4 on 4 off schedule template (12‑hour shifts)

A 4 on 4 off schedule means four 12-hour shifts, then four days off. With four teams it covers 24/7: two teams on days and two on nights, or every team rotating between days and nights. Each person works half the days of the year, about 42 hours a week on average.

The schedule redraws with your dates.

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4 on 4 off schedule

16 November – 13 December 2026 · repeats every 8 days

  • DDay7am–7pm
  • NNight7pm–7am

16–29 November

TeamMo16Tu17We18Th19Fr20Sa21Su22Mo23Tu24We25Th26Fr27Sa28Su29
Team ADay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOff
Team BOffOffOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pm
Team CNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOff
Team DOffOffOffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7am

30 November – 13 December

TeamMo30Tu1We2Th3Fr4Sa5Su6Mo7Tu8We9Th10Fr11Sa12Su13
Team AOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pm
Team BDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOff
Team COffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7am
Team DNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOff

Pick a dayDetails below

Monday16

  • Team A7am–7pmDay
  • Team C7pm–7amNight

Off: Team B, Team D

Tuesday17

  • Team A7am–7pmDay
  • Team C7pm–7amNight

Off: Team B, Team D

Wednesday18

  • Team A7am–7pmDay
  • Team C7pm–7amNight

Off: Team B, Team D

Thursday19

  • Team A7am–7pmDay
  • Team C7pm–7amNight

Off: Team B, Team D

Friday20

  • Team B7am–7pmDay
  • Team D7pm–7amNight

Off: Team A, Team C

Saturday21

  • Team B7am–7pmDay
  • Team D7pm–7amNight

Off: Team A, Team C

Sunday22

  • Team B7am–7pmDay
  • Team D7pm–7amNight

Off: Team A, Team C

The four weeks

16 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
Team ADDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOff
Team BOffOffOffOffDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pm
Team CNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOff
Team DOffOffOffOffNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7am
23 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
Team AOffDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmOffOff
Team BDDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pm
Team COffNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amOffOff
Team DNNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7am
30 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
Team AOffOffDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmOff
Team BDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOffDDay, 7am–7pm
Team COffOffNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amOff
Team DNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOffNNight, 7pm–7am
7 DecMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
Team AOffOffOffDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pm
Team BDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmDDay, 7am–7pmOffOffOffOff
Team COffOffOffNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7am
Team DNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amNNight, 7pm–7amOffOffOffOff
4 teamsMade with Schedule Gizmo

At a glance

Cycle
8 days (16 when rotating)
Teams
4 for 24/7, 2 for days only
Shift length
12 hours
Days worked
Half the year, about 182
Average week
42 hours
Days off
4 in a row, every time

The pattern

D is a 12-hour day shift, N a 12-hour night shift, and a dash is a day off. Choose fixed teams (people stay on days or on nights) or rotating ones (everyone shares the nights).

Fixed days and nights (8-day cycle)

4 on 4 off schedule: Fixed days and nights (8-day cycle)
TeamDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6Day 7Day 8
Team ADDDD––––
Team B––––DDDD
Team CNNNN––––
Team D––––NNNN

Rotating days and nights (16-day cycle)

4 on 4 off schedule: Rotating days and nights (16-day cycle)
TeamDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9Day 10Day 11Day 12Day 13Day 14Day 15Day 16
Team ADDDD––––NNNN––––
Team B––––DDDD––––NNNN
Team CNNNN––––DDDD––––
Team D––––NNNN––––DDDD

Why teams choose it, and what to watch

Why teams choose it

  • Four days off in a row after every block.
  • Simple to explain and to remember.
  • Fixed teams let people stay on days or on nights.

What to watch

  • Four 12-hour shifts in a row are tiring, especially nights.
  • The days off move through the week, so weekends off come and go.
  • With fixed teams, the night teams always work nights.
  • Check local overtime rules: some weeks have 48 hours.

Make it yours

  • Set the first day of your cycle.
  • Rename the teams, or list people instead.
  • Change the shift times on the shifts line.
  • Share one link: everyone sees the next four weeks.

Or paste these lines into the maker, or ask ChatGPT or Claude to write them for you.

start: 2026-11-16
shifts: D=Day 7am-7pm, N=Night 7pm-7am
Team A: D D D D - - - -
Team B: - - - - D D D D
Team C: N N N N - - - -
Team D: - - - - N N N N

Questions

How many hours a year is 4 on 4 off?

About 2,190 hours: roughly 182 twelve-hour shifts. That's about 42 hours a week on average.

Is 4 on 4 off full time?

Yes. It averages about 42 hours a week, similar to other 12-hour patterns such as Pitman and DuPont.

How many teams do I need for 4 on 4 off?

Four for round-the-clock cover (two on days, two on nights) and two for daytime only.

Fixed or rotating teams?

Fixed teams suit people who prefer days or nights and keep sleep regular. Rotating teams share the nights fairly; the 16-day pattern here gives four days off between the switch.

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