---
title: "Waiting list for desks: get notified or auto-booked when a desk frees up"
description: "Let people join a waiting list when all desks are taken. They can be notified when a desk frees up, or the desk can be booked automatically."
url: https://help.dibsido.com/en/articles/270-waiting-list-for-desks-get-notified-or-auto-booked-when-a-desk-frees-up
collection: "Desk Booking Features"
updated: 2026-11-10
language: en
---

# Waiting list for desks: get notified or auto-booked when a desk frees up

Let people join a waiting list when all desks are taken. They can be notified when a desk frees up, or the desk can be booked automatically.

When all desks are taken on a day, users can join a waiting list. Depending on your settings, they are either notified when a desk frees up, or the freed desk is booked automatically for the first person in line.

A similar waiting list is available for parking. See [Managing alerts for available parking spots](https://help.dibsido.com/en/articles/81-managing-alerts-for-available-parking-spots.md).

### Turn on the waiting list

1.  Go to Settings → Desks.
    
2.  Open the **Features** tab.
    
3.  Turn on **Alert for available desks**. People can then join a waiting list when all desks are taken, and they are notified when a desk frees up.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p66b3547deb584c8b46c2fbb1/DLtgTfAcarJUSF1sCTGqHJXHcVxMlE5HckTxZ6An5nJrEIuvmC49w4JSyP6YEDtMiSJd1NGllZn.png)

### Automatic booking

Under **Alert for available desks**, turn on **Automatic booking** if you want the freed desk to be booked automatically for the first person in line, instead of sending a notification.

Leave **Automatic booking** off if you only want to send a notification.

### Fair ordering

Turn on **Fair ordering** to prioritize people with fewer reservations in the recent period, instead of first-come-first-served.

If **Fair ordering** is off, the waiting list is first-come-first-served.

### Notifications

Notifications of free desks from the waiting list are sent through the **Notices** notification type. You can use Email, Slack, and Push.

1.  Go to Settings → General.
    
2.  Open the **Notifications** tab.
    
3.  Under **Default settings for employees**, find **Notices** and choose the channels you want to use.
    

### How users join the waiting list

When all desks are taken on a day, users can join the waiting list. They stay on the list until a desk frees up, or until they leave it.

Related articles:

-   [Managing alerts for available parking spots](https://help.dibsido.com/en/articles/81-managing-alerts-for-available-parking-spots.md)