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

# Capacity & Rooms

> Control how many guests you can seat, how long tables are held, and which rooms customers can book.

These settings decide **how much availability** a shift offers and **where** guests are seated. Get them right and your online availability matches your real-world capacity.

<Note>
  Capacity and room settings live in the **Advanced settings** card on the **General** tab. Dining duration and strict seating are in the **Advanced** tab.
</Note>

## Tables or covers?

The **Availability type** is the most important choice here — it changes how availability is counted.

| Type       | How availability is counted                                    | Best for                                                |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Tables** | From your **floor plan** — the system tracks individual tables | Restaurants that assign real tables                     |
| **Covers** | A simple **number of seats** you enter, no specific tables     | Venues without a detailed floor plan, or volume booking |

* With **Tables**, total capacity is calculated automatically from your floor plan — you don't set a number.
* With **Covers**, you enter a **Total capacity** (total guests the shift can serve).

## Rooms

Decide which rooms a shift uses and whether customers get a say.

* **All rooms** — on by default. Turn it off to pick specific **allowed rooms** for this shift (e.g. a dinner shift that only uses the main dining room).
* **Allow room selection** — let customers choose their preferred room when booking.
* **Mandatory room selection** — require them to choose a room.
* **Show room images** — display a photo of each room to help customers decide.

<Accordion title="Setting capacity per room (Covers mode)">
  When you use **Covers** *and* allow room selection, you can set a **capacity per room** so each room respects its own seat count. The shift's total capacity is then the sum of its rooms.
</Accordion>

## Average dining duration

**Average durations** tell the system how long a table is occupied, so it doesn't offer a table that won't be free in time. The default is **120 minutes**.

You can add **custom durations by group size** — for example a couple stays 90 minutes but a party of 8 stays 150. This keeps availability realistic for every party size.

<Tip>
  If you see tables looking "full" sooner than expected, your average duration may be too long. If you're getting double-booked, it may be too short.
</Tip>

## Strict seating

By default, a table frees up for new bookings once its expected duration passes. Turn on **Strict seating calculation** (Advanced tab) to instead hold a table until the reservation is actually marked **completed** — even if its time is up. Use this when you'd rather protect a seated party's table than reclaim it on a timer.

## Isolated availability

By default, shifts that overlap in time **share** the same tables, so a booking in one reduces availability in the other. Turn on **Isolated availability calculation** (Advanced tab) to make this shift's bookings **not affect** other shifts.

<Warning>
  Only isolate a shift when it genuinely uses separate capacity (for example a private-room-only shift). Isolating a shift that shares tables with another can lead to **double-booking** the same tables.
</Warning>

## FAQ

**Why can't I edit Total capacity?**

In **Tables** mode it's calculated from your floor plan. In **Covers** mode with per-room capacities, it's the sum of the rooms. Switch to a plain Covers setup to enter a single number.

**What's the difference between strict seating and strict end?**

**Strict seating** holds a table after its time is up until you mark the party done.
[**Strict end**](/shifts/schedule#strict-end-of-service), labelled **Free the tables at a fixed time**,
shortens online stays to finish at the chosen time; staff apply it through an explicit choice.
It does not automatically complete a reservation. You can combine both settings, updating statuses
when guests leave.