Close your calendar for holidays, closures and busy afternoons
Block single dates, date ranges or just part of a day, for each location and each method. Customers can't pick a blocked date, and orders you already have stay as they are.
Included on every paid plan. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial.
Blockout dates
Store pickup · Main Street
Max available days
30
Add selected dates
In the cart
Pickup date
Blocked: can't be picked
Morning slots only
What are blockout dates in Bird?
In Bird Pickup & Delivery, the Shopify app by BirdChime, blockout dates are days or hours customers can't pick for pickup, delivery or shipping. Block a single date, a range, or a time window on a date, for each location. They stop new bookings only; existing orders don't change.
- What you block
- Single dates, date ranges, or a time window on a date
- Scope
- Per location for pickup and delivery; one list for shipping
- Many stores
- Add the same dates to several locations at once
- Booking window
- Max available days limits how far ahead customers can book
- Existing orders
- Not affected; blocks stop new bookings only
- Plan
- Included on every paid plan
- Price
- Paid plans from $19.99 a month, with a 14-day free trial
What can I block?
Whole days, runs of days, or part of a day.
- Single dates
Pick one or more separate dates in one go, for holidays and one-off closures.
- Date range
Block a continuous run of dates, such as a two-week summer break.
Add a start and end time to block only that window. Other slots that day stay open.
- Booking window
Max available days sets how far ahead customers can book, for each location and method. Today counts as day 1, and blocked dates count toward the total.
- Not a cut-off
A cut-off time doesn't close a date. After it, new orders get a longer lead time, so the earliest date moves later.
What does a holiday setup look like?
Examples from the help center, and what customers see.
- Christmas Eve afternoon
Block December 24 from 2:00 PM to 11:59 PM. Morning deliveries stay on offer; the afternoon and evening don't.
- Lead time plus a closure
It's 10:00 AM Monday, preparation time is 2 days and Wednesday to Friday is blocked. The earliest date a customer sees is Saturday.
- After the cut-off
It's 3:00 PM Monday, the cut-off was 2:00 PM and the lead time after it is 2 days, so Wednesday is the earliest date. Wednesday is blocked, so customers see Thursday.
- A 30-day window
Max available days is 30 and 5 of those days are blocked. Customers see 25 dates they can pick.
- Three stores, three plans
Downtown blocks December 24 to 26, the suburban store blocks December 25 only, and a third zone delivers every day.
Can each store and method have its own blockout dates?
Yes. Pickup and delivery have their own dates at each location, and shipping has one list.
Each store's pickup and delivery settings carry their own blockout dates.
- Shipping
Shipping blockout dates are set once, in Bird's Shipping settings.
- All stores at once
Select several locations, choose pickup, delivery or both, and add the same dates in one step. Shipping keeps its own list.
- Append or replace
Append adds the new dates and keeps existing ones. Replace removes every existing blockout date on those locations first.
How do blockout dates work with my lead time?
Both apply. The stricter rule wins for each date.
Preparation time hides dates too soon to fulfil, and blockout dates hide the dates you've closed.
- Not weekly
Blockout dates are for specific dates. To close every Sunday, switch the weekday off in your availability settings instead.
- Nothing left to pick
If every date inside your booking window is blocked, customers see no dates, so leave some open.
- ReschedulingScale only
Customers who move their own order can't pick a blocked date either.
Can I open a day I'm normally closed?
Yes. Product overrides can add a festival date to a closed weekday without changing your weekly hours.
- Additional datesGrowth & up
Add the date and its hours in a product override, for example Mother's Day falling on a closed Sunday.
- Event dates onlyGrowth & up
Exclusive dates turn the calendar around, so only the dates you choose can be picked. Don't add blockout dates on top of a catch-all * override.
- One product, not the storeGrowth & up
A product override can block dates for a single product while the rest of the store stays open.
- Legacy widget
Stores still on the legacy widget can switch the weekday on and block every other date of that weekday.
How do I keep a year of holidays tidy?
Filter the list by month or year and delete old dates in bulk.
- Month and year filters
Once you have dates across months or years, filters appear above the list.
- Delete in bulk
Tick the dates you want to clear and delete them together.
- Start of the year
The help center suggests clearing last year's holiday blocks and adding this year's at the start of each year.
