3-crew 12-hour schedule
The 3-crew 12-hour schedule, also written DDNNOO, covers 24/7 with three crews. Each crew works 2 days, 2 nights, then has 2 days off, on a 6-day cycle. It averages 56 hours a week, so it needs fewer people but more hours each.
Written by Maren Vellory, Operations Manager · Updated October 19, 2026
The numbers
Worked out from the cycle. Weekends are counted from a Monday start.
- Shift length
- 12 hours
- Crews
- 3
- Cycle
- 6 days
- Average hours a week
- 56 hours
- Longest run of work
- 4 days
- Longest break
- 2 days
- Weekends fully off
- 1 in 6
- Cover
- 24/7
- People for 1 on each shift
- 3
3-crew 12-hour schedule calendar
The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.
You need 3 people: 3 crews of 1, before cover for time off and sickness.
- DDay 07:00–19:00
- NNight 19:00–07:00
- OOff
| Crew |
Mo 19 |
Tu 20 |
We 21 |
Th 22 |
Fr 23 |
Sa 24 |
Su 25 |
Mo 26 |
Tu 27 |
We 28 |
Th 29 |
Fr 30 |
Sa 31 |
Su 1 |
Mo 2 |
Tu 3 |
We 4 |
Th 5 |
Fr 6 |
Sa 7 |
Su 8 |
Mo 9 |
Tu 10 |
We 11 |
Th 12 |
Fr 13 |
Sa 14 |
Su 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew 1 | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N |
| Crew 2 | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O |
| Crew 3 | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D | N | N | O | O | D | D |
Hours per week and per 2-week pay period
The next 8 weeks for each crew, from the start date. Your pay week may start on another day; then the hours split differently.
| Crew | Weeks 1–2 | Weeks 3–4 | Weeks 5–6 | Weeks 7–8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew 1 |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
96 h (48 + 48)
16 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 2 |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
96 h (48 + 48)
16 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 3 |
96 h (48 + 48)
16 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
120 h (60 + 60)
40 h over 40 a week |
96 h (48 + 48)
16 h over 40 a week |
Over 40 hours in a week is overtime under the US federal rule (time and a half). Your state, province or contract can add more, for example daily overtime.
Download the 3-crew 12-hour schedule
The next 12 months for each crew, from the start date and shift times above. The CSV opens in Excel and Google Sheets. The calendar file adds each shift to Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar.
- Crew 1 CSV for Excel Calendar file
- Crew 2 CSV for Excel Calendar file
- Crew 3 CSV for Excel Calendar file
How the 3-crew 12-hour schedule works
- Make three crews of the same size.
- Each shift is 12 hours: day and night.
- Each crew works 2 days, 2 nights, then has 2 days off.
- Start the crews 2 days apart. Every day one crew is on days, one on nights and one is off.
One cycle for crew 1, day by day: DDNNOO (D day, N night, O off).
Pros
- Only three crews for 24/7 cover.
- A short cycle that is easy to remember.
- Never more than 2 nights in a row.
Cons
- 56 hours a week on average, with overtime every week.
- Only 2 days off at a time.
- Only 1 in 6 weekends fully off.
Who uses it
Small teams that must cover 24/7 with few people, often for a while until more people join.
Questions
How many hours a week is DDNNOO?
56 hours on average: 4 shifts of 12 hours every 6 days.
Can three crews cover 24/7 on 12-hour shifts?
Yes, with this pattern. Each person works more hours than with four crews (56 against 42 a week).
Is there a 2-crew 12-hour schedule for 24/7?
Two crews would each work 84 hours a week, which is not a real option. Two crews on 12-hour shifts can cover days only, 7 days a week, on the 2-2-3 sequence.
Put real people on these shifts.
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