The DuPont schedule is a 28-day rotation on 12-hour shifts: four night shifts, three off, three day shifts, one off, three nights, three off, four days, then seven straight days off. It averages 42 hours a week and gives every team a full week off once a month. Set your start date above to see your exact day and night shifts on a printable calendar.
The DuPont rotation
Developed at the DuPont chemical company, this is one of the most recognisable 12-hour schedules. One team's four-week cycle runs:
- 4 night shifts, then 3 days off
- 3 day shifts, then 1 day off
- 3 night shifts, then 3 days off
- 4 day shifts, then 7 consecutive days off
Four teams run the same cycle offset from each other so that two are always on — one on the 12-hour day shift, one on nights — covering all 168 hours of the week. That built-in seven-day break at the end of every cycle is the schedule's signature perk: a week off each month without touching vacation.
Hours and who works it
Each cycle has 14 work days of 12 hours — 168 hours over 28 days, an average of 42 hours a week. DuPont is heavily used in continuous-process industries: chemical and petrochemical plants, refineries, paper mills, power generation, and other operations that can never shut down and value long recovery blocks for safety-critical staff.
Worked example
If your day 1 is a Sunday, you work Sunday–Wednesday on nights, are off Thursday–Saturday, work Sunday–Tuesday on days, take Wednesday off, and so on — finishing the cycle with four day shifts and a full week off. Each block is short (never more than four shifts), but it alternates nights and days within the same month, which takes adjustment. Set your start date above to map the whole 28 days.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A full seven-day break every 28 days | Switches between days and nights inside one cycle |
| No block longer than four shifts | The 7-off block is preceded by a long stretch of work |
| Only four teams cover the entire week | 42-hour average means regular overtime |
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week is the DuPont schedule?
An average of 42 — fourteen 12-hour shifts across each 28-day cycle (168 hours).
Why is it called the DuPont schedule?
It originated at the DuPont company and spread through the chemical and process industries.
Does everyone get the week off at the same time?
No. The four teams are offset, so each team's seven-day break falls in a different week — that's how coverage stays continuous while everyone still gets a week off every cycle.
How do I total pay across a DuPont cycle?
Map your shifts here, then enter the times for any given week into the time card calculator to handle overtime and breaks.