- Check before you save
Bird's widget preview shows blocked dates greyed out, as customers will see them.
What do blockout dates do, and what are their limits?
The short version, for quick reference.
| Capability | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | What it doesSingle dates, several at once, or a range | LimitsSpecific dates only, not weekly patterns |
| Time window | What it doesBlocks part of a day | LimitsOther slots that day stay open |
| Locations | What it doesPer location for pickup and delivery | LimitsShipping has one list, not per location |
| Bulk add | What it doesSame dates to many locations, append or replace | LimitsPickup and delivery only; replace removes existing dates |
| Booking window | What it doesMax available days caps how far ahead customers book | LimitsBlocked dates count toward the total |
| Existing orders | What it doesStops new bookings on blocked dates | LimitsDoesn't move orders already placed |
How do I add blockout dates?
Open a location's pickup or delivery settings in Bird, or the Shipping settings, and add dates in the Blockout dates section. The guides cover each method and the bulk option.
FAQ
What else do merchants ask about blockout dates?
How do I stop customers booking pickup or delivery on a public holiday?
Add the holiday as a blockout date for that location's pickup and delivery, and in Shipping if you ship. Customers can't pick it, and to close the same day at every store, add it to all your locations in one step.
Can I block an afternoon instead of the whole day?
Yes. Set a start and end time when you add the date, for example 2:00 PM to 11:59 PM. Only that window is blocked and earlier slots stay available.
Can I close every weekend, or every Friday, automatically?
Blockout dates are for specific dates, not repeating patterns. To close the same weekdays every week, such as Saturday and Sunday, switch them off with Customize availability by day.
Do blockout dates repeat every year?
No, each blockout date is a specific date. The help center suggests clearing last year's holiday blocks at the start of each year and adding this year's, using the year filter to find the old ones.
What happens to orders already booked on a date I block?
Nothing. Blockout dates only stop new bookings; orders already placed keep their date, and Bird doesn't move them for you.
Can I open just one Sunday for Mother's Day?
Yes, with a product override set to Additional dates: add the date and its hours and your weekly schedule stays the same. Product overrides are on Growth and up.
Does it work for Shopify stores outside the US?
Yes. You choose the dates, so you can block any public holiday where you trade, and set the date format and a 12-hour or 24-hour clock for each language you sell in.
Do I need a developer to set up blockout dates?
You add them yourself in Bird's location or Shipping settings, and check them in the widget preview before customers see them.
Which plan do I need?
Blockout dates are on every paid plan. Opening extra dates or blocking dates for one product uses product overrides, on Growth and up.
How much does it cost?
Blockout dates are included on every paid plan, from $19.99 a month. Plans are priced in US dollars and billed through Shopify. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial, and annual billing is 10% off.
Terms on this page
- Blockout date
- A date, range or time window customers can't pick for pickup, delivery or shipping.
- Cut-off time
- The time of day after which new orders get a longer lead time. It moves the earliest date; it doesn't block one.
- Max available days
- How many days ahead customers can book, counting today as day 1.
- Append dates
- Bulk option that adds new blockout dates and keeps the existing ones.
- Replace dates
- Bulk option that removes existing blockout dates and saves only the new ones.
- Preparation time
- The minimum lead time before an order can be fulfilled. It stacks with blockout dates.
Related features
- Date & Time PickerCustomers choose a pickup or delivery date and time, and only see the ones you can actually fill.
- Delivery Time SlotsOffer delivery windows that fit your day, so customers know when to be home.
- Product-specific SchedulingGive a product its own lead time and available days. The custom cake can need three days while the cupcakes ship tomorrow.
- Multi-location SupportRun every store or kitchen from one dashboard, each with its own hours, slots and rates.
- Order LimitsCap how many pickup, delivery and shipping orders you take in a day, so a busy week doesn't swamp the team.
- Customer ReschedulingCustomers can change their own pickup or delivery date and time after checkout, without emailing you.
Industry guides: florists, bakeries and restaurants.
Comparing apps? Bird vs Zapiet, Pickeasy, Stellar and Flare, or the best Shopify pickup and delivery apps.
Take the day off. Your calendar knows.
Try blockout dates free for 14 days on any paid plan. Block your next holiday and check it in the widget preview before you pay.