---
title: "Set a Custom Ring Duration"
slug: "set-a-custom-ring-duration"
tags: ["contact center routing", "department ring duration"]
updated: 2026-05-28T08:28:39Z
published: 2026-05-28T08:28:39Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.dialpad.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set a Custom Ring Duration

Add more flexibility to your call routing options. With a custom ring duration, you get to decide how long a user line, Main Line, Department, room phone, or Contact Center rings before routing your call to another destination.

Let's take a closer look at how custom ring durations work and how to set them.

## What is ring duration?

Ring duration is the amount of time that a call will ring before being sent to a fallback option.

Choosing a custom ring duration allows you to control the caller experience and filter calls to a secondary location.

The default ring duration for a **user**, **Main Line**, **Department**, or **Contact Center** is 30 seconds. The default ring duration for a **room phone** is 45 seconds.

A few other things to keep in mind:

- Custom ring durations apply to all inbound calls
- Custom ring duration applies to all of a user's endpoints (desktop/cell/desk phone)

## Set personal ring duration

To set a custom ring duration for your personal line, head to **Your Settings**.

1. Navigate to **Call Handling & Voicemail**
2. Select**Show Advanced Options**
3. Navigate to**Ring duration**
4. Choose your ring duration by sliding the toggle right or left
  1. The default is 30 seconds

![Your Settings page showing the Call Handling and Voicemail option slider for Ring Duration.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Ring_Duration.png)
5. Navigate to **Advanced missed call routing**
6. Choose where you want callers to be sent once the max ring duration has been met
  1. To voicemail
  2. To a message (no voicemail)
  3. To a team member/ room phone / external number
  4. To a department

![Your Settings page showing options for when a call is missed and where the call is routed to.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Advanced_Call_Routing.png)

## Set Main Line ring duration

To set a custom ring duration for your Main Line, head to your Dialpad**Admin Settings**.

1. Navigate to **Office > Main Line**
2. Select**Business Hours & Call Handling**
3. Navigate to**Call Routing** and select **Edit Call Routing** [Main Line Ring Duration](https://app.vidgrid.com/embed/Sj035h8iVHzq)
4. Under **Ring Duration**, choose the desired ring duration by moving the slider left or right
  1. (default is 30 seconds)

Make sure to keep the following in mind:

- Custom ring durations apply to both **Open & Closed Hours Routing**
- Custom ring durations only appear when **Operators** is your first call handling option

## Set Department ring duration

To set a custom ring duration for your Department, head to your Dialpad**Admin Settings**.

1. Select**Departments**and****choose the desired Department
2. Navigate to**Business Hours & Call Handling**
3. Select**Edit Call Routing** [Department Ring Duration](https://app.vidgrid.com/embed/2hs4CF0bTc1h)
4. Navigate to **Ring Duration** (default is 30 seconds)

Make sure to keep the following in mind:

- Custom ring durations apply to both **Open & Closed Hours Routing**
- Custom ring durations only appear when **Operators** is your first call handling option

## Set room phone ring duration

To set a custom ring duration for your room phone, head to your Dialpad**Admin Settings**.

1. Navigate to**Office >** **Desk Phones**
2. Select**Room Phones**
3. Beside the desired phone, select**Options > Edit** [Room Phone Ring Duration](https://app.vidgrid.com/embed/bO1vTe3OUVSK)
4. Choose the room phone ring duration (default is 45 seconds)
5. Select the call routing option when the maximum ring duration is met
  1. To a message (no voicemail)
  2. To a team member / room phone / external number
  3. To a department, office or contact center
6. Select **Done**

## Set Contact Center ring duration

To set a custom ring duration for your Contact Center, head to your Dialpad**Admin Settings**.

1. Navigate to **Contact Centers and**choose the desired Contact Center
2. Select**Business Hours & Call Handling**
3. Select**Edit Call Routing** [Contact Center Ring Duration](https://app.vidgrid.com/embed/mKWC8FGM2F3J)
4. Navigate to **Ring Duration**
5. Choose the ring duration (default is 10 seconds)

Once the ring duration is met, your callers will be routed to the Hold Queue.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> When a call reaches an agent’s device, Dialpad applies a separate [auto-answer timer for Contact Centers](https://help.dialpad.com/docs/manage-a-contact-center#auto-answer) instead of the standard ring duration before returning the call to the queue. This helps minimize calls being marked as missed due to slow device response times or unstable network connections.

Have more questions? Check out our [FAQ](/v1/docs/ring-duration-faqs).