4-on-4-off Schedule
A 4-on-4-off schedule means you work four consecutive 12-hour shifts, then get four consecutive days off, repeating on an 8-day cycle. Because the cycle isn't a 7-day week, your workdays drift across the calendar — but you always know the pattern and you get a 4-day break every 8 days. It averages 42 hours per week across a full cycle.
A 4-on-4-off schedule means you work four consecutive 12-hour shifts, then get four consecutive days off, repeating on an 8-day cycle. Because the cycle isn't a 7-day week, your workdays drift across the calendar — but you always know the pattern and you get a 4-day break every 8 days. It averages 42 hours per week across a full cycle. Data from BLS + Jobeezy ghost-filter (2026).
### 4-on-4-off Schedule key facts 4-on-4-off is a 12-hour shift pattern: 4 consecutive shifts, then 4 full days off, repeating every 8 days. Averages 42 hrs/week and gives 4-day breaks year-round. - Cycle: 8 days, 4 crews (2 day, 2 night) - Average hours: 42 hrs/week averaged (alternates 36- and 48-hour weeks)4-on-4-off Schedule calendar
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Day | Day | Day | Day | Off | Off | Off |
| Week 2 | Off | Day | Day | Day | Day | Off | Off |
| Week 3 | Off | Off | Off | Night | Night | Night | Night |
| Week 4 | Off | Off | Off | Off | Off | Off | Off |
At a glance
| Shift length | 12 hours |
|---|---|
| Cycle | 8 days, 4 crews (2 day, 2 night) |
| Average hours | 42 hrs/week averaged (alternates 36- and 48-hour weeks) |
Who uses the 4-on-4-off schedule?
Security, oil & gas, mining, airport operations, casinos, and UK-style policing; common wherever 24/7 coverage needs simple, predictable crews.
Pros
- A 4-day mini-vacation every 8 days, all year
- Dead-simple pattern — easy to plan months ahead
- Only ~183 workdays a year
Cons
- Four 12-hour shifts in a row is fatiguing by day 4
- The 8-day cycle drifts, so you work a rotating share of weekends
- Day/night rotating variants are tough on sleep
Frequently asked questions
- How many hours a year is 4-on-4-off?
- About 2,190 hours (183 shifts × 12 hours) — similar annual hours to a 9-to-5, compressed into half the days.
- Do you get weekends off on 4-on-4-off?
- Sometimes. Because the cycle is 8 days, your 4-off block rotates through the week — you'll get full weekends off regularly, but not every week.
- Is 4-on-4-off full time?
- Yes — it averages 42 hours a week, slightly over a standard full-time load.
Other shift patterns
- DuPont Schedule
- 2-2-3 Schedule (Pitman / Panama)
- 9/80 Schedule
- 4/10 Schedule (Four Tens)
- Kelly Schedule (24-Hour Shifts)
- Southern Swing Schedule
Shift hours at major employers
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