4 ON 4 OFF GUIDE
Plan a 4 on, 4 off schedule
Four workdays followed by four days off sounds simple—but because the eight-day cycle does not match a seven-day week, your workdays move across the calendar. A generated calendar removes the guesswork.
Build my schedule freeHow the 4 on 4 off rotation works
You work four consecutive shifts, take four consecutive days off, and repeat. Depending on the employer, shifts may be eight, ten or twelve hours and may alternate between days and nights.
The rotation moves by one weekday each cycle. That means weekends are not permanently working or free, but the pattern stays predictable far into the future.
Why workers use a full-year calendar
Counting four days at a time becomes surprisingly easy to misread over several months. A yearly view makes vacations, appointments and family plans much easier.
- See every workday and day off
- Check holidays months ahead
- Mark expected paydays
- Follow the next-shift countdown
Set the rotation correctly
Choose a confirmed first workday in one of your four-day work blocks. Enter that date as the cycle start, select 4 on / 4 off and add your normal shift time.
If your employer rotates day and night crews, create the calendar for the current phase and verify when the shift-time change occurs.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
How many hours per week is 4 on 4 off?
It depends on shift length. Twelve-hour shifts average about 42 hours per week across the full eight-day cycle.
Does 4 on 4 off include weekends?
Yes. Because the cycle is eight days long, work blocks and rest blocks gradually move through every weekday.
Can I add paydays to the calendar?
Yes. Shift & Pay can display weekly, biweekly, four-weekly or monthly paydays from one known payday.