Free tool
What do no-shows cost you?
Put in three numbers and see what empty tables cost your venue over a year. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere; it all works out on this page.
Not sure of your no-show rate? Count the booked covers that did not turn up last month and divide by all the covers booked. Many UK venues see somewhere between 5% and 15% without reminders.
How to bring the number down
- Send reminders. An email the day before with an easy cancel link turns many no-shows into cancellations you can re-sell. Nabsie does this on every plan, free.
- Text the busy nights. A text reminder and a "still coming?" check a few hours before catch most of the rest (Standard and above).
- Deposits for groups. Big tables are the expensive no-shows. A deposit or card hold all but ends them. See how to take deposits.
- Make cancelling easy. People who cannot cancel easily just do not turn up.
More detail in our guide on how to reduce no-shows.
FAQ
No-show questions
How do you calculate the cost of restaurant no-shows?
Multiply the covers booked each week by your no-show rate, then by your average spend per head, then by 52 for the year. This calculator does it for you.
What is a normal no-show rate for a restaurant?
It varies a lot by venue and booking method. Many UK venues without reminders see between 5% and 15%; reminders, easy cancellation and deposits for groups bring it down sharply.
Do reminder emails really reduce no-shows?
Yes. A reminder with a one tap cancel link gives people who cannot come an easy way to tell you, so the table can be re-booked instead of sitting empty.