INTIOUS DATA / WORKFORCE
Staff Needed for 24/7 Coverage: FTE & Availability
Compare the capacity needed for one staffed position around the clock. See how unavailable time changes FTE requirements, with a chart, formulas and CSV.
EXPLORE
See the numbers behind the answer
40-hour weekly baseline
| Unavailable share (%) | Coverage hours per person/week | Capacity-equivalent people | Rounded-up capacity minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 40.0 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 10 | 36.0 | 4.666667 | 5 |
| 20 | 32.0 | 5.25 | 6 |
| 25 | 30.0 | 5.6 | 6 |
| 30 | 28.0 | 6.0 | 6 |
What does this mean for your planning?
Eight-hour shifts create 21 shift blocks per week; 12-hour shifts create 14. Both still require 168 coverage hours for one continuously staffed position. Changing shift length alone does not reduce that demand.
The rounded-up number is only a capacity lower bound. Real schedules must satisfy rest, skills, overlap, breaks, absences and the placement of hours. Five people with sufficient aggregate hours can still leave a gap on a particular night.
For multiple simultaneous positions, multiply 168 by the number of positions before dividing by available hours. Do not round each fractional position early unless staffing must be separated into independent teams.
Use your own figures
REPRODUCIBLE, NOT ESTIMATED
Methodology and limitations
Coverage demand = 24 × 7 = 168 hours per week for one position. Available hours per person = 40 × (1 − unavailable share). Divide demand by available hours; round up only the final capacity count. Unavailable shares are scenario inputs, not observed averages.
Source: Intious original calculations, generated 2026-10-04. Reference period: Defined weekly scenarios. These are defined planning scenarios, not survey findings, observed employer behavior or legal requirements. The CSV contains the complete published input/output table. Display rounding does not change the underlying formulas.
Read our calculation methodology and editorial policy. Found an error? Email hello@intious.com with the row and your calculation.
Common questions
Are 4.2 FTE enough to staff a 24/7 post?
They represent 168 hours at a 40-hour baseline before unavailable time. A fraction of FTE is a capacity measure; an actual roster also needs integer people, rest and gap checks.
Do 12-hour shifts need fewer coverage hours?
No. One continuous position still needs 168 hours each week. Twelve-hour shifts change the number and arrangement of shift blocks, not the total demand.
What belongs in unavailable time?
Use the paid time that cannot cover this position, such as relevant leave, training or meetings. Avoid counting the same absence twice and use the definition from your planning model.
Cite this data in your own work
Intious. “Staff Needed for 24/7 Coverage: FTE & Availability.” Updated 2026-10-04. https://intious.com/data/staff-needed-for-24-7-coverage/
You may reproduce these original tables and charts with attribution to this page. The exported chart shows the first view; the CSV includes every view.
Embed code with source attribution
<figure><img src="https://intious.com/assets/data/staff-needed-for-24-7-coverage.svg" alt="Staff Needed for 24/7 Coverage: FTE & Availability" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"><figcaption>Source: <a href="https://intious.com/data/staff-needed-for-24-7-coverage/">Intious — Staff Needed for 24/7 Coverage: FTE & Availability</a>. Coverage demand = 24 × 7 = 168 hours per week for one position. Available hours per person = 40 × (1 − unavailable share). Divide demand by available hours; round up only the final capacity count. Unavailable shares are scenario inputs, not observed averages.</figcaption></figure>