How the 4 on 3 off schedule works
You work 4 days, then have 3 days off, every week. With 10-hour days, that's a full 40-hour week packed into four days. The cycle is exactly one week long, so the same days are always workdays.
Most people on four tens work Monday to Thursday and get a 3-day weekend every week, but some teams cover Thursday to Sunday or other combinations. In the calendar, set your anchor to the first day of your four, and the year lines up.
Some employers use 12-hour shifts on a 4-and-3 pattern that changes from week to week, like 4 on, 3 off, then 3 on, 4 off. You can build that exactly with the custom schedule builder.
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew A | D | D | D | D | · | · | · |
Some sites use "4-3-3-4" for the DuPont schedule, which is a different rotation.
4 on 3 off schedule at a glance
- Cycle length
- 7 days
- Shifts per year
- about 208
- Average hours per week
- 40
- Hours in a single week
- 40
- Weekends fully off per year
- Every weekend
- Longest break
- 3 days in a row
- Day shift (typical)
- 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
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
- A 3-day weekend every week.
- One fewer commute per week.
- Same days every week: very predictable.
- Still 40 hours, so no pay cut.
What's hard
- 10-hour days are long, especially with childcare.
- Many federal holidays fall on Mondays, which may already be a day off (or may not, depending on your four days).
- Doesn't cover 24/7 operations on its own.
Who uses the 4 on 3 off schedule
Variations
- Monday–Thursday
- The most common setup, with Friday to Sunday off.
- Tuesday–Friday or Thursday–Sunday
- Used to cover weekends or staff a business six or seven days a week with two teams.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 4 on 3 off schedule?
It's a work week of four 10-hour days followed by three days off, for 40 hours a week. It's also called a 4×10, four tens or compressed work week.
Do you get overtime on a 4×10 schedule?
Under federal law, overtime is usually based on hours over 40 in a workweek, so a standard 4×10 has no overtime. Some states, like California, also have daily overtime rules, so employers there typically need an approved alternative workweek arrangement. Check with HR.
How do holidays work on a 4 on 3 off schedule?
It depends on your employer. If a holiday falls on one of your workdays, many employers give 10 hours of holiday pay; if it falls on a day you're already off, some give another day off and some don't. The calendar shows which holidays land on your workdays.
Is 4 on 3 off the same as 4-3-3-4?
No. "4-3-3-4" is a name for the DuPont schedule, a 12-hour rotation. 4 on 3 off is a weekly schedule.
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.