What is a 2-2-3 (Pitman) schedule?

12-hour shifts in a 14-day cycle: work 2, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. Every other weekend is a 3-day weekend off, and the average is 42 hours a week. With four crews, two cover days and two cover nights.

Rotating Shift Calendar

Q: How many hours a week is a 24/48 schedule?

One 24-hour shift every three days is 56 hours a week on average, about 2,920 hours a year. 48/96 also averages 56 hours.

Turn a shift pattern into a calendar for your crew: DuPont, Pitman 2-2-3, Panama, 4 on 4 off, 3 on 3 off, Southern Swing, 24/48, 48/96, or your own pattern. See your average hours and weekends off, print it, or add every shift to Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. Nothing leaves your browser.

Your schedule

Average per week–

Shifts per year–

Longest stretch–work days in a row

Longest break–days off in a row

Full weekends off–

Who works when: next 14 days, all crews

Track the hours you actually work. Clockbird (iPhone) clocks you in with one tap, handles overnight shifts and counts daily and weekly overtime. Checking a paycheck? Use the free time card calculator or the overtime calculator.

How to use it

Pick your pattern. Not listed? Choose "My own pattern" and type one letter per day: DDNNOOOO is 2 days, 2 nights, 4 off.
Set the date crew A starts the cycle (the first letter of the pattern). The other crews follow from it, so a whole site can share one link.
Pick your crew and the shift start times, then print it or download the .ics file. Google Calendar: Settings → Import & export → Import. iPhone: open the file and tap Add All.

Common 24/7 shift patterns compared

Pattern	Cycle	Shift	Crews	Avg h/week	Longest break
DuPont	28 days: 4N 3off 3D 1off 3N 3off 4D 7off	12 h	4	42	7 days
Pitman (2-2-3)	14 days: 2 on 2 off 3 on 2 off 2 on 3 off	12 h	4 (2 days, 2 nights)	42	3 days
Panama (2-2-3 rotating)	28 days: 2-2-3 on days, then on nights	12 h	4	42	3 days
4 on 4 off	8 days	12 h	4 (2 days, 2 nights)	42	4 days
4-4-4-4 rotating	16 days: 4D 4off 4N 4off	12 h	4	42	4 days
3 on 3 off	6 days	12 h	4 (2 days, 2 nights)	42	3 days
Southern Swing	28 days: 7D 2off 7S 2off 7N 3off	8 h	4	42	3 days
24/48	3 days: 1 on 2 off	24 h	3 platoons	56	2 days
48/96	6 days: 2 on 4 off	24 h	3 platoons	56	4 days

Every 12-hour pattern above averages 42 hours a week, so some weeks run 36 hours and others 48. Under the US federal 40-hour rule, those long weeks earn overtime unless your employer uses a different work period; fire departments often use a 28-day "7(k)" period instead. The overtime calculator works out a week's pay.

FAQ

What is the DuPont schedule?

A 28-day rotation of 12-hour shifts for four crews: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, then 7 days off in a row. That week off is why people like it; the 4-night stretches are why some don't.

What is the difference between Pitman and Panama?

Both use the 2-2-3 rhythm. On a Pitman schedule each crew stays on days or on nights. Panama rotates: two weeks of days, then two weeks of nights. Names vary between employers, so check the letters in the calendar against your roster.

How long is a 1900 to 0700 night shift?

12 hours: 5 hours until midnight (2400) plus 7 after. The military time converter works out any shift length across midnight, with or without an unpaid break.

How many hours a week is a 24/48 schedule?

One 24-hour shift every three days averages 56 hours a week, or 2,920 hours a year. 48/96 (two 24-hour shifts, then four days off) has the same average with fewer, longer breaks.

Does a night shift count on the day it starts?

Here, yes: a night shift is shown on the date it begins, and the calendar file ends it the next morning. That is also how "full weekends off" are counted: a night shift that starts Friday evening belongs to Friday, so the weekend counts as off if no shift starts on Saturday or Sunday.