How to use the shift calendar
- Pick a pattern. Each preset shows its cycle in plain words under the menu. If yours is different, choose Custom and type one repeat of it with D for a day shift, N for a night and O for a day off.
- Enter the cycle start date: a day when crew A works the first shift of the cycle. If you only know your own crew’s first shift, pick your crew and adjust the date until the calendar matches your roster.
- Choose your crew (A to D), the year, the shift length and the start times of day and night shifts.
- Read the month view to see which crews are on days (D) and nights (N) on each date, and the year view for your own crew.
- Press Download .ics to add your shifts to your phone, or Print year for a paper copy.
Worked example: 4-on-4-off, crew A, 2027
Choose 4-on-4-off (4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off), a cycle start of Monday 4 January 2027 and crew A. The calendar shows:
- 182 shifts in 2027, or 2,184 hours at 12 hours a shift.
- January: 8 day shifts and 8 night shifts, 192 hours. February is lighter: 8 days and 4 nights, 144 hours.
- Crew A works the day shift on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and a night shift on New Year’s Eve.
Over the 16-day cycle the average is 42 hours a week, the same as every preset here. The .ics file holds all 182 shifts with 07:00 and 19:00 start times.
The patterns explained
All of these are ways for four crews to cover a 24-hour operation with two 12-hour shifts a day. They differ in how the days are grouped:
- 4-on-4-off: four day shifts, four days off, four nights, four off. Long breaks, but four nights in a row.
- DuPont: a 28-day cycle of 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, then 7 days off. The seven-day break once a month is its main attraction.
- Panama 2-2-3: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off over 14 days, with crews fixed on days or nights. You get every other weekend off as a three-day weekend.
- Pitman: the same 2-2-3 rhythm, but crews swap between days and nights every two weeks, so nobody is on permanent nights. Some employers use “Pitman” for the fixed version too.
- Continental 2-2-4: 2 days, 2 nights, then 4 off. Quick rotation and frequent breaks. The word “continental” is also used for several 8-hour patterns, so check your roster.
Our guide to common 12-hour shift patterns compares them in more detail, including weekends off and how many nights in a row each one asks for.
Getting your shifts into your phone
The .ics file is a standard calendar file. On an iPhone, open it from Downloads or Files and tap Add All; on Android, import it in Google Calendar on a computer (Settings, Import and export) and it syncs to the phone. In Outlook, use File, Open and Export, then Import. Times are saved as local “floating” times, so a 07:00 shift stays 07:00 when the clocks change in spring and autumn. Night shifts end the next morning in the calendar, so they show across midnight correctly.
Tip: import into a new, separate calendar (for example “Shifts”). If your roster changes, you can delete that calendar and import a fresh file without touching your other events.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week is a 4-on-4-off shift pattern?
With 12-hour shifts, 4-on-4-off averages 42 hours a week: 8 shifts in every 16 days is 96 hours, divided by 16 and multiplied by 7. Real weeks swing between 36 and 48 hours depending on where the blocks fall.
What is the difference between Panama and Pitman schedules?
Both use the 2-2-3 rhythm over 14 days. In this tool, Panama keeps two crews on days and two on nights permanently, while Pitman rotates each crew between days and nights every two weeks. Employers use the names loosely, so compare the D and N letters with your own roster.
Why does my crew’s calendar look shifted by a few days?
The cycle start date is the day crew A works the first shift of the pattern. If your calendar is off, move the start date forward or back a day at a time until one of your known shifts lines up; the whole year updates as you change it.
Can I use 8-hour or 10-hour shifts?
Yes. Change the shift length to 8 or 10 hours. The counts, hours and the end times in the .ics file use the new length. The presets are designed for 12-hour shifts, so for 8-hour patterns with three shifts a day, use the custom option.
Is my roster saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calendar is calculated in your browser and the .ics file is created on your device. Nothing is uploaded, and nothing is kept after you close the page.