How to Set Default Event Duration in Google Calendar

Google Calendar is one of the most widely used digital calendar tools in both personal and professional settings. One of its time-saving features is the ability to set a default event duration, which streamlines scheduling by pre-filling a time length for newly created events. This guide will walk you through what default duration means, how to change it, and how it works across web and mobile platforms—plus, we’ll explore tips, limitations, and best practices.

What is Default Event Duration?

When you create a new event in Google Calendar, whether by clicking a time slot, pressing the “Create” button, or using the mobile app, the platform assigns a standard length to the event automatically. This is the default event duration.

By default, Google Calendar typically sets new events to 30 minutes. However, many users find that their meetings are more commonly 15, 60, or 90 minutes long. Constantly adjusting the time for every event can become tedious, especially if you schedule many meetings daily. By customizing your default duration, you save time and reduce errors.

It’s important to note that the default duration only applies to new events where you don’t manually adjust the end time. Once you specify a custom duration for an event, that override takes precedence.

How to Set Default Event Duration on Web/Desktop

Changing the default event duration in the web version of Google Calendar is straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Google Calendar in a web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Settings.
4. On the left sidebar, under the “General” category, click on Event settings.
5. You will see a section labeled Default duration or Default meeting length.
6. Click the dropdown menu to choose a new default event duration. Options typically include 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes.
7. Once you make your selection, the change is automatically saved. There is no “Save” button needed.
8. Optionally, you may see a checkbox labeled Speedy meetings. If you enable this, Google will slightly shorten longer meetings to allow a buffer between back-to-back events. For example, a 30-minute event becomes 25 minutes, and a 60-minute meeting becomes 50 minutes.

After setting the new duration, any future events you create—unless you manually override them—will default to this new length.

Using Speedy Meetings

Speedy Meetings is an optional feature designed to reduce meeting fatigue. When turned on, it automatically shortens meetings that are 30 minutes or longer. A 30-minute meeting might become 25 minutes, and an hour-long meeting might be shortened to 50 minutes. This provides breathing room between meetings for breaks, transitions, or quick tasks.  Speedy Meetings only applies if the meeting is scheduled for a standard time slot. If you create a custom event or manually set start and end times, the Speedy Meeting rule may not apply.  Keep in mind that this feature is not enabled by default, and not every user may see it, especially if using an older version of Google Calendar or a business-managed account with restrictions.

How to Set Default Event Duration on Mobile Devices

You can also set the default event duration through the Google Calendar app on your mobile device. The steps are similar on both Android and iOS, though the interface may vary slightly.

1. Open the Google Calendar app on your device.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper left.
3. Scroll down and select Settings.
4. Choose the email account for which you want to set the default duration (if you have multiple Google accounts).
5. Tap on General or Event settings.
6. Look for the option labeled Default event duration.
7. Select your preferred time length from the list of available options.

Just like on desktop, any new event you create through the app will now default to your selected duration unless you manually modify the time.  Be aware that not all versions of the app offer this setting, particularly if it’s not updated or the feature is disabled by policy in a corporate Google Workspace environment.

How the Default Duration Affects Event Creation

Once the default event duration is set, creating new events becomes faster and more consistent. Here’s how it works in real-time:

• When you click on a time slot in your calendar, the pop-up window will show an event starting at the time you clicked and ending at the default duration you set.
• If you open the full event creation window, the start and end times will reflect your default.
• If Speedy Meetings is enabled, the duration may be slightly reduced.
• You can always override the duration on a per-event basis. Changing either the start or end time manually disconnects the event from the default.

This setting is particularly useful for users who schedule many events in a day and want to minimize repetitive manual input.

Considerations for Shared Calendars and Meetings with Guests

When scheduling with others, your default event duration influences how long you initially propose meetings to be. However, invitees can still suggest changes, and if you’re using a shared calendar or booking system, it may impose its own rules.  If you frequently book meetings with clients or teammates, setting a standardized duration can make scheduling more efficient and professional. For instance, if most of your consultations are 60 minutes, having that as your default makes creating new events seamless.  Still, always double-check meeting details, especially when inviting external participants, as they may operate in different time zones or have their own calendar defaults.

Interaction with Google Calendar API

For developers and businesses integrating with Google Calendar using the API, there’s a setting called defaultEventLength, which determines the event’s length in minutes if none is specified during programmatic event creation. When using calendar-based automation or scheduling systems, it’s important to ensure this default matches your business requirements.

Custom calendar apps or services that schedule events on your behalf may rely on this default if explicit durations are not provided. Being aware of this behavior ensures that programmatically created events do not end up too short or too long by mistake.

Common Issues

Despite being a simple feature, the default event duration has a few limitations and caveats:

1. Doesn’t Apply to All Methods of Event Creation
   If you use a third-party booking tool or accept invites from others, your default duration is irrelevant to those events.
2. Changing Start Time May Shift End Time Automatically
   When you change a meeting’s start time, Google Calendar may automatically adjust the end time to preserve your default duration, which can be frustrating if you only want to change the start time.
3. Mobile Syncing Delay
   Changes made on desktop might not immediately apply to mobile apps, especially if the app hasn’t refreshed or if it’s running on an older version.
4. Speedy Meetings Can Be Confusing
   If you don’t realize Speedy Meetings is active, you may be puzzled by why your 30-minute meetings are showing up as 25 minutes. Always double-check if your event was trimmed.
5. Not Available in All Accounts
   Some features like Speedy Meetings or even default duration changes might be restricted in managed enterprise environments.
6. Interface Updates
   Google occasionally changes the design of its Calendar settings interface. If you don’t see the “Event settings” section where expected, look under “General” or similar headings.
7. Limited Granularity
   You can’t set custom durations like 45 minutes or 10 minutes unless you manually adjust them per event. The default options are fixed to specific time blocks.

Best Practices for Setting a Default Duration

To get the most out of this feature, here are some best practices:

• Choose Your Most Frequent Meeting Length: If most of your meetings are 60 minutes, set that as your default. It’ll save the most time.
• Use Speedy Meetings Judiciously: If you have a lot of back-to-back meetings, enabling Speedy Meetings can help reduce burnout.
• Be Consistent Across Devices: Make sure your mobile app and web settings match if you switch devices frequently.
• Communicate with Your Team: Let your colleagues know your standard meeting lengths, so they can align their scheduling with yours.
• Update As Needed: If your workflow changes, don’t forget to revisit your calendar settings and adjust the default accordingly.
• Test After Changing: Create a few test events to ensure the behavior is working as you expect, especially if you’ve enabled Speedy Meetings.

Customizing the default event duration in Google Calendar is a simple yet powerful way to streamline your scheduling process. Whether you run frequent meetings, short check-ins, or client consultations, having the right default duration saves time and ensures consistency.  The feature is easily accessible through both the web interface and the mobile app, and can be further enhanced with optional tools like Speedy Meetings. However, it’s essential to understand how it interacts with shared calendars, guest events, and automated scheduling to avoid confusion.  By selecting a duration that matches your most common event length and staying mindful of how it behaves across devices, you can make Google Calendar work much more efficiently for your daily routines.