Event ICS File Generator: Free Calendar Invite (.ics) Maker
Create a downloadable .ics calendar file for any event. Add a title, description, location, date and time, and a reminder, then download a file that opens in Google, Apple, or Outlook calendar.
Times are saved as floating local time (no time zone attached), so the event shows at the same clock time on any device.
Preview
Fill in the event details to see a preview.
What this tool does
This tool builds a standards-compliant .ics calendar file you can download and open in any major calendar app. Fill in a title, description, location, start and end time, optionally mark it all-day, and choose a reminder time, and the generator produces a proper VCALENDAR file with correctly escaped text and a unique event ID, ready to import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or any app that reads the standard ICS format.
Who it's for
Anyone who needs to hand someone a calendar invite without using a calendar app's own invite system: event organizers sharing a single event on a website, small businesses sending a calendar file with an email confirmation, developers testing calendar import in an app, or individuals who just want a one-off file to add something to their own calendar.
How to use it
- Enter the event title, description, and location.
- Set the start date and time and the end date and time, or toggle all-day for a full-day event.
- Choose a reminder time if you want the calendar app to alert before the event.
- Check the live preview to confirm the details are correct.
- Click Download .ics and open the file, or attach it to an email so recipients can add it to their calendar.
Good to know
This tool generates times as floating local time, meaning the event shows at the same clock time regardless of which time zone the calendar app is set to, which keeps things simple for single time zone use but is not ideal for cross-timezone invites. It also does not send invites, manage RSVPs, or sync with any calendar account; it only produces a downloadable file.
Frequently asked questions
What calendar apps can open an .ics file?
Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and nearly every other calendar application support importing standard .ics files. On desktop you can usually double-click the file to import it, and on mobile you can open it from a downloads folder or a Mail attachment.
Why does the event show at the wrong time for someone in another time zone?
This generator uses floating local time, which means the event is stored without a specific time zone attached, so it displays at the same clock time on every device regardless of that device's time zone setting. This is intentional for simplicity, but if your invitees are spread across time zones, mention the intended time zone in the event description.
Can I set a reminder that alerts before the event starts?
Yes. Choose a reminder option such as 15, 30, or 60 minutes before the event, and the generated file includes a VALARM block that most calendar apps will honor and show as a notification ahead of the event start time.
How do I make an all-day event instead of a timed event?
Toggle the all-day switch before downloading. This changes the file to use date-only values instead of date and time values, which calendar apps render as a banner event spanning the full day rather than a specific time slot.
Does this tool send the calendar invite to anyone?
No, it only generates a file you download to your own device. To share it, attach the downloaded .ics file to an email, message, or upload it wherever you are distributing the event, since nothing is transmitted automatically.
My calendar app rejected the file or shows garbled text, what happened?
This usually means special characters in the title, description, or location were not escaped properly, which this tool handles automatically for commas, semicolons, and backslashes. If you still see an issue, try removing unusual symbols or very long lines from the description and regenerate the file.