Rotating Shift Schedules: 4-on-4-off and 2-2-3 Pitman, With Hours per Week and Year
October 29, 2026
Many hospitals, factories, dispatch centers, and emergency services run around the clock using rotating shifts of 12 hours. Two popular patterns are 4-on-4-off and the 2-2-3 (Pitman) schedule. Both average 42 hours of work per week. In the 4-on-4-off pattern, a worker works four consecutive 12-hour shifts, then has four days off; the cycle is 8 days long, so the worker is on duty 4 days out of 8, or 50% of the time. Over a year of 365 days, that is 182.5 shifts, or 2,190 hours.
In a 2-2-3 schedule, a team works two days on, two days off, three days on, then two days off, two days on, and three days off, over a 14-day cycle: 7 shifts of 12 hours in 14 days, again 50% of days, 84 hours per 14 days, or 42 hours a week.
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A standard Monday-to-Friday 8-hour schedule gives 5 × 8 × 52 = 2,080 hours a year before holidays. A 12-hour rotating pattern averages 42 hours a week × 52.14 = 2,190 hours, about 5% more. In many jurisdictions, hours beyond 40 a week are overtime, but with 12-hour shifts, employers may use a work period averaged over 14 or 28 days (as allowed in some public safety sectors, e.g., an 80-hour two-week period). In the 2-2-3 pattern, one 14-day period contains 84 hours, 4 over 80, so 2 hours per week of overtime if the 40-hour-week rule applies. Check local labor rules and the contract, since overtime is calculated differently by region and sector.
| Schedule | Hours per week (average) | Hours per year | Days worked per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 (Mon to Fri) | 40 | 2,080 | 260 |
| 4-on-4-off, 12 h | 42 | 2,190 | 182.5 |
| 2-2-3 (Pitman), 12 h | 42 | 2,190 | 182.5 |
| 4 x 10 (compressed week) | 40 | 2,080 | 208 |
| 3 x 12 (plus 4 h) | 36 to 40 | 1,872 to 2,080 | 156 |
Weekends and Time Off
On a 4-on-4-off cycle, the schedule runs on an 8-day cycle that moves relative to the weekly calendar, so weekend days off come at varying intervals: the worker gets about 91 weekend days off in a year (the same share of days as any other day). With the Pitman pattern, every other weekend is a full 3-day weekend off (Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Monday on rotation), a favorite feature because the long weekends give regular time with family. Total days off per year: 182.5 with either pattern compared with 105 weekend days plus holidays and leave on a standard schedule, although the days off come in blocks of 2 to 4 days.
Pay and Budgeting
For an hourly worker earning $25, 2,190 hours a year yields $54,750 at straight time, against $52,000 for 2,080 hours, before any overtime. If scheduled overtime applies for hours beyond 40 a week at 1.5 times the rate, the extra 2 hours per week for 52 weeks (104 hours) at $37.50 add an additional $3,900 in total. Paycheck timing is based on pay periods, not shifts, so a pay period may contain more or fewer shifts than average: biweekly pay periods contain 6, 7, or 8 shifts. Budget with average income.
Fatigue, Health, and Handovers
Long shifts and night work carry health risks, including sleep disruption, fatigue, and accidents. Good practice includes at least 11 hours between shifts, limiting consecutive night shifts, forward rotation, and allowing recovery days. The consecutive long shifts in the 2-2-3 pattern are limited to three, while 4-on-4-off has four in a row. Employers and workers should consider fatigue management programs. Shift handovers are critical for continuity of care and safety, and are often scheduled with overlaps of 15 to 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a week is a 4-on-4-off schedule?
An average of 42 hours with 12-hour shifts.
What is the 2-2-3 schedule?
A 14-day rotation of two days on, two off, three on, two off, two on, three off with 12-hour shifts, also called Pitman.
How many shifts does a 12-hour rotating worker do per year?
About 182 or 183.
Is there overtime on a 12-hour rotating schedule?
It depends on local rules and the contract. Many systems average hours over 14 or 28 days.
Which schedule gives more long weekends?
The 2-2-3 pattern provides a three-day weekend off every other week.