Shift Pattern Calculator 2026
Calculate total hours worked, days off, and average weekly hours for any rotating shift schedule. Perfect for planning 4 on 4 off, Panama, or custom rotas.
Shift Pattern Details
Enter your shift schedule parameters to calculate your working hours
Number of consecutive working days in your cycle.
Number of consecutive rest days in your cycle.
Total duration of a single shift in hours.
Total unpaid break time deducted per shift.
Total number of days to calculate the pattern over (e.g., 28 for a 4-week period).
Your Shift Analysis
Total hours, days off, and average weekly workload
Enter your shift pattern details above and click Calculate Shift Hours to reveal your working hours analysis.
Common Shift Patterns
Popular rotating shift schedules used across healthcare, manufacturing, emergency services, and corporate operations.
| Pattern Name | Cycle Structure | Avg Hours/Week | Common Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 on 4 off | 4 Days On / 4 Days Off | 42.0 hrs | Healthcare, Manufacturing |
| Panama (2-2-3) | 2 on, 2 off, 3 on / 2 off, 2 on, 3 off | 42.0 hrs | Emergency Services, Utilities |
| 5 on 2 off | 5 Days On / 2 Days Off | 40.0 hrs | Corporate, Retail, Education |
| 2 on 2 off 3 on | 2 on, 2 off, 3 on (8-day cycle) | 42.0 hrs | Continuous Manufacturing |
| 3 on 3 off | 3 Days On / 3 Days Off | 40.0 hrs | Logistics, Security |
| 9/80 Compressed | Four 9-hr days + One 8-hr day / 1 day off | 40.0 hrs | Office, Government |
| DuPont (4-crew) | 4 on, 4 off, 4 on (3 nights, 1 day off, 3 days) | 42.0 hrs | Chemical, Oil & Gas |
| Pitman (2-2-3) | Similar to Panama with 12h shifts | 42.0 hrs | Call Centers, IT Support |
Shift Pattern Calculator FAQ
Everything you need to know about calculating rotating shifts, understanding common rotas, and tracking your working hours.
To calculate your shift pattern hours, first determine your cycle length (Days On + Days Off). Divide your total calculation period by this cycle length to find the number of full cycles. Multiply the number of full cycles by your ‘Days On’ to get total shifts, then multiply by your shift length in hours. Subtract any unpaid break times to get your net working hours.
A 4 on 4 off shift pattern is a rotating schedule where an employee works four consecutive shifts (often 12 hours each) followed by four consecutive days off. This creates an 8-day cycle. Over the course of a year, it averages out to exactly 42 hours per week, making it popular in healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency services.
The Panama shift pattern, also known as the 2-2-3 schedule, is a rotating 14-day cycle using two teams. It consists of 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, followed by 2 days off, 2 days on, and 3 days off. This pattern ensures that employees work every other weekend off and averages 42 hours per week on a 12-hour shift basis.
To find the average weekly hours for a rotating shift, calculate your total net working hours over a full cycle (or a specific number of days) and divide that by the number of weeks in that period. For example, if you work 168 net hours over a 28-day period (4 weeks), your average weekly hours would be 168 / 4 = 42 hours per week.
Unpaid break time reduces your total net working hours, which is the figure typically used for payroll and average weekly hour calculations. For example, if you work a 12-hour shift but take a 1-hour unpaid break, your net working hours for that shift are 11 hours. This calculator automatically deducts unpaid breaks from your gross hours.
12-hour shift patterns offer several benefits, including more consecutive days off, which improves work-life balance and reduces commuting time and costs. They also require fewer shift handovers, which can improve continuity of care in healthcare settings and reduce administrative overhead in manufacturing.