diff --git a/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.test.ts b/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.test.ts
index 53d31fd..8c8a78a 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.test.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.test.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,36 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
-import { quickToDate, parseFreeText } from "./time-parsing.js";
+import { quickToDate, buildCustomDate, formatCustomDay } from "./time-parsing.js";
 
 describe("quickToDate", () => {
-  it("in_1h returns ~1h ahead", () => {
-    const d = quickToDate("in_1h");
-    const diffMs = d.getTime() - Date.now();
-    expect(diffMs).toBeGreaterThan(55 * 60 * 1000);
-    expect(diffMs).toBeLessThan(65 * 60 * 1000);
-  });
   it("now returns ~30s ahead", () => {
     const d = quickToDate("now");
-    expect(d.getTime() - Date.now()).toBeGreaterThan(20 * 1000);
+    const diffMs = d.getTime() - Date.now();
+    expect(diffMs).toBeGreaterThan(20 * 1000);
+    expect(diffMs).toBeLessThan(40 * 1000);
+  });
+  it("tomorrow_9am returns a future Date", () => {
+    const d = quickToDate("tomorrow_9am");
+    expect(d.getTime()).toBeGreaterThan(Date.now());
   });
 });
 
-describe("parseFreeText", () => {
-  it("accepts YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM", () => {
-    const r = parseFreeText("2099-12-31 23:59");
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-  });
-  it("rejects past times", () => {
-    const r = parseFreeText("2020-01-01 00:00");
+describe("buildCustomDate", () => {
+  it("rejects in-past day/hour/minute", () => {
+    const r = buildCustomDate(-1, 9, 0, "Asia/Kuala_Lumpur");
     expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
     if (!r.ok) expect(r.reason).toMatch(/past/i);
   });
-  it("rejects garbage", () => {
-    const r = parseFreeText("not a date");
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
+  it("accepts a far-future combination", () => {
+    const r = buildCustomDate(7, 23, 45, "Asia/Kuala_Lumpur");
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("formatCustomDay", () => {
+  it("returns 'Today (...)' for offset 0", () => {
+    expect(formatCustomDay(0, "Asia/Kuala_Lumpur")).toMatch(/^Today/);
+  });
+  it("returns 'Tomorrow (...)' for offset 1", () => {
+    expect(formatCustomDay(1, "Asia/Kuala_Lumpur")).toMatch(/^Tomorrow/);
   });
 });
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.ts b/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.ts
index 34719b9..69533b5 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/reminders/time-parsing.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
 import { DateTime } from "luxon";
 import { DEFAULT_TIMEZONE } from "@cmbot/shared";
 
-export type Quick = "now" | "in_1h" | "in_3h" | "tomorrow_9am" | "next_mon_9am";
+export type Quick = "now" | "tomorrow_9am" | "next_mon_9am";
 
 export function quickToDate(quick: Quick, timezone: string = DEFAULT_TIMEZONE): Date {
   const now = DateTime.now().setZone(timezone);
   switch (quick) {
     case "now":
+      // Add 30s so pg-boss has time to schedule + the system has time to dispatch
       return now.plus({ seconds: 30 }).toJSDate();
-    case "in_1h":
-      return now.plus({ hours: 1 }).toJSDate();
-    case "in_3h":
-      return now.plus({ hours: 3 }).toJSDate();
     case "tomorrow_9am":
       return now.plus({ days: 1 }).set({ hour: 9, minute: 0, second: 0, millisecond: 0 }).toJSDate();
     case "next_mon_9am": {
@@ -22,6 +19,38 @@ export function quickToDate(quick: Quick, timezone: string = DEFAULT_TIMEZONE):
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Build a Date from a day-offset (days from today, in the operator's timezone),
+ * an hour (0-23) and a minute (0-59). Returns the JS Date or null if the
+ * resulting time is in the past.
+ */
+export function buildCustomDate(
+  dayOffset: number,
+  hour: number,
+  minute: number,
+  timezone: string = DEFAULT_TIMEZONE,
+): { ok: true; date: Date } | { ok: false; reason: string } {
+  const target = DateTime.now()
+    .setZone(timezone)
+    .plus({ days: dayOffset })
+    .set({ hour, minute, second: 0, millisecond: 0 });
+  if (!target.isValid) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: "Invalid date" };
+  }
+  const jsDate = target.toJSDate();
+  if (jsDate.getTime() <= Date.now()) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: "Time is in the past" };
+  }
+  return { ok: true, date: jsDate };
+}
+
+export function formatCustomDay(dayOffset: number, timezone: string = DEFAULT_TIMEZONE): string {
+  const dt = DateTime.now().setZone(timezone).plus({ days: dayOffset });
+  if (dayOffset === 0) return `Today (${dt.toFormat("EEE dd MMM")})`;
+  if (dayOffset === 1) return `Tomorrow (${dt.toFormat("EEE dd MMM")})`;
+  return dt.toFormat("EEE dd MMM");
+}
+
 export type ParseResult = { ok: true; date: Date } | { ok: false; reason: string };
 
