The 4 on 4 off schedule has you work four consecutive days, then take four consecutive days off, repeating on an eight-day cycle. Paired with 12-hour shifts it averages 42 hours a week and needs only two teams to cover 24 hours a day. Pick your start date above to see your exact work and off days as a printable calendar.
The 4 on 4 off rotation
The pattern is as simple as rotations get: 4 work days, 4 off, repeat. Because the cycle is eight days long — not seven — your work days drift through the week, so the days off land on different weekdays each cycle and you get every other weekend in rotation rather than fixed. Most employers run it on two 12-hour shifts (for example 7 a.m.–7 p.m. and 7 p.m.–7 a.m.), with one team on days and one on nights.
A common variation is the 16-day "4 on 4 off" rotation: four day shifts, four off, four night shifts, four off. That version rotates each worker through both days and nights. The generator above shows the base eight-day work/off pattern; if you rotate between days and nights, your off days fall on the same dates either way.
Hours and who works it
Four 12-hour shifts every eight days is 48 hours per cycle, which averages 42 hours per week. Some pay periods land on five work days and others on three, so weekly hours swing between 36 and 60 even though the average is steady — worth remembering when you check overtime. The schedule is a staple of manufacturing and processing plants, utilities and power stations, security and control rooms, emergency dispatch, and some healthcare units, anywhere continuous coverage matters and long blocks off are prized.
Worked example
Say your rotation's day 1 is a Monday. You work Monday through Thursday, then you're off Friday through the following Monday — a four-day break that includes a weekend. You pick back up that Tuesday through Friday, take the next four off (Saturday to Tuesday), and so on. Over a month you work about 15 days. Set the start date above to map your own dates.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Four-day breaks every cycle, including a rotating weekend | Four 12-hour days in a row is tiring |
| Dead simple to remember and plan around | Weekends off rotate — never the same every week |
| Only two teams needed for 24/7 cover | The 42-hour average means recurring overtime weeks |
Frequently asked questions
Is 4 on 4 off full-time?
Yes. On 12-hour shifts it averages 42 hours a week — more than a standard 40-hour week.
How many days a month do you work on 4 on 4 off?
About 15, since you work half of every eight-day cycle (roughly 182 work days a year).
Does 4 on 4 off rotate between days and nights?
The basic eight-day version doesn't — you stay on the same shift. The 16-day variant adds a block of nights, so workers alternate days and nights every cycle.
How do I total my pay for a 4 on 4 off week?
Map your work days here, then enter the actual times into the time card calculator to handle breaks, overtime, and rounding.