Custom Shift Schedule Generator
Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. The link keeps the pattern, crews, offsets, hours, start date and months, so whoever opens it sees the same calendar.
Type your rotation the way you would say it, for example 4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off, pick how many crews share it, and the generator draws each crew's calendar month by month, adds up the shifts and hours, and checks that every day is covered. Download the shifts to your phone's calendar, print them, or copy a link that opens the same schedule.
Start from a common rotation
Each button fills in the pattern and crews; change anything after. The full guides: Pitman (2-2-3), Panama (2-2-3), DuPont, 4 on, 4 off, 24/48, 48/96, Southern Swing, 4/10.
How to write a pattern
- Counts and words:
4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 offor4D 4O 4N 4O. Words: days, nights, swings (evenings), 24h (24-hour shifts), on (= days) and off. - Numbers only:
2-2-3or5-2alternate on and off, starting with on. An odd count of numbers repeats once so the cycle ends on days off, which is how 2-2-3 becomes the 14-day Pitman pattern. - One letter per day:
DDNNOOOOorD D N N O O O O, with D day, N night, S swing, W 24-hour shift and O (or X, or -) off.
Crew start offsets are how many days after crew A each crew starts the same cycle. The default spreads the crews evenly (cycle length ÷ crews), which covers a two-shift 24/7 rotation with four crews. The summary shows how many crews are on each shift every day, so you can see gaps or double cover before you publish a roster.
Common rotations in this format
| Rotation | Pattern to type | Cycle (days) | Avg hours/week | Crews (on duty each day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 on, 4 off (days and nights) | 4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off | 16 | 42 | 4 (1 day, 1 night) |
| Pitman / 2-2-3 (day crews) | 2-2-3 | 14 | 42 | 2 (1 day) |
| Panama (days, then nights) | 2 days, 2 off, 3 days, 2 off, 2 days, 3 off, 2 nights, 2 off, 3 nights, 2 off, 2 nights, 3 off | 28 | 42 | 4 (1 day, 1 night) |
| DuPont | 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, 7 off | 28 | 42 | 4 (1 day, 1 night) |
| Southern Swing | 7 days, 2 off, 7 swings, 2 off, 7 nights, 3 off | 28 | 42 | 4 (1 day, 1 swing, 1 night) |
| 5 on, 2 off | 5 on, 2 off | 7 | 40 | 1 (gaps on 2 days) |
| 5 on, 2 off, 5 on, 3 off | 5 on, 2 off, 5 on, 3 off | 15 | 37.3 | 1 (gaps on 5 days) |
| 24/48 (fire) | 1 24h, 2 off | 3 | 56 | 3 (1 24 h) |
| 48/96 (fire) | 2 24h, 4 off | 6 | 56 | 3 (1 24 h) |
| 3 on, 3 off | 3 days, 3 off, 3 nights, 3 off | 12 | 42 | 4 (1 day, 1 night) |
Hours per week are averages over the cycle. Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act, overtime is counted per fixed 7-day workweek, so a week with more than 40 hours pays overtime even when the average is lower. Use the overtime calculator for a specific week.
Custom shift schedule questions
How do I make a rotating shift schedule?
Write one crew's cycle (for example 4 days, 4 off, 4 nights, 4 off), choose the number of crews, and start each crew a set number of days after the one before. Four crews on a 16-day cycle start 4 days apart, so one crew is always on days and one on nights.
How many crews do I need for 24/7 coverage?
With 12-hour shifts, usually four: two on duty each day (one day, one night) and two off. With 8-hour shifts, four or five crews. With 24-hour shifts, three platoons.
Can I share or print the schedule?
Yes. Copy link puts every setting in the address, Print / PDF prints only the calendars, and the .ics download adds the shifts to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.
What is a 5 on 2 off schedule?
Five working days and two days off, repeating every week: the standard Monday-to-Friday week when it starts on a Monday, or rotating days off when it starts on another day. Type 5 on, 2 off and set the start date.
Related pages
Cite this page
APA: ClockTotals. (2026, October 18). Custom Shift Schedule Generator. https://clocktotals.com/shift-schedule/custom/
MLA: “Custom Shift Schedule Generator.” ClockTotals, 18 Oct. 2026, clocktotals.com/shift-schedule/custom/.
Link (HTML): <a href="https://clocktotals.com/shift-schedule/custom/">Custom Shift Schedule Generator</a>