---
title: "Time slots"
description: "Build a time slot template, cap each window, and attach it to a rule. Full slots show as Full, and checkout rejects a sold-out slot."
contentType: "docs"
locale: "en"
localized: true
source: "https://orderrules.com/docs/delivery/time-slots"
slug: "delivery/time-slots"
---
**Time slots let customers pick a delivery window** — like 10:00–12:00 or 14:00–16:00 — alongside the date.

- **Build a template, attach it to a rule.** Windows live in **Time slot templates** (Delivery Dates → More options). Load a carrier preset or build your own, then pick the template in a rule's **Time slot template** field. Slots show under the chosen date on the storefront picker.
- **Cap each window.** Set a **Cap/day** on a window and it can sell out independently of the date.
- **Live sell-out.** Capped slots show how many places remain, and full ones show as *Full* and can't be picked.
- **Enforced at checkout.** The OrderRules Shopify Function rejects a sold-out slot, Shop Pay and other express checkouts included.

At export, windows that match a carrier's time bands map to its **native slot codes** — see [Carrier CSV export](/docs/delivery/carrier-csv-export).

## Date capacity versus slot capacity

The two caps stack, and they answer different questions.

| | Per-date capacity | Per-slot capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Where you set it | Maximum orders per delivery date (Delivery date behavior), one store-wide number | Cap/day on each window in a time slot template |
| What it caps | Total orders for a day | Orders inside one window |
| When it sells out | The whole date greys out | Only that window shows as Full |
| Use it for | A daily production ceiling | Van, crew or oven capacity per window |
| Enforced | At checkout, via Shopify Functions | At checkout, via Shopify Functions |

Set both when a day has a hard total *and* uneven demand across the windows — a full 10:00–12:00 shouldn't close the afternoon.

## Related

- [Capacity limits](/docs/delivery/capacity-limits) · [Availability rules](/docs/delivery/availability-rules) · [Order auto-tagging](/docs/delivery/order-auto-tagging)
- [Capacity calculator](/tools/capacity-calculator): how many orders to allow per slot