5/2 schedule
A 5/2 schedule is 5 days of work and 2 days off every week, usually Monday to Friday with Saturday and Sunday off. With 8-hour shifts it is 40 hours a week. It covers weekday days, not nights or weekends.
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
- 8 hours
- Crews
- 1
- Cycle
- 7 days
- Average hours a week
- 40 hours
- Longest run of work
- 5 days
- Longest break
- 2 days
- Weekends fully off
- Every weekend
- Cover
- Weekdays, days only
- People for 1 on each shift
- 1
5/2 schedule calendar
The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.
You need 1 person: 1 crew of 1, before cover for time off and sickness.
- DDay 09:00–17:00
- 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 | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | D | D | O | O | D | D | D | D | D | O | O |
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 | 80 h (40 + 40) | 80 h (40 + 40) | 80 h (40 + 40) | 80 h (40 + 40) |
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 5/2 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
How the 5/2 schedule works
- Everyone works Monday to Friday, for example 9 am to 5 pm.
- Saturday and Sunday are off.
- To cover more hours, add a second group on a later shift, or stagger start times.
One cycle for crew 1, day by day: DDDDDOO (D day, O off).
Pros
- Every weekend off.
- The same days every week, so plans are easy.
- 40 hours a week, under the US overtime line.
Cons
- No cover at night or on weekends.
- Everyone is off at the same time.
- Busy days need more people than the pattern gives.
Who uses it
Offices, call centers on business hours, clinics and back-office teams.
Questions
How many hours a week is a 5/2 schedule?
40 hours with 8-hour shifts. With 9-hour shifts it is 45, and some of it is overtime under the US federal rule.
What is the difference between 5/2 and 4/10?
5/2 is five 8-hour days. 4/10 is four 10-hour days with three days off. Both are 40 hours.
Can a 5/2 schedule cover weekends?
Not with one group. Add a weekend group, or use a rotating pattern for 7-day cover.
Put real people on these shifts.
Set your areas, shifts and rules, and ScheduleSolve drafts the schedule. 7 days free, no card needed.