FOLIO 02 · Rate calculator
← Back to register
Largest single query / 101 imp/mo

How to calculate your no-show rate.

Formula, free calculator, three worked examples, and the benchmark you should be comparing against in your industry.

The formula
rate = (no-shows
  ÷ scheduled)
  × 100

Two-input rate entry

Scheduled and no-shows for any period (day, week, month).

Live entry

Total bookings for the period

Did not appear and did not call ahead

Your no-show rate
23.0%
High

23 no-shows out of 100 scheduled appointments.

The formula

Three terms, four edge cases

no-show rate = (no-shows ÷ scheduled) × 100
Numerator: No-shows

Patients who did not appear and did not contact you before the appointment. No advance notice, no call, no cancellation.

Denominator: Scheduled

Total appointments booked for the period, including those who showed up. Walk-in demand is excluded.

Common mistakes

Do NOT include same-day cancellations as no-shows. Do NOT count rescheduled appointments. Do NOT include late arrivals who still received service.

Worked examples

Three real-world entries

100
Scheduled
19
No-shows
19%
Rate
(19 ÷ 100) × 100 = 19%

Typical primary care practice. At this rate you are near the national average of 19% (MGMA 2024). Acceptable but reducible.

Calculate cost for this rate →
Benchmark register

What is a good no-show rate by industry?

SegmentGoodAcceptableAverageHigh
Primary Care< 10%< 15%19%> 25%
Behavioral Health< 20%< 30%30 to 40%> 40%
Dental< 10%< 20%15 to 25%> 30%
Specialist< 8%< 12%10 to 12%> 18%
Restaurants< 10%< 15%20%> 25%
Salons and Spas< 15%< 25%30%> 35%
Fitness< 15%< 20%25%> 30%

Sources: MGMA 2024, JAMA 2022, Kruse et al 2018, OpenTable 2023, Phorest 2023, Mindbody 2023. Full benchmark folio →

FOLIO 03 · Tracking

How to track no-shows over time

Monthly tracking

Calculate once per month. Plot the rate on a simple chart. Compare month over month. Look for a downward trend after implementing reminder systems.

Seasonal adjustment

No-show rates typically spike 20 to 30% in summer (July to August) and around major holidays. Adjust your targets seasonally rather than comparing December to August directly.

Segment breakdowns

Track by provider, by appointment type, and by patient demographic if your EHR supports it. New patients have 2 to 3x higher no-show rates than established patients in most practices.

Next folio
Calculate the cost →
Now that you have your rate, see the full annual revenue and opportunity cost.
Next folio
Reduce your rate →
Six evidence-based strategies ranked by effectiveness. Every stat from peer-reviewed literature.
Next folio
Full benchmarks →
Compare your rate to the complete sortable table of industry benchmarks.

Margin notes

How do you calculate the no-show rate?+
No-show rate = (number of no-shows / total scheduled appointments) x 100. For example, if you scheduled 100 appointments and 23 patients did not appear without any contact, your no-show rate is 23%. Only patients who failed to appear without any advance notice count as no-shows.
What is a good no-show rate?+
A good no-show rate varies by industry. For primary care, below 10% is excellent; below 15% is acceptable. For behavioral health and therapy, below 20% is excellent given the clinical context. For dental practices, below 10% is excellent. Restaurants aim for below 10%, salons below 15%. The national healthcare average is 23% (JAMA 2022).
What counts as a no-show?+
A no-show is a patient or customer who scheduled an appointment but did not appear and did not contact you before the appointment time. Same-day cancellations are technically not no-shows (though they may be treated similarly for policy purposes). Rescheduled appointments should not be counted. Late arrivals who still received service are not no-shows.
How often should I calculate my no-show rate?+
Calculate your no-show rate monthly for trend tracking, and weekly if you are actively running a reduction program. Daily calculations are too noisy for meaningful analysis except in high-volume settings. Compare month-over-month to spot seasonal patterns (summer and holiday periods typically see 20-30% higher no-show rates).

Register entries verified 2026-04-28