Recommended times by service
These are recommended booking durations — the time you block in your calendar, including the service and a small buffer. Actual service time may be shorter:
| Service | Recommended booking time |
|---|---|
| Gel polish — standard | 60 min |
| Gel polish — with simple nail art | 75 min |
| Gel polish — with complex nail art | 90 min |
| Soak off and re-polish | 75 min |
| Infill / maintenance (gel extension) | 75 min |
| Infill with shape change | 90 min |
| Infill with nail art | 90–105 min |
| Gel-X full set | 90 min |
| Builder gel / BIAB full set | 90 min |
| Full acrylic set | 105–120 min |
| Full acrylic with nail art | 135–150 min |
| Full removal | 60–75 min |
| New client consultation + service | Add 15 min to standard time |
What makes services run longer
- New clients: Consultation, patch tests, and unfamiliarity with the process all add time
- Nail condition: Overgrown extensions, severe lifting, or broken nails require more prep and repair time
- Nail art complexity: Detailed designs, multiple colours, or new techniques take significantly more time than simple colour work
- Shape change: Filing a significantly different shape adds 15–20 minutes of filing and checking time
- Removal: If you're removing a different brand's product or an unusually thick set, soak and removal time varies
- Client factors: A client who talks, moves, or has difficult-to-work-on nails (very curved nail beds, bitten nails) adds time to every stage
Buffer time between appointments
- Always build a gap between appointments — 10–15 minutes is a sensible minimum
- This gap lets you clean and sanitise your station, prepare your products, have a moment before the next client arrives, and absorb minor overruns without stress
- Without buffer time, a single appointment that runs 10 minutes long causes every subsequent appointment to be late
- Some booking systems let you set a "clean-up time" per service type, which automatically adds a gap after each appointment
Setting up appointment durations in your system
- Set each service to its recommended booking duration in your booking software — this is the total time blocked in your calendar
- If your software supports it, split the service duration from the processing/cleanup time — so clients see the service length, but your calendar blocks more time
- Review your average actual appointment times monthly for the first six months and adjust your booking durations to match reality
- A booking system that reflects how long things actually take prevents double-booking, client lateness, and a day that spirals from the first overrun
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Start free →Frequently asked questions
Should I book the same time for all clients for the same service?
For most returning clients doing the same service, yes. For new clients, add a 15-minute consultation buffer to any appointment. For clients who regularly run long, consider setting their appointment slot longer than standard — this is more honest and sustainable than hoping they'll be quicker next time.
What happens if I consistently run over on a service?
If you're regularly running over the booked time, the appointment duration is wrong — not your speed. Adjust your service time upward to match what the service actually takes you. Padding appointment times feels counterintuitive but results in a calmer day, better work quality, and fewer late clients.
