---
title: "Date Overrides"
description: "Date overrides let you modify your availability for specific dates, handling holidays, vacations, special schedules, and one-off changes."
url: https://help.salescal.ai/en/articles/2-date-overrides
collection: "Availability"
updated: 2026-10-19
language: en
---

# Date Overrides

Date overrides let you modify your availability for specific dates, handling holidays, vacations, special schedules, and one-off changes.

## What Are Date Overrides?

Overrides take precedence over your weekly schedule for specific dates:

-   **Block entire days** - Mark dates as completely unavailable
    
-   **Custom hours** - Set different hours than your usual schedule
    
-   **One-time availability** - Open up times on normally blocked days
    

## Creating an Override

1.  Go to **Availability** in the sidebar
    
2.  Find the **Date Overrides** section
    
3.  Click **Add Override**
    
4.  Select the date
    
5.  Choose the override type:
    
    -   **Unavailable**: Block the entire day
        
    -   **Custom Hours**: Set specific hours for that day
        
6.  Save the override
    

## Override Types

### Unavailable (Full Day Block)

Mark a day as completely unavailable:

-   No time slots will be shown for this date
    
-   Overrides your weekly schedule entirely
    
-   Use for: Holidays, vacation days, personal days
    

**Example:** December 25th - Block entire day for Christmas

### Custom Hours

Set specific hours different from your weekly schedule:

-   Only these hours will be available
    
-   Replaces your regular schedule for that day
    
-   Use for: Half days, special events, adjusted schedules
    

**Example:** Friday December 24th - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM only (half day before holiday)

## Managing Overrides

### Viewing Overrides

-   See all overrides in a list or calendar view
    
-   Past overrides may be hidden by default
    
-   Filter by date range
    

### Editing Overrides

1.  Find the override in your list
    
2.  Click to edit
    
3.  Modify the date, type, or hours
    
4.  Save changes
    

### Deleting Overrides

1.  Find the override
    
2.  Click the delete button
    
3.  Confirm deletion
    
4.  Your weekly schedule will apply to that date again
    

## Use Cases

### Holidays

Block standard holidays for your region:

-   New Year's Day
    
-   Independence Day
    
-   Thanksgiving
    
-   Christmas
    

**Tip:** Set these up at the beginning of each year.

### Vacation

Block your vacation dates in advance:

-   Prevents any bookings during your time off
    
-   Existing bookings before the override will still show
    

### Adjusted Hours

Handle special circumstances:

-   Early close before holidays
    
-   Doctor appointments
    
-   Travel days with limited availability
    

### One-Time Availability

Open availability on normally closed days:

-   Weekend catch-up day
    
-   Special client accommodation
    
-   Event day with extended hours
    

## Date Range Overrides

If your system supports date ranges:

1.  Select a start date
    
2.  Select an end date
    
3.  Apply the override to all dates in the range
    

**Example:** Block December 23rd through January 2nd for holiday break.

## How Overrides Interact with Events

Overrides affect all your events:

-   A blocked date blocks all events
    
-   Custom hours apply to all events
    
-   Individual events cannot override the override
    

If you need different availability per event, consider:

-   Creating separate events with different schedules
    
-   Using calendar blocking strategically
    

## Override Priority

When determining availability:

1.  **Date Override** - Checked first (highest priority)
    
2.  **Weekly Schedule** - Used if no override exists
    
3.  **Calendar Events** - Block times within available hours
    

**Example:**

-   Weekly schedule: 9 AM - 5 PM
    
-   Override for Jan 15: 9 AM - 12 PM
    
-   Calendar event Jan 15: 10 AM - 11 AM
    
-   **Result:** Available slots are 9:00, 9:30, 11:00, 11:30 only
    

## Best Practices

### Plan Ahead

-   Set holiday overrides at the start of each year
    
-   Add vacation blocks as soon as dates are confirmed
    
-   Review overrides quarterly
    

### Use Descriptive Notes

If your system supports notes/labels:

-   Add reasons for overrides
    
-   Helps when reviewing later
    
-   "Holiday - MLK Day", "Vacation - Family trip"
    

### Don't Over-Block

-   Only block what's necessary
    
-   Consider custom hours instead of full blocks
    
-   Leave some flexibility when possible
    

### Communicate Changes

-   Notify existing leads if their options change
    
-   Update website/marketing if availability shifts significantly
    

## Troubleshooting

### Override Not Applying

-   Verify the date is correct
    
-   Check that the override is saved
    
-   Ensure it's not a past date (may not display)
    

### Can't Override a Past Date

-   Past dates cannot be modified
    
-   Only future dates accept overrides
    
-   Historical bookings are unaffected
    

### Wrong Hours Showing

-   Check if an override exists for that date
    
-   Verify the override hours are correct
    
-   Clear any conflicting overrides
    

## Related Guides

-   [Weekly Schedule](https://help.salescal.ai/en/articles/6970fd6e41c36e4c57c117c4.md) - Your recurring availability
    
-   [Creating Events](https://help.salescal.ai/en/articles/6971f29738cb61cc9900fca7.md) - Event-specific settings
    
-   [Google Calendar](https://help.salescal.ai/en/articles/6971f8b42949c1afc3363da8.md) - Sync calendar blocks