Shift pattern comparison
7 on 7 off vs 14 on 14 off
7 on 7 off runs a 14 day cycle: 7 shifts of 12 hours, then 7 days off. 14 on 14 off runs 28 days: 14 shifts of 12 hours, then 14 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 | 7 on 7 off | 14 on 14 off |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle length | 14 days | 28 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 | 22.4 | 24.3 |
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 | 7 on 7 off | 14 on 14 off |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 on 7 off 2026 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 22.3 | 14 on 14 off 2026 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 24.1 |
| 2027 | 7 on 7 off 2027 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 22.3 | 14 on 14 off 2027 Days worked a year: 182.5 · Full weekends off a year: 24.1 |
| 2028 | 7 on 7 off 2028 Days worked a year: 183 · Full weekends off a year: 22.7 | 14 on 14 off 2028 Days worked a year: 183 · Full weekends off a year: 24.6 |
Who each one suits
7 on 7 off
Suits people who commute far or work away, because one whole week off is worth more than seven scattered days. Seven straight 12 hour shifts leave nothing in the tank by day six.
14 on 14 off
Suits fly-in fly-out and offshore crews who want half the year at home in one block. Fourteen straight 12 hour shifts away from home is the price.
Both work about the same number of days a year. 14 on 14 off keeps 1.9 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.