How the 4 on 4 off schedule works
The pattern is as simple as it sounds: 4 shifts on, 4 days off, repeating every 8 days. Because 8 days isn't a week, your days off move through the week, so you'll get some weekends off and some weekends at work.
With 12-hour shifts, 4 on 4 off averages 42 hours a week. A single week has either 36 or 48 hours.
For 24/7 coverage, four crews are used. In the fixed version, two crews work days and two work nights, each pair taking turns. In the rotating version, a crew works 4 days, has 4 off, works 4 nights, and has 4 off (a 16-day cycle). Both are in the calendar.
| Week 1 | Week 2 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M |
| Crew A | D | D | D | D | · | · | · | · |
| Crew B | · | · | · | · | D | D | D | D |
| Crew C | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | · |
| Crew D | · | · | · | · | N | N | N | N |
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T |
| Crew A | D | D | D | D | · | · | · | · | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | · |
| Crew B | · | · | · | · | D | D | D | D | · | · | · | · | N | N | N | N |
| Crew C | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | · | D | D | D | D | · | · | · | · |
| Crew D | · | · | · | · | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | · | D | D | D | D |
4 on 4 off schedule at a glance
- Cycle length
- 8 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 16 of 52
- Longest break
- 4 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
- Four full days off after every block.
- Simple to remember and plan around.
- Only half the days of the year are workdays.
- Fixed versions keep you on days or nights.
What's hard
- Four 12-hour shifts in a row are tiring.
- Weekends off move around and aren't guaranteed.
- Rotating versions switch between days and nights.
- Weekly hours alternate between 36 and 48.
Who uses the 4 on 4 off schedule
Variations
- Fixed days or nights
- Two day crews and two night crews. This page's calendar starts here.
- Rotating days and nights
- 4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off. Choose "4 on 4 off (rotating days and nights)" in the calendar.
- 4 on 4 off with 10-hour shifts
- Used in some places with fewer crews. Change the shift length under "Shift times".
Frequently asked questions
What is a 4 on 4 off schedule?
It's a rotating schedule where you work four shifts in a row (usually 12 hours each) and then have four days off. The 8-day cycle repeats, so your days off move through the week.
How many hours is 4 on 4 off?
With 12-hour shifts it averages 42 hours a week. Any single week has either 36 or 48 hours, depending on where the blocks fall.
How many days a year do you work on 4 on 4 off?
About 182 or 183 days, which is half the year: roughly 2,190 hours with 12-hour shifts.
Do you get weekends off on 4 on 4 off?
Some. Because the cycle is 8 days, your days off shift forward one day each week. A full Saturday and Sunday off comes around a few times every couple of months. The calendar's stats show your exact number for the year.
Is 4 on 4 off a good schedule?
People like the long, frequent breaks and the simple pattern. The trade-offs are four long shifts in a row and weekends that come and go.
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.