 const FORMATS = [
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/telegram/bot.ts b/apps/bot/src/telegram/bot.ts
index 79981e7..d026c74 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/telegram/bot.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/telegram/bot.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ import {
   wizardSetTimeCustomPrompt,
   wizardSave,
   showWizardConfirm,
+  wizardBackToTimeMenu,
+  wizardPickDay,
+  wizardPickHour,
+  wizardPickMinute,
 } from "./callbacks.js";
 import {
   consumePendingPairLabel,
@@ -43,7 +47,7 @@ import {
   clearWizard,
 } from "./state.js";
 import { ingestTelegramFile } from "../media/ingest.js";
-import { parseFreeText, type Quick } from "../reminders/time-parsing.js";
+import type { Quick } from "../reminders/time-parsing.js";
 import { reminderTimeMenu } from "./menus.js";
 import { DEFAULT_TIMEZONE } from "@cmbot/shared";
 
@@ -118,13 +122,24 @@ export function createTelegramBot(): Bot {
     await wizardPickGroup(ctx, ctx.match[1]!);
   });
   bot.callbackQuery(/^rm_t:(.+)$/, async (ctx) => {
-    const quick = ctx.match[1]!;
-    if (quick === "custom") {
+    const choice = ctx.match[1]!;
+    if (choice === "custom") {
       await wizardSetTimeCustomPrompt(ctx);
+    } else if (choice === "back") {
+      await wizardBackToTimeMenu(ctx);
     } else {
-      await wizardSetTimeQuick(ctx, quick as Quick);
+      await wizardSetTimeQuick(ctx, choice as Quick);
     }
   });
+  bot.callbackQuery(/^rmd:(\d+)$/, async (ctx) => {
+    await wizardPickDay(ctx, Number(ctx.match[1]));
+  });
+  bot.callbackQuery(/^rmh:(\d+):(\d+)$/, async (ctx) => {
+    await wizardPickHour(ctx, Number(ctx.match[1]), Number(ctx.match[2]));
+  });
+  bot.callbackQuery(/^rmm:(\d+):(\d+):(\d+)$/, async (ctx) => {
+    await wizardPickMinute(ctx, Number(ctx.match[1]), Number(ctx.match[2]), Number(ctx.match[3]));
+  });
   bot.callbackQuery(/^rm_del:(.+)$/, async (ctx) => {
     await deleteReminderCallback(ctx, ctx.match[1]!);
   });
@@ -164,29 +179,14 @@ export function createTelegramBot(): Bot {
       return;
     }
 
