# Service-based wait estimate: Definition | NextUp Walk-in

Source: https://nextupwalkin.com/glossary/service-based-wait-estimate

> A service-based wait estimate adds up each waiting customer service times instead of using one average. See how it differs and when it is more accurate.

[Glossary](https://nextupwalkin.com/glossary)

# Service-based wait estimate

A service-based wait estimate predicts the wait by adding up how long each waiting customer chosen services will take, rather than using one average for everyone.

Also called: per-service wait, duration-based estimate

The simple way to estimate a wait is to multiply the people ahead by an average visit time. That fails the moment visits differ a lot. A line of three beard trims is not a line of three full color jobs, and an average hides the difference.

A service-based estimate looks at what each person in line actually wants and how long that takes. It also respects who can do the work. If only one stylist does a specific service, the estimate for that service follows that stylist schedule rather than the shop as a whole.

It is only as good as the durations you enter. Services that run long in real life but are listed short will make every quote too low. Review the numbers against what actually happens.

## How NextUp Walk-in handles it

Each location can choose the services method. It plays the line forward using the chosen services, counts how long current visits have run, routes people only to staff who do their services, and keeps a request for a specific person in that person line. Visits with no services use the average.

[How to estimate walk-in wait times](https://nextupwalkin.com/blog/how-to-estimate-walk-in-wait-times)

[Insights](https://nextupwalkin.com/features/insights)

## Questions

Is a service-based estimate more accurate than an average?

Usually, when your services vary a lot in length. If nearly every visit takes about the same time, a simple average does just as well.

## Related terms

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