DuPont schedule
The DuPont schedule is a 12-hour rotating schedule for 24/7 work with four crews. Each crew works 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, then has 7 days off. The cycle is 28 days and averages 42 hours a week.
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
- 4
- Cycle
- 28 days
- Average hours a week
- 42 hours
- Longest run of work
- 4 days
- Longest break
- 7 days
- Weekends fully off
- 1 in 2
- Cover
- 24/7
- People for 1 on each shift
- 4
DuPont schedule calendar
The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.
You need 4 people: 4 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 | N | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | D | O | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | D | D | O | O | O | O | O | O | O |
| Crew 2 | D | D | D | O | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | D | D | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | N | N | N | N | O | O | O |
| Crew 3 | O | O | O | D | D | D | D | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | N | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | D | O | N | N | N |
| Crew 4 | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | N | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | D | O | N | N | N | O | O | O | D | D | 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 (48 + 72)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (48 + 0)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (48 + 72)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (48 + 0)
8 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 2 |
120 h (72 + 48)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (0 + 48)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (72 + 48)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (0 + 48)
8 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 3 |
48 h (48 + 0)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (48 + 72)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (48 + 0)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (48 + 72)
40 h over 40 a week |
| Crew 4 |
48 h (0 + 48)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (72 + 48)
40 h over 40 a week |
48 h (0 + 48)
8 h over 40 a week |
120 h (72 + 48)
40 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 DuPont 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
- Crew 4 CSV for Excel Calendar file
How the DuPont schedