Restaurant Reservation Overbooking Buffer Calculator
Use your historical no-show rate to determine how many additional reservations you can safely accept without exceeding capacity.
Recommended Reservations to Accept
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Seating Capacity—
Target Seated Guests—
Recommended Reservations—
Overbooking Buffer—
About this calculator
Calculate how many extra reservations to book above capacity to offset expected no-shows without overcrowding your restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical no-show rate for restaurants?
No-show rates typically range from 5% to 20% depending on reservation policies, deposits, and day of week.
Is overbooking risky?
Yes, overbooking too aggressively can lead to long waits or turning away guests with confirmed reservations, so use conservative estimates.
How can I reduce no-shows to rely less on overbooking?
Requiring deposits, sending reminder texts, and confirming reservations a day in advance can significantly reduce no-show rates.