How the 3 on 3 off schedule works
You work 3 shifts, then have 3 days off, in a 6-day cycle that keeps moving through the week. It averages 42 hours a week with 12-hour shifts, and any given week has 36 or 48 hours.
For round-the-clock coverage, four crews are used. In the fixed version, two crews always work days and two always work nights. In the rotating version, a crew works 3 days, has 3 off, works 3 nights and has 3 off (a 12-day cycle).
Because the cycle is 6 days long, your days off fall a day earlier each week, so weekends off come and go.
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew A | D | D | D | · | · | · |
| Crew B | · | · | · | D | D | D |
| Crew C | N | N | N | · | · | · |
| Crew D | · | · | · | N | N | N |
| Week 1 | Week 2 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F |
| Crew A | D | D | D | · | · | · | N | N | N | · | · | · |
| Crew B | · | · | · | D | D | D | · | · | · | N | N | N |
| Crew C | N | N | N | · | · | · | D | D | D | · | · | · |
| Crew D | · | · | · | N | N | N | · | · | · | D | D | D |
3 on 3 off schedule at a glance
- Cycle length
- 6 days
- Shifts per year
- about 183
- Average hours per week
- 42
- Hours in a single week
- 36 to 48
- Weekends fully off per year
- about 13 of 52
- Longest break
- 3 days in a row
- Day shift (typical)
- 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Night shift (typical)
- 7:00 pm – 7:00 am (next day)
Calculated from the rotation itself, assuming the cycle starts on a Monday. Your weekends and holidays depend on how your employer lines up the cycle, so set your own date in the calendar above.
Pros and cons
What people like
- Only 3 long shifts in a row.
- Three days off after every block.
- Simple, easy-to-remember pattern.
- Half the year off.
What's hard
- Weekends off are irregular.
- Shorter breaks than 4 on 4 off or DuPont.
- Rotating versions switch between days and nights often.
- 12-hour shifts.
Who uses the 3 on 3 off schedule
Variations
- Fixed days or nights
- Two day crews and two night crews. This page's calendar starts here.
- Rotating
- 3 days, 3 off, 3 nights, 3 off. Choose "3 on 3 off (rotating days and nights)" in the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 3 on 3 off schedule?
It's a rotating schedule where you work three shifts in a row (usually 12 hours) and then have three days off, repeating every six days.
How many hours a week is 3 on 3 off?
42 hours on average with 12-hour shifts. A single week has either 36 or 48 hours.
Is 3 on 3 off better than 4 on 4 off?
Both average the same hours. 3 on 3 off has shorter work stretches but shorter breaks; 4 on 4 off has longer stretches and longer breaks. It comes down to whether you'd rather rest more often or for longer.
How many weekends off do you get on 3 on 3 off?
It varies by crew and year, because the 6-day cycle drifts through the week. The calendar's stats count your exact weekends off for any year.
This page is general information, not legal or payroll advice. Calendars are for personal planning: confirm your official schedule, pay and overtime with your employer.