What Is a 2-2-3 Shift Schedule?
Updated 2026-08-03
A 2-2-3 shift schedule is a 14-day rotation for continuous coverage. One crew works two days, has two days off, works three days, has two days off, works two days, then has three days off. The pattern then repeats.
It is also called the Pitman schedule or Panama schedule. It is especially common when four crews need to cover 12-hour day and night shifts around the clock.
The 2-2-3 pattern at a glance
| Days in the cycle | 1–2 | 3–4 | 5–7 | 8–9 | 10–11 | 12–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One crew’s status | Work | Off | Work | Off | Work | Off |
With 12-hour shifts, a crew works seven shifts in each 14-day cycle: 84 hours total, or 42 hours per week on average. One week has three shifts (36 hours) and the next has four (48 hours).
Why teams choose 2-2-3
The pattern has two big advantages: it is easy to explain once people see the 14-day grid, and no one works more than three consecutive shifts. It also gives each crew a three-day break every other weekend, which can make a demanding 24/7 role easier to sustain.
Four crews are the usual setup:
- Crew A and Crew B cover the day shift on alternating work blocks.
- Crew C and Crew D cover the night shift on the same offset.
- Each person chooses the crew that matches their first working day and shift type.
This setup keeps one day crew and one night crew working every day without leaving a coverage gap.
What to watch for
The calendar may be predictable, but 12-hour shifts are still long. Before adopting the pattern, decide how breaks, overtime, training days, holiday cover, and shift swaps will work. It is also worth confirming whether crews stay permanently on days or nights, or periodically rotate between them; those approaches have different sleep and staffing trade-offs.
For a small team, four dedicated crews can be more people than the operation has available. In that case, a 3-on-3-off schedule or a fixed weekly roster may be a better starting point.
Create a 2-2-3 calendar
Open the 2-2-3 shift schedule generator, choose the crew and the date the current cycle begins, then select how many months to show. The result is a shareable, printable calendar that makes work days and days off clear at a glance.
Still comparing options? Read the DuPont vs. Pitman comparison or explore the wider rotating shift patterns guide.