Practical guide

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.

By Intious · Updated September 7, 2026

Quick answer

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.

Count the complete cycle

The pattern 11001110011000 contains seven workdays and seven rest days. With twelve-hour shifts it produces 84 scheduled hours across fourteen days, or an average of 42 per seven days. This average does not determine overtime in a particular workweek.

Anchor the correct date

Set the first cycle date to the first workday in the two-day work block. Starting on another point in the cycle changes the calendar. Confirm one known date against the employer roster before downloading.

Work/rest is not day/night

The generator marks workdays, not crew assignments or the switch between day and night duty. Two people can share the same pattern with different starting offsets. Keep shift start times and handoff instructions in the official roster.

Try it with your numbers

Generate a dated work/rest rotation and download an all-day calendar.

Rotating Shift Calendar

Next steps

Calculation limitations · Report a correction

Frequently asked questions

Why does a 2-2-3 schedule use 14 days?

The first seven-day work/rest block is followed by its complementary block. Across both weeks the modeled pattern has seven workdays, rather than repeating the same five-workday first week indefinitely.

Is the 42-hour average my overtime total?

No. An average across the cycle does not establish hours in a particular payroll workweek. Count actual shifts and apply the relevant workweek rules.

Why does my calendar look reversed compared with a coworker’s?

You may be on different crews or different cycle anchors. Compare a confirmed workday before assuming that the repeating pattern is wrong.

Check the assumptions against the Rotating Shift Calendar and keep the inputs alongside your result. For a discrepancy, send an anonymous worked example rather than private employee records.

Explore more in Shift Schedules Calculators and Guides.