Queues are the service lanes of your waitlist. Use them to organize guests by service type, priority, or any other category that fits your workflow.
When to Use This Article
You want to add, edit, or delete a queue
You want to understand queue settings like Max Capacity, Daily Service Cap, and Wait Time Method
You want to reorder, deactivate, or reactivate a queue
You want to understand how position in line is calculated across queues
What Is a Queue?
A queue is a unique service lane for your waitlist. Your queues typically correspond with the services you offer. Each guest is assigned to a queue when they join, and you can filter the waitlist to see who is waiting for what.
Adding a Queue
Go to the Queues settings page.
Two default queues (Queue 1 and Queue 2) are created automatically when you sign up. You can rename, modify, or delete these at any time.
Click the New Queue button at the bottom of the page.
Fill out the Add Queue form with your preferred settings:
Name - What you'd like to call this queue.
Max Capacity - Sets a running limit on the number of guests actively waiting in this queue. When the limit is reached, new guests cannot join until the count drops below the cap. Think of this as a throttle to prevent the queue from building up too quickly.
Daily Service Cap - Sets a hard cap on the total number of guests serviced through this queue each day. Resets at 12:00am in your local timezone. Cancelled guests do not count toward the cap.
Wait Time Method - Choose how estimated wait time is calculated for this queue. See Wait Time Methods to decide which method fits your business.
How many entries to count in average - If using an average wait time method, define how many past entries to include. Default is 30.
Custom Fields - Assign specific Custom Fields to this queue if you only want certain fields to appear for guests in this lane.
Click Create to save the new queue.
Editing a Queue
Go to the Queues settings page.
Click the More (...) icon to the right of the queue you want to change, then click Edit.
Update any settings in the Edit Queue form.
Click Save to confirm your changes.
Reordering Queues
On the Queues settings page, click and drag the icon to the left of a queue name to move it to your preferred position.
On the iOS or Android app, make sure you click and hold the drag icon before moving.
Deactivating a Queue
Go to the Queues settings page.
Click the More (...) icon to the right of the queue, then click Deactivate.
Confirm the deactivation in the pop-up.
The queue will no longer appear in your waitlist or any guest-facing forms. You can reactivate it at any time.
Reactivating a Queue
Go to the Queues settings page.
Click the More (...) icon to the right of the deactivated queue, then click Reactivate.
Confirm the reactivation in the pop-up.
The queue will reappear in your waitlist and guest-facing forms.
Deleting a Queue
You must have at least one active queue for the waitlist to function. If you don't see a Delete option for a queue, it is likely your only remaining active queue. Consider deactivating instead of deleting if you may need the queue again - deleted queues cannot be restored.
Go to the Queues settings page.
Click the More (...) icon to the right of the queue, then click Delete.
Confirm the deletion in the pop-up. Deleted queues cannot be recovered.
Position in Line
The Ordering Method setting on your General Settings page controls what position number a guest sees when they join the waitlist.
Each Queue - Guests see their position relative to others in their own queue only. For example, if there are 3 guests in Queue A and 4 in Queue B, the next guest added to Queue B sees position 5.
All Queues - Guests see their position across all queues combined. Using the same example, the next guest added to Queue B would see position 8.
When a guest is moved to In Service status, their position is hidden entirely on the Virtual Waiting Room to avoid confusion - "Not Currently In Line" is no longer shown.
FAQ
How many queues can I have?
There is no hard limit on the number of queues you can create. For restaurants, NextMe makes it easier to add queues beyond the standard top sizes. Add as many as your workflow requires.
What is the difference between Max Capacity and Daily Service Cap?
Max Capacity limits how many guests can be actively waiting in a queue at one time - it acts like a throttle. Daily Service Cap limits the total number of guests served through a queue in a single day - it is a hard stop. You can use one, both, or neither depending on your needs.
Can I assign different custom fields to different queues?
Yes. When creating or editing a queue, use the Custom Fields setting to select which fields apply to that queue. Guests assigned to that queue will only see those fields.
What happens to guests in a queue when I deactivate it?
Guests already on the waitlist in that queue are not affected. Deactivating a queue prevents new guests from being assigned to it and removes it from guest-facing forms. You can reactivate the queue at any time.
Can I transfer a guest from one queue to another?
Yes. On the waitlist, click the queue name displayed beneath a guest's name and select a new queue from the dropdown. The guest is transferred instantly. See the Queue Transfer article for more detail.
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