-    // Reminder wizard
+    // Reminder wizard — only the compose step accepts free text now.
+    // Custom date/time is fully menu-driven (rmd → rmh → rmm callbacks).
     const w = getWizard(tgId);
-    if (w) {
-      if (w.step === "compose") {
-        updateWizard(tgId, { text: text.trim() });
-        const view = reminderTimeMenu();
-        await ctx.reply(view.text, { reply_markup: view.keyboard, parse_mode: "Markdown" });
-        return;
-      }
-      if (w.step === "set_time") {
-        const op = await db.query.operators.findFirst({
-          where: (o, { eq }) => eq(o.telegramUserId, tgId),
-        });
-        const tz = op?.defaultTimezone ?? DEFAULT_TIMEZONE;
-        const parsed = parseFreeText(text, tz);
-        if (!parsed.ok) {
-          await ctx.reply(`❌ ${parsed.reason}\n\nTry again or tap /menu to cancel.`);
-          return;
-        }
-        updateWizard(tgId, { step: "confirm", scheduledAt: parsed.date });
-        await showWizardConfirm(ctx);
-        return;
-      }
+    if (w && w.step === "compose") {
+      updateWizard(tgId, { text: text.trim() });
+      const view = reminderTimeMenu();
+      await ctx.reply(view.text, { reply_markup: view.keyboard, parse_mode: "Markdown" });
+      return;
     }
 
     await ctx.reply("Tap /menu to see what I can do.");
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/telegram/callbacks.ts b/apps/bot/src/telegram/callbacks.ts
index caa9ffd..ef2535e 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/telegram/callbacks.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/telegram/callbacks.ts
@@ -373,10 +373,66 @@ export async function wizardSetTimeCustomPrompt(ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
   const userId = ctx.from?.id;
   if (!userId) return;
   updateWizard(userId, { step: "set_time" });
-  await showMenu(ctx, {
-    text: "⌨️ Reply with date/time as `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM`, e.g. `2026-05-15 09:00`.",
-    keyboard: new InlineKeyboard().text("⬅ Cancel", "m:reminders"),
-  });
+  const op = await findOperator(ctx);
+  const tz = op?.defaultTimezone ?? DEFAULT_TIMEZONE;
+  const { reminderPickDayMenu } = await import("./menus.js");
+  await showMenu(ctx, reminderPickDayMenu(tz));
+}
+
+export async function wizardBackToTimeMenu(ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery();
+  const { reminderTimeMenu } = await import("./menus.js");
+  await showMenu(ctx, reminderTimeMenu());
+}
+
+export async function wizardPickDay(ctx: Context, dayOffset: number): Promise<void> {
+  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery();
+  const userId = ctx.from?.id;
+  if (!userId) return;
+  const op = await findOperator(ctx);
+  const tz = op?.defaultTimezone ?? DEFAULT_TIMEZONE;
+  const { reminderPickHourMenu } = await import("./menus.js");
+  const { formatCustomDay } = await import("../reminders/time-parsing.js");
+  await showMenu(ctx, reminderPickHourMenu(formatCustomDay(dayOffset, tz), dayOffset));
+}
+
+export async function wizardPickHour(
+  ctx: Context,
+  dayOffset: number,
+  hour: number,
+): Promise<void> {
+  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery();
+  const userId = ctx.from?.id;
+  if (!userId) return;
+  const op = await findOperator(ctx);
+  const tz = op?.defaultTimezone ?? DEFAULT_TIMEZONE;
+  const { reminderPickMinuteMenu } = await import("./menus.js");
+  const { formatCustomDay } = await import("../reminders/time-parsing.js");
+  await showMenu(ctx, reminderPickMinuteMenu(formatCustomDay(dayOffset, tz), dayOffset, hour));
+}
+
+export async function wizardPickMinute(
+  ctx: Context,
+  dayOffset: number,
+  hour: number,
+  minute: number,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const userId = ctx.from?.id;
+  if (!userId) {
+    await ctx.answerCallbackQuery();
+    return;
+  }
+  const op = await findOperator(ctx);
+  const tz = op?.defaultTimezone ?? DEFAULT_TIMEZONE;
+  const { buildCustomDate } = await import("../reminders/time-parsing.js");
+  const result = buildCustomDate(dayOffset, hour, minute, tz);
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    await ctx.answerCallbackQuery({ text: result.reason, show_alert: true });
+    return;
+  }
+  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery();
+  updateWizard(userId, { step: "confirm", scheduledAt: result.date });
+  await showWizardConfirm(ctx);
 }
 
