How the 4 on 4 off rotation works
In the version shown in the calendar, each crew works 4 day shifts, has 4 days off, works 4 night shifts and has 4 days off: a 16-day cycle. Crews start 4 days apart, so every day has one crew on days, one on nights and two off.
- Days 1–4: day shifts
- Days 5–8: off
- Days 9–12: night shifts
- Days 13–16: off
Common variations
4 on 4 off describes the rhythm, not the shifts, so teams run it in different ways:
- Alternating blocks: one block of 4 days, then a block of 4 nights, as above.
- Fixed crews: two crews always on days and two always on nights, each on 4 on 4 off.
- Split block: 2 day shifts, then 2 night shifts, then 4 days off, an 8-day cycle.
Hours, overtime and weekends
You work half the days of the year: about 182 or 183 shifts, 2,190 hours, 42 hours a week on average. Because the cycle is 8 days and the week is 7, your work days move one weekday later each cycle.
That drift means calendar weeks come in runs of 36-hour weeks and 48-hour weeks, averaging 4 overtime hours a week under the 40-hour rule. It also means weekends move: a crew gets 6 full weekends off in every 16 weeks.
The trade-off
The rule is easy to remember and the break always matches the work block. The cost is four 12-hour shifts back to back, 48 hours in 4 days, and NIOSH links 12-hour shifts to lower alertness and less sleep. The PowerDMS guide for police schedulers recommends watching fatigue over the four consecutive workdays.
Pros and cons
- The simplest rule of any 24/7 rotation: 4 on, 4 off.
- Every work block is followed by 4 full days off.
- In the alternating version, everyone shares nights equally.
- No 72-hour weeks, unlike DuPont.
- Four 12-hour shifts in a row, 48 hours in 4 days.
- Work days move through the week, so there are no fixed weekends off.
- Four night shifts in a row in the alternating version.
- 48-hour weeks bring overtime under the 40-hour rule.
Who it works for
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Security
- Emergency services
FAQ
What is a 4 on 4 off schedule?
A shift pattern where you work four 12-hour shifts in a row and then have four days off. Four crews on staggered cycles keep a site covered 24 hours a day.
How many hours a week is 4 on 4 off?
42 hours on average with 12-hour shifts. Individual weeks are either 36 or 48 hours.
How many days a year do you work on 4 on 4 off?
About 182 or 183 shifts, half the days of the year, which is about 2,190 hours.
Do you get weekends off on 4 on 4 off?
Sometimes. The 8-day cycle drifts across the 7-day week, so a crew gets a full weekend off in 6 of every 16 weeks, never on a fixed pattern.
Is 4 on 4 off a good schedule?
It suits people who want long, regular breaks and a simple rule. It's hard on people who struggle with four 12-hour shifts, or four nights, in a row.
4 on 4 off vs DuPont: which is better?
Both average 42 hours a week with four crews. 4 on 4 off is steady: 4 on, 4 off, every time. DuPont has uneven blocks, one 72-hour week and a 7-day break every 4 weeks.