Shift pattern comparison
2 on 2 off vs 4 on 4 off
2 on 2 off runs a 4 day cycle: 2 shifts of 12 hours, then 2 days off. 4 on 4 off runs 8 days: 4 shifts of 12 hours, then 4 days off.
Every number below is calendar math on real dates, averaged over every phase of each cycle, because where a crew starts changes the answer. Nothing here is estimated and nothing is hand counted.
The numbers, side by side
| Metric | 2 on 2 off | 4 on 4 off |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle length | 4 days | 8 days |
| Shift length | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Hours a week | 42 hours | 42 hours |
| Crews for 24/7 cover | 4 | 4 |
| Days worked a year | 182.7 | 182.7 |
| Full weekends off a year | 13.1 | 19.6 |
Year by year
Days worked and full weekends off for each year on the site, averaged across every phase of the cycle. Each row links both calendars.
| Metric | 2 on 2 off | 4 on 4 off |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 on 2 off 2026 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 13 | 4 on 4 off 2026 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 19.5 |
| 2027 | 2 on 2 off 2027 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 13 | 4 on 4 off 2027 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 19.5 |
| 2028 | 2 on 2 off 2028 Days worked a year: 183 · Full weekends off a year: 13.3 | 4 on 4 off 2028 Days worked a year: 183 · Full weekends off a year: 19.9 |
Who each one suits
2 on 2 off
Suits people who want a break every other pair of days and a schedule that is easy to hold in your head. The trade is that you are never off for long.
4 on 4 off
Suits people who want long blocks off and do not mind where the weekend lands. It is hard on anyone with a fixed weekly commitment, because the days off walk through the week.
Both work about the same number of days a year. 4 on 4 off keeps 6.5 more full weekends off a year. The hours a week match. Past that it is preference: how long a block you want, where the days off fall, and what your site actually rosters. The math does not pick a winner.
A perfect rotation fits in a calendar file. A real roster does not.
Swaps, overtime, and holiday cover break the pattern. Reading a real roster is what the Lumical app does: photograph it and every shift lands in your calendar, overnights included. We make it, so weigh the recommendation accordingly.