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8-hour rotating shift schedule

The 8-hour rotating shift schedule, also called the Southern swing, covers 24/7 with four crews and three 8-hour shifts. Each crew works 7 days, has 2 off, works 7 evenings, has 2 off, works 7 nights and has 3 off. The cycle is 28 days and averages 42 hours a week.

Written by , 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
4
Cycle
28 days
Average hours a week
42 hours
Longest run of work
7 days
Longest break
3 days
Weekends fully off
1 in 4
Cover
24/7
People for 1 on each shift
4

8-hour rotating shift schedule calendar

The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.

8 hours

You need 4 people: 4 crews of 1, before cover for time off and sickness.

  • DDay 07:00–15:00
  • EEvening 15:00–23:00
  • NNight 23:00–07:00
  • OOff
8-hour rotating shift schedule: 28 days from October 19, 2026, one row per crew
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 D D O O E E E E E E E O O N N N N N N N O O O
Crew 2 O O E E E E E E E O O N N N N N N N O O O D D D D D D D
Crew 3 E E O O N N N N N N N O O O D D D D D D D O O E E E E E
Crew 4 N N N N O O O D D D D D D D O O E E E E E E E O O N N N

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 1–2Weeks 3–4Weeks 5–6Weeks 7–8
Crew 1 96 h (56 + 40)
16 h over 40 a week 		72 h (40 + 32) 96 h (56 + 40)
16 h over 40 a week 		72 h (40 + 32)
Crew 2 80 h (40 + 40) 88 h (32 + 56)
16 h over 40 a week 		80 h (40 + 40) 88 h (32 + 56)
16 h over 40 a week
Crew 3 72 h (40 + 32) 96 h (56 + 40)
16 h over 40 a week 		72 h (40 + 32) 96 h (56 + 40)
16 h over 40 a week
Crew 4 88 h (32 + 56)
16 h over 40 a week 		80 h (40 + 40) 88 h (32 + 56)
16 h over 40 a week 		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 8-hour rotating shift 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.

How the 8-hour rotating shift schedule works

  1. Make four crews of the same size.
  2. There are three 8-hour shifts: day, evening (swing) and night.
  3. Each crew works 7 days, 2 off, 7 evenings, 2 off, 7 nights, 3 off.
  4. Start each crew one week after the one before. Each shift has one crew every day; one crew is off.

One cycle for crew 1, day by day: DDDDDDDOOEEEEEEEOONNNNNNNOOO (D day, E evening, N night, O off).

Pros

  • 8-hour shifts.
  • A whole week on one shift, so the body can settle.
  • Shifts move forward: day, evening, night.

Cons

  • 7 shifts in a row, every time.
  • A week of nights in every cycle.
  • Only 1 in 4 weekends fully off.

Who uses it

Plants, utilities and call centers that run around the clock and use 8-hour shifts.

Questions

What is a Southern swing shift?

The same as this pattern: 7 days, 7 evenings and 7 nights over 28 days with four crews.

How many hours a week is the 8-hour rotating schedule?

42 hours on average: 21 shifts of 8 hours in 28 days. From a Monday start, the weeks are 56, 40, 40 and 32 hours.

How many crews do I need for 8-hour 24/7 cover?

Four with this pattern: three on shift every day and one off.

Put real people on these shifts.

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