25 Shift Pattern Examples (With Visual Calendars)

Sometimes the fastest way to choose a shift pattern is to see twenty-five of them. Below, the library's patterns in one visual parade — two rendered as live calendars, the rest one line each with what they're best at, every one linked to its full guide (interactive calendar, honest math, free template).

Example 1 — the Panama 2-2-3: four crews, every other weekend off

Example 2 — the continental: fast forward rotation on 8-hour shifts

The 12-hour, four-crew family

3. Pitman — the 2-2-3 with fixed day/night crews. 4. DuPont — 7 straight days off every cycle. 5. 4 on 4 off — the simplest rhythm in the class. 6. 3 on 3 off — shorter runs, 3-day breaks. 7. 2 on 2 off — never tired, never long off. 8. 2-3-2 — the midweek seat on the fortnight wheel. 9. 3-2-2 — earn the break early. 10. 3-4-4-3 — two blocks, two long breaks. 11. 5-5-4 — three crews, 5-day break, honest overtime. 12. 7 on 7 off — whole alternating weeks. 13. Day/night rotation — the two-shift share.

The 8 & 10-hour rotations

14. Southern Swing — a week per shift, rotating forward. 15. 4-3 ten-hour — six teams, overlap hours, true 40. 16. 6 on 2 off — dense four-crew 8-hour cover. 17. 6 on 3 off — the 9-day rhythm. 18. 5 on 4 off — real breaks on 10s. 19. 5 on 3 off — the rolling work week. 20. Bi-weekly rotation — a fortnight per shift type. 21. Two-shift system — earlies and lates, no nights.

Compressed, remote & weekend designs

22. 4/10 — the weekly 3-day weekend. 23. 9/80 — every other Friday off. 24. 14 on 14 off — the FIFO fortnight swing. 25. Baylor plan — weekends only, paid like full weeks.

Want the full set with the picker? The complete pattern library holds every guide; the template gallery collects every download; and the decision framework turns examples into a shortlist.

Build this schedule in Tommy

Set the rotation once and Tommy fills the weeks ahead — shift swaps, leave and coverage gaps handled in one place, with your team always seeing the latest version.

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