- The as-of time is at the top, with its time zone.
- Ranges are shown instead of single exact minutes.
- The board says the figures are estimates, and it names who can give the current number.
- Each time window has a range for each kind of day, or says that it does not apply.
- Closures, delays and unusual events each have a dated line of their own.
- Party size assumptions are stated where readers can see them.
- The next review date is on the page, and someone is named to carry it out.
- Every link to a form or contact has been opened and goes to the right place.
Technical & ProductContent Creator
Wait time dashboard: typical waits with an as-of time, not a live count
A wait time dashboard shows the waits you enter when you create the page, such as typical times by part of the day, along with the time they were set. Because the page does not read a queue or a sensor, it suits estimates that change slowly and that you can review on a fixed schedule. For live counts that change by the minute, use a queue management tool built for that job.
Example excerpt
Sample board: typical waits at a restaurant
Sample section
Illustrative example: the restaurant, its name and its times are fictional. Typical waits at Juniper Kitchen Last set: Friday, October 9, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Pacific. These are estimates for parties of two to four, not guarantees. Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: usually 10 to 20 minutes on weekdays, and 25 to 40 minutes on Saturdays. Dinner, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: usually 20 to 35 minutes on weekdays, and 40 minutes or more on Friday and Saturday evenings. Late dinner, after 7:30 p.m.: usually under 15 minutes. Large parties of six or more are seated by reservation only. For the current estimate, ask at the host stand. How these figures are set A team member reviews the seating times from the previous four weeks every Sunday. A range changes only when the new figures move it by more than five minutes, and the last-set time changes with it. What this board does not show How many people are waiting right now. Ask the host stand for that.
Section outline
What a typical-wait board needs to say
Scope and as-of time
The date and time the figures were set, the party size they assume, and what the board does not cover.
60 wordsTypical waits by time window
A short table or list: each time window, a range for each kind of day, and the days it does not apply to.
150 wordsCurrent conditions
Any closure, delay or unusual event, each on a dated line with the time it was added.
80 wordsWhen the wait is longer
The alternatives: a reservation, a sign-up form for a waitlist, or the staff route for a current estimate.
100 wordsNext review
The day and time the team will check and reset the figures, and who is responsible for doing it.
50 words
Total: 440 words
Quality checklist
Check the board before it goes public
Mistakes to avoid
Ways a wait board misleads people
Calling a snapshot live
A title such as Live wait times makes readers trust numbers that may be a week old. Call the page typical waits, and show the as-of time next to the figures.
Publishing exact minutes
A figure such as 14 minutes suggests a precision that a typical wait cannot have. Show a range, and say how the range was estimated.
Letting the figures go stale
A board set in the spring can mislead readers in the autumn. Set a review date, and take the figures down when you cannot check them.
Using the board for urgent needs
If the page is for a clinic, an emergency department or any service where waiting carries risk, say that the figures are estimates and that urgent needs go to emergency services or to staff at once.
Forgetting people who cannot see the page
Guests in line may have no signal or may not know the page exists. Put the same figures and the as-of time on a printed copy at the entrance, and check that the printed copy matches the page.
Share the finished page
Share the board where decisions get made
Public link
Share the public link where people decide whether to come, such as your website, booking confirmations or a message to people on your list. Every reader should see the same as-of time.
Team link
Let staff who are workspace members check the figures before the page goes public, and use the same numbers when they answer the phone or the door.
WhatsApp share button
Send the link to a group you already message, with the as-of time written in the message itself.
HTML download
Download the HTML file to keep a copy of each set of figures, named with the date they were set, so you can show what was published on a given day.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wait time dashboard live?
No. The figures are the ones you enter when you generate the page. They stay as they are until someone sets new ones and generates the page again. The page does not read a queue, a sensor or a booking system.
How often should I update the figures?
Review them on a fixed schedule you can keep, such as weekly, and sooner when a pattern changes, such as new opening hours or a seasonal peak. Put the next review date on the page so readers know when to expect a check.
What is the difference between a waitlist and a wait time board?
A board shows how long people usually wait. A waitlist holds a place in line for a specific party. The page can link to a sign-up form for a waitlist, but it does not hold the list itself.
Can I show how many people are in line?
Not with this page. A live count needs a tool connected to your queue that updates by the minute. Use a queue management tool for that, and use this page for typical waits and rules that change slowly.
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Follow the eight-step wizard: type, assets and description, images, branding, contact and call to action, Atty Suggestions, blueprint, and generate. Atty generates one HTML page in the background. Review it, then publish and share the page link or download the HTML file.
