How to create your first event type on Calendly

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Creating your first event type on Calendly involves logging into your account, clicking 'Create' to add a new event type, configuring the basic details like name and duration, and setting your availability preferences. Once configured, you can share the booking link with others to start accepting scheduled meetings.

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Prerequisites

A Calendly account (free or paid)
Access to your calendar application
Basic understanding of your scheduling needs
Completed Calendly profile setup

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access your Calendly dashboard

Log into your Calendly account and navigate to your main dashboard. You'll see your current event types (if any) listed in the center of the screen. Click the + Create button located in the top-right corner of your dashboard to begin creating a new event type.

If this is your first time using Calendly, you might see a welcome screen with setup prompts - follow these for a guided experience.

Choose your event type template

Calendly will present you with several event type templates. For your first event, select One-on-One which is the most common option. You can also choose from templates like Group Event, Collective Event, or Round Robin depending on your needs. Click Next to proceed with your selected template.

Start with a simple One-on-One event type to get familiar with the process before exploring more complex options.

Configure basic event details

Fill in the essential information for your event type:

Event name: Enter a clear, descriptive name like "30-Minute Consultation" or "Discovery Call"
Duration: Select the length of your meeting (15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or set a custom duration)
Description: Add details about what the meeting will cover
Location: Choose between phone call, video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, etc.), or in-person meeting

Click Next when finished.

Keep your event name professional and specific to help invitees understand exactly what they're booking.

Set your availability

Configure when you're available for this event type:

Choose your Available hours by selecting days of the week and time ranges
Set Date range to specify how far in advance people can book (e.g., 7 days, 30 days, or indefinitely)
Configure Buffer time before and after events if you need preparation time
Set minimum scheduling notice (e.g., 24 hours in advance)

Review your settings and click Next.

Be realistic about your availability - it's better to offer fewer time slots that you can consistently honor than to overcommit.

Customize booking questions

Add questions that invitees must answer when booking:

Keep the default Name and Email fields which are required
Click + Add Question to include custom questions like "What would you like to discuss?" or "How did you hear about us?"
Choose question types: short text, long text, multiple choice, or phone number
Mark questions as required or optional using the toggle switch

Click Next to continue.

Limit custom questions to 2-3 essential ones to avoid overwhelming your invitees during booking.

Configure notifications and confirmations

Set up email notifications and calendar settings:

Choose your Calendar connection (Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.) where events will be added
Configure Email notifications for both you and your invitees
Set up Reminder emails to be sent automatically before the meeting
Customize the Confirmation message that invitees see after booking

Review all settings and click Create Event Type.

Enable email reminders 24 hours before meetings to reduce no-shows.

Test and share your event type

Your event type is now created! To start using it:

Click Copy Link to get your unique scheduling URL
Test the booking process by opening the link in an incognito browser window
Share the link via email, embed it on your website, or add it to your email signature
Monitor your Scheduled Events tab to see incoming bookings

You can edit your event type anytime by clicking the Edit button on your dashboard.

Always test your booking link yourself before sharing it publicly to ensure everything works as expected.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

My calendar isn't syncing with Calendly

Go to Account Settings > Calendar Connections and reconnect your calendar. Make sure you've granted all necessary permissions and check that your calendar service isn't experiencing outages.

Invitees can't see available time slots

Check your Available hours settings and ensure you haven't set your date range too restrictively. Also verify that your connected calendar doesn't have conflicting events blocking the time slots.

I'm not receiving booking notifications

Check your Notification Settings and ensure email notifications are enabled. Also check your spam folder and add Calendly's email address to your contacts or safe senders list.

The booking link isn't working

Ensure your event type is Active (not paused) by checking the toggle switch on your dashboard. If the problem persists, try copying the link again or contact Calendly support.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Calendly website before purchasing.

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