On-call rota template

An on-call rota shows who is on call and when, so everyone knows who to contact out of hours. People take turns by the week or by the night, each in their own color, and the pattern repeats until you change it. Set your start date, change the names and share one link with the team.

The turns repeat from this date.

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Updated

On-call rota

16 November – 13 December 2026 · repeats every 28 days · On call, 9am–9am

  • AAnna
  • BBen
  • CCara
  • DDev

16–29 November

TeamMo16Tu17We18Th19Fr20Sa21Su22Mo23Tu24We25Th26Fr27Sa28Su29
AnnaOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
BenOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9am
CaraOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
DevOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOff

30 November – 13 December

TeamMo30Tu1We2Th3Fr4Sa5Su6Mo7Tu8We9Th10Fr11Sa12Su13
AnnaOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
BenOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
CaraOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
DevOffOffOffOffOffOffOffOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9amOn call, 9am–9am

Pick a dayDetails below

Monday16

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Tuesday17

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Wednesday18

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Thursday19

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Friday20

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Saturday21

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

Sunday22

  • Anna9am–9amOn call

Off: Ben, Cara, Dev

The four weeks

16 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
AnnaAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9amAOn call, 9am–9am
BenOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
CaraOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
DevOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
23 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
AnnaOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
BenBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9amBOn call, 9am–9am
CaraOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
DevOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
30 NovMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
AnnaOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
BenOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
CaraCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9amCOn call, 9am–9am
DevOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
7 DecMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
AnnaOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
BenOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
CaraOffOffOffOffOffOffOff
DevDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9amDOn call, 9am–9am
4 teamsMade with Schedule Gizmo

At a glance

Turns
A week or a night each
Colors
One per person
Repeats
Until you change it
People
As many as you like
Shows
4 weeks ahead
Cost
Free, no account

Weekly or nightly turns?

Weekly or nightly on-call turns
A week eachA night each
Best forTeams of 4 or more; IT, maintenance, managersSmall teams; short calls in the evening
HandoverOnce a week (often Monday morning)Every day
Fair shareEach person is on call 1 week in 4 with 4 peopleEach person is on call 1 night in 4 with 4 people
WatchA busy week is tiringWeekend nights may need extra pay

Tips for a fair on-call rota

Make it yours

  • One line per person, then their turns: C is on call, a dash is off.
  • The shifts line sets the on-call hours.
  • With one shift, each person gets their own color.
  • Share one link with the team.
start: 2026-11-16
shifts: C=On call 6pm-8am
Anna: C - - -
Ben: - C - -
Cara: - - C -
Dev: - - - C

Questions

How do I make an on-call rota?

List the people, then the turns: a week each or a night each. The pattern repeats from the start date, so it stays current.

How many people do I need for an on-call rota?

Four or more keeps it fair: each person is on call one week in four. With fewer, turns come round quickly.

Can each person have their own color?

Yes. When everyone covers the same on-call shift, each person is colored automatically.

Can people swap turns?

Yes. Change the pattern in the maker; a live link (Pro) updates for everyone.

Related

Make your on-call rota

It takes about a minute. No account needed.

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