Rotating shift generator
Rotating Shift Patterns: Compare Schedules
Pick a rotating shift pattern to generate a printable calendar for the months ahead. Choose your crew and start date — no sign-up.
2-2-3
Pitman (2-2-3)
The 2-2-3 rotation — also written 2 2 3 or 2/2/3, and known as Pitman, Panama, or 3-2-2-3 — uses short work blocks, four crews, and a 14-day cycle.
4-on-4-off
4 On 4 Off
The 4 on 4 off rhythm — written 4-on-4-off, 4/4, or 4 on, 4 off — runs four 12-hour shifts on, then four days off.
DuPont
DuPont
The DuPont schedule — also written Dupont — is a 28-day, four-crew rotation of 12-hour days and nights that ends every cycle with a full 7 days off.
Fixed Weekly
Fixed Weekly Schedule
A fixed weekly schedule — also called a fixed shift, set schedule, or Monday-to-Friday rota — keeps the same days on and off every week.
24/48
24 On 48 Off
The 24/48 rotation — written 24-48, 24 48, or 24 on 48 off — puts one 24-hour tour on duty, then two full days off.
48/96
48 On 96 Off
The 48/96 rotation — written 48-96, 48 96, or 48 on 96 off — runs two 24-hour tours back to back, then four full days off.
7 On 7 Off
7 On 7 Off
The 7 on 7 off rotation — written 7-on-7-off, 7/7, or week on week off — runs a full week on, then a full week off, often for fixed day and night crews on 12-hour shifts.
3 On 3 Off
3 On 3 Off
The 3 on 3 off rotation — written 3-on-3-off or 3/3 — is a short 6-day rhythm of three 12-hour shifts on, three days off, with 24/7 cover from four crews.
DDNNOO
DDNNOO (2-2-2)
The DDNNOO rotation — also written 2-2-2, or 2 days 2 nights 2 off — is a fast 6-day cycle covered by three crews.
4 On 2 Off
4 On 2 Off
The 4 on 2 off rotation — written 4-on-2-off or 4/2 — runs four 10-hour day shifts on, two off, shared across three crews.
Kelly
Kelly (Firefighter)
The Kelly schedule — also called the Kelly day or Kelly rotation — is a 9-day firefighter cycle of 24-hour tours: on, off, on, off, on, then four days off.
Night Shift
Permanent Night Shift
A night shift schedule — also called permanent nights, fixed nights, or the graveyard shift — keeps the same nights on and off every week, Monday to Friday.
Southern Swing
Southern Swing
The Southern Swing — also called the southern swing rotation or southern swing shift pattern — moves four crews through a week of days, a week of swings, and a week of nights on 8-hour shifts across a 28-day cycle.
Continental
Continental
The continental shift pattern — also called a continental rota or continental shift system — cycles four crews through short blocks of 8-hour day, swing, and night shifts over 28 days.
Which rotating shift pattern fits your team?
Start with coverage hours and the number of crews, then compare the work/off sequence. The presets below describe specific arrangements; employers may use the same pattern name for a different day/night rotation.
- 2-2-3 / Pitman / Panama: a 14-day work/off cycle with no more than three shifts in a row. This preset keeps each crew on days or nights.
- DuPont: a 28-day cycle that moves each crew through days and nights and includes seven consecutive days off.
- 4 on 4 off: an eight-day cycle with four shifts followed by four off days. Weekends drift rather than staying fixed.
Need to assign individual staff, leave, and exceptions? Use the editable rotating roster planner. For a clinical team, start with the nurse staffing schedule maker.
Compare shift patterns fast
If you are choosing between rotations, compare the cycle length, staffing model, and trade-off before you commit a team to it.
| Pattern | Cycle | Crews | Shift length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | 14 days | 4 | 12 hours | 24/7 operations — manufacturing, security, dispatch, healthcare, emergency services |
| 4-on-4-off | 8 days | 4 | 12 hours | 24/7 sites wanting long, regular blocks of time off — utilities, security, plants, logistics |
| DuPont | 28 days | 4 | 12 hours | 24/7 continuous operations that value a long recovery break — refineries, chemical plants, power stations |
| Fixed Weekly | 7 days | 1 | 8 hours | Offices, retail, and any team on a steady week that does not rotate |
| 24/48 | 3 days | 3 | 24 hours | Fire departments, EMS, and public-safety teams built around long tours |
| 48/96 | 6 days | 3 | 24 hours | Fire departments wanting fewer commutes and longer blocks off |
| 7 On 7 Off | 14 days | 4 | 12 hours | Remote sites, healthcare, security, and teams that value long uninterrupted breaks |
| 3 On 3 Off | 6 days | 4 | 12 hours | 24/7 sites wanting short work blocks and frequent breaks — security, healthcare, utilities |
| DDNNOO | 6 days | 3 | 12 hours | 24/7 operations that prefer fast rotation and only three crews — security, manufacturing, dispatch |
| 4 On 2 Off | 6 days | 3 | 10 hours | Extended day operations — logistics, retail distribution, transport, support desks |
| Kelly | 9 days | 3 | 24 hours | Fire departments and EMS wanting a grouped set of tours with a long recovery block |
| Night Shift | 7 days | 1 | 8 hours | Teams on steady overnight cover — warehousing, security, hospitals, support desks |
| Southern Swing | 28 days | 4 | 8 hours | 24/7 operations that want 8-hour shifts rather than 12s — chemical plants, refineries, utilities, mills, continuous manufacturing |
| Continental | 28 days | 4 | 8 hours | 24/7 operations wanting fast 8-hour rotation and frequent short breaks — European manufacturing, logistics, utilities, process plants |