 export async function showWizardConfirm(ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/telegram/menus.ts b/apps/bot/src/telegram/menus.ts
index e5c8779..245b464 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/telegram/menus.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/telegram/menus.ts
@@ -348,19 +348,100 @@ export function reminderComposeMenu(): MenuView {
 
 export function reminderTimeMenu(): MenuView {
   const keyboard = new InlineKeyboard()
-    .text("🕐 In 1 hour", "rm_t:in_1h")
-    .text("🕒 In 3 hours", "rm_t:in_3h")
+    .text("🕐 Now", "rm_t:now")
     .row()
     .text("🌅 Tomorrow 9 AM", "rm_t:tomorrow_9am")
     .text("📅 Next Mon 9 AM", "rm_t:next_mon_9am")
     .row()
-    .text("⌨️ Custom date/time", "rm_t:custom")
+    .text("📆 Custom day & time", "rm_t:custom")
     .row()
     .text("⬅ Cancel", "m:reminders");
   return {
     text:
       "➕ *New Reminder — Step 4 / 4*\n\n" +
-      "When should it fire? Pick a quick option or type a date/time.",
+      "When should it fire?",
+    keyboard,
+  };
+}
+
+// Custom date+time picker — three sub-screens: pick day → pick hour → pick minute.
+// All choices are encoded into callback_data so the wizard state stays simple.
+
+export function reminderPickDayMenu(timezone: string): MenuView {
+  const offsets = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 30];
+  const labels: Record<number, string> = {
+    0: "Today",
+    1: "Tomorrow",
+    2: "+2 days",
+    3: "+3 days",
+    4: "+4 days",
+    5: "+5 days",
+    7: "+1 week",
+    14: "+2 weeks",
+    30: "+1 month",
+  };
+  const keyboard = new InlineKeyboard();
+  // 2 columns
+  for (let i = 0; i < offsets.length; i += 2) {
+    const left = offsets[i]!;
+    keyboard.text(labels[left]!, `rmd:${left}`);
+    if (offsets[i + 1] !== undefined) {
+      const right = offsets[i + 1]!;
+      keyboard.text(labels[right]!, `rmd:${right}`);
+    }
+    keyboard.row();
+  }
+  keyboard.text("⬅ Back", "rm_t:back");
+  return {
+    text: `📆 *Custom — Step 1 / 3*\n\nPick a day (timezone: ${timezone}):`,
+    keyboard,
+  };
+}
+
+export function reminderPickHourMenu(dayLabel: string, dayOffset: number): MenuView {
+  const keyboard = new InlineKeyboard();
+  // 4 rows of 6 hours, ordered to put daytime hours first for ergonomics:
+  // 06-11, 12-17, 18-23, 00-05
+  const order = [
+    [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11],
+    [12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17],
+    [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23],
+    [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
+  ];
+  for (const row of order) {
+    for (const h of row) {
+      keyboard.text(`${String(h).padStart(2, "0")}:00`, `rmh:${dayOffset}:${h}`);
+    }
+    keyboard.row();
+  }
+  keyboard.text("⬅ Back", "rm_t:custom");
+  return {
+    text: `📆 *Custom — Step 2 / 3*\n\nDay: ${dayLabel}\n\nPick an hour:`,
+    keyboard,
+  };
+}
+
+export function reminderPickMinuteMenu(
+  dayLabel: string,
+  dayOffset: number,
+  hour: number,
+): MenuView {
+  const keyboard = new InlineKeyboard();
+  const minutes = [0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55];
+  // 6 columns
+  for (let i = 0; i < minutes.length; i += 6) {
+    for (let j = 0; j < 6 && i + j < minutes.length; j++) {
+      const m = minutes[i + j]!;
+      keyboard.text(`:${String(m).padStart(2, "0")}`, `rmm:${dayOffset}:${hour}:${m}`);
+    }
+    keyboard.row();
+  }
+  keyboard.text("⬅ Back", `rmd:${dayOffset}`);
+  return {
+    text:
+      `📆 *Custom — Step 3 / 3*\n\n` +
+      `Day: ${dayLabel}\nHour: ${String(hour).padStart(2, "0")}:00\n\n` +
+      `Pick minutes:`,
     keyboard,
   };
 }