A rotating shift schedule repeats a fixed pattern of work days and days off — like four on, four off — over a set cycle, so coverage continues around the clock. Enter how many days you work, how many you're off, and the date your rotation starts, and the generator above lays out a printable calendar of exactly which days you work and when your next stretch off begins.
How to use the shift schedule generator
- Set the rotation start date to a day you know is day 1 of your pattern (your first work day of a fresh cycle).
- Enter your days on and days off, plus your shift length in hours.
- Choose how many weeks to display, then print or save the calendar as a PDF.
Already know your rotation by name? Jump to a ready-made generator below — each is pre-configured with the correct, verified pattern, so you only need to pick your start date.
Common rotating shift schedules
- 4 on 4 off
8-day cycle, 12-hour shifts, 42 hrs/week
- 4 on 3 off
7-day cycle, 10-hour shifts, 40 hrs/week
- DuPont
28-day cycle, 12-hour shifts, a full week off each month
- Pitman (2-2-3)
14-day cycle, every other weekend off
- Panama
2-2-3 with a slow day-to-night rotation
- Southern Swing
28-day cycle, 8-hour day/swing/night rotation
Not sure which pattern fits? See rotating shift schedules compared for a side-by-side table of cycle length, shift hours, days off, and average weekly hours. For a compressed week with every other Friday off, see the 9/80 work schedule.
What a rotating shift schedule is
In any operation that runs 24/7 — hospitals, manufacturing plants, police and fire departments, dispatch centres, oil and gas — staff are split into teams that rotate through a repeating pattern of shifts. The pattern balances two competing goals: keep every hour covered, and give each worker a predictable, fair share of days off, evenings, and weekends. Because the pattern is fixed, you can project it forward indefinitely from any starting point, which is exactly what this tool does.
Most rotations are described by their rhythm of work and off days — "4 on 4 off", "2-2-3", "7-7-7" — and by shift length, usually 8, 10, or 12 hours. Twelve-hour shifts cover a 24-hour day with two teams and tend to produce more whole days off; eight-hour shifts need three teams and spread shorter days across the week.
How the hours add up
Average weekly hours come from the cycle, not the calendar week. Take the work days in one full cycle, multiply by shift length to get hours per cycle, divide by the cycle length in days, then multiply by seven. A 4-on-4-off rotation on 12-hour shifts, for example, works four 12-hour days every eight days — 48 hours per eight days, which averages to 42 hours per week even though no single calendar week is ever exactly 42.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which day is "day 1" of my rotation?
Pick any day you were on the first work day of a fresh cycle and use that as the start date. The pattern repeats, so once one cycle lines up, every future cycle does too.
Can I build a schedule that isn't listed?
Yes — the generator at the top of this page accepts any "N days on, M days off" pattern. For named rotations with day/night rotation built in (DuPont, Panama, Southern Swing), use the dedicated pages so the night and swing shifts land correctly.
Does this account for overtime or pay?
This tool maps which days you work. To total hours and pay for a specific week, enter your times into the time card calculator, which handles breaks, overtime, and rounding.
Is my schedule saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calendar is generated in your browser and nothing is uploaded.