The 4-3 Ten-Hour Rotation: How It Works & Template

The 4-3 ten-hour rotation is a 21-day schedule where each team works four consecutive 10-hour shifts, takes three days off, then moves to the next shift type — days, then nights, then evenings. Six staggered teams provide 24/7 coverage with built-in overlap hours, and everyone works exactly 40 hours a week.

The math

How the rotation works

The 4-3 solves a puzzle most patterns can't: 24/7 coverage with 10-hour shifts and a true 40-hour week. Three 10-hour shifts can't tile a 24-hour day cleanly — so the 4-3 leans into it: six teams run the 21-day wheel offset by half-cycles, and the resulting six hours of daily overlap become a feature, concentrated where operations want extra hands (shift change, peak demand, training).

Each person's wheel is simple and humane: 4 on, 3 off, repeating — with the shift type stepping each block. You're never more than four shifts from a 3-day break, your days off include every weekday in turn, and the 21-day cycle means the whole pattern repeats exactly three times per quarter, which planners quietly love.

Police departments are the pattern's biggest fans: the overlap hours absorb end-of-shift reports and court time without overtime, a chronic patrol problem.

Who uses it

• Police & sheriff departments — the classic 10-hour patrol plan; overlaps soak up reports and court
• Emergency communications — double-staffed transition hours at peak call times
• Hospital units with peak windows — overlap hours scheduled onto admission/discharge peaks
• 24/7 service desks — six small teams with planned double-cover at handover

Pros & Cons

Variations & alternatives

Free template download

Download the pre-built rotation calendar, ready to print or edit. No email required.

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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