Calendar](/integrations/google-calendar.md).

The assistant reads free/busy from the connected calendar, so existing commitments are respected without you maintaining a separate availability list.

## Booking rules

**Which calendar** to book into, when more than one is connected.

**Appointment length** — the default duration. Different call types can book different lengths, so a consultation and a quick check-in do not have to be the same.

**Buffer** — time either side of a booking. Without it, back-to-back appointments leave no room to travel, write up notes or take a breath.

**Notice period** — how soon someone can book. Setting this to two hours stops a caller booking a slot fifteen minutes from now that nobody can make.

**How far ahead** — the booking window. Too far and you fill your calendar with appointments people forget about.

## Availability

Booking availability follows your business hours by default, and can be narrowed further — you may be open all day but only take appointments in the afternoons.

Each team member's own hours also apply if bookings go into individual calendars. See [Hours](/callback/hours.md).

## What the caller gives you

Set the fields collected at booking. Name and contact details are the minimum; add whatever your team needs to prepare.

For call types set to **Book into my calendar**, the fields on that call type are collected too. See [Scenarios & call types](/ai-receptionist/scenarios-and-call-types.md).

## Confirmations

Set a confirmation to the caller by SMS or email when a booking is made, and a reminder before it.

Reminders reduce no-shows more than anything else you can configure here. A reminder the day before, and a short one on the day, is the standard pattern.

## Rescheduling and cancelling

The assistant can reschedule or cancel an existing booking on request, if it can identify the caller and find the booking. Caller memory helps here — see [Caller memory](/ai-receptionist/caller-memory.md).

## Double-booking

Because availability is read live at the moment of booking, two callers cannot take the same slot.

If you also book from elsewhere — a paper diary, a separate system — those bookings are invisible to the assistant unless they are on the connected calendar. Keep one source of truth.

## Test it

Book a real appointment through the assistant and confirm it appears in the calendar with the right time, duration and details attached. Then cancel it.