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Shift Schedules Calculators and Guides

Rotating schedules are easier to understand as calendars than as strings of numbers. Start with your pattern and cycle date, then see every workday and rest day.

A pattern needs an anchor

A named rotation describes a sequence, not a universal calendar. Match the cycle start to a known roster date, confirm the work/rest markers, and then export. An incorrect anchor can make every future date wrong even when the pattern itself is correct.

Compare patterns using the same basis

Separate cycle length, shifts per cycle, shift duration and average weekly hours. A shared weekly average does not mean two patterns have the same weekends or consecutive rest days. Count the actual date range when planning leave.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is a 2-2-3 schedule?

The modeled 14-day work/rest pattern has seven workdays. Seven 12-hour shifts total 84 hours, averaging 42 per week. Individual workweeks can differ from that average.

Tools and guides in this topic

Rotating Shift Calendar

Build a 4-on/4-off, 2-2-3, DuPont work/rest or custom calendar with scheduled hours and an ICS download.

Rotating Shift Schedules: Patterns, Hours and Calendars

Understand how repeating shift rotations work and generate a calendar from a pattern and cycle start date.

2-2-3 Schedule: A 14-Day Work and Rest Calendar

A common 2-2-3 work/rest cycle is two workdays, two rest days, three workdays, two rest days, two workdays and three rest days.

4 On, 4 Off: Hours, Weekends and Calendar Drift

Four on, four off repeats every eight days. At twelve hours per workday, it averages 42 scheduled hours per seven-day week.

DuPont Schedule: Reading a 28-Day Work/Rest Cycle

The work/rest version modeled here uses 4 work, 3 rest, 3 work, 1 rest, 3 work, 3 rest, 4 work and 7 rest days.

Compare schedules and check coverage

Compare cycle hours first, then check which people are available at each required time. Equal weekly totals do not guarantee equal coverage.

4×10 vs 5×8 Schedules: Compare Hours and Coverage

Compare four 10-hour days with five 8-hour days using a coverage example, break assumptions and a practical scheduling checklist.

9/80 Schedule: Build and Check a Two-Week Calendar

Map eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day across two weeks, verify the 80-hour total, and check coverage on the recurring day off.

6 On, 3 Off Schedule: Hours and Calendar Rotation

Calculate the average hours of a 6-on, 3-off cycle, understand rotating weekdays, and count actual shifts in a calendar month.

Calculate Shift Handover Overlap Hours

Measure handover person-hours, distinguish extra staffing from existing overlap, and check whether handovers reduce active service coverage.

Shift Coverage & Gap Calculator

Find staffing gaps and overlaps in a repeating daily roster. Enter shift times and people counts, compare interval coverage and download a CSV.

INTIOUS RESEARCH · 2026 EDITION

U.S. shift work and overtime, in numbers

Explore BLS schedule statistics, manufacturing overtime, original charts and downloadable data—with collection periods and limitations explained.

Read the U.S. Shift Work & Overtime Trends report →

More resources in this collection

Build and check your weekly roster