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 free4 on, 4 off cycle at a glance
Start with day one as a confirmed first workday. Each row shows the work or off status in the repeating pattern used by the calendar below. The table shows the rotation, not a promise of an assigned shift time.
| Cycle day | Status |
|---|---|
| 1 | Work |
| 2 | Work |
| 3 | Work |
| 4 | Work |
| 5 | Off |
| 6 | Off |
| 7 | Off |
| 8 | Off |
After the last row, return to day one and repeat. Compare the order with your employer’s actual roster before using it to plan time away; a different crew or an employer-specific change can shift the dates.
Worked example: two cycles
This is an example, not your assigned schedule. If the first workday is 2026-01-01, the first cycle runs from 2026-01-01 through 2026-01-08. Its days off are 2026-01-05, 2026-01-06, 2026-01-07, 2026-01-08.
The second cycle runs from 2026-01-09 through 2026-01-16. Its days off are 2026-01-13, 2026-01-14, 2026-01-15, 2026-01-16. The same sequence then continues; enter your own confirmed start date in the calendar to see your dates.
The sequence has 4 workdays in 8 days. That averages 3.5 days worked per week and about 182.6 per average calendar year. A particular year’s total depends on its length and where the cycle starts; holidays, leave and overtime are not included.
BUILD IT HERE
Your 4 on / 4 off calendar
Set your first workday and a confirmed payday. Your full year updates instantly.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
How 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
- Open the full tool for a shift countdown
How to choose your start date
Ask your supervisor or consult an official roster for the first day of a complete work block. The date must be the first of the four consecutive workdays, not just any day when you happen to be working. If you start on the second or third day, the calendar will be offset.
Enter that date in the first-workday field above, then compare several work and off dates against your roster. Check a date beyond the first block as well, so an incorrectly anchored cycle is easier to spot. The year selector lets you inspect a different year without changing the anchor.
If your roster alternates crews or shift times, confirm the dates and times with your employer. The embedded calendar marks workdays and days off and lets you choose one shift label; it does not automatically switch between day and night. For a shift-time countdown and the full planning tools, open the homepage calendar.
Planning work and paydays
A repeating eight-day cycle moves across the seven-day week, so a work block that includes one weekend will not always include the next. Use the calendar as a planning aid, not a substitute for changes, overtime, leave, or a confirmed employer roster.
The payday markers use a separate known payday and pay frequency. They do not change the rotation, and your employer’s pay dates may need their own confirmation. Entering a work-cycle date does not establish a payday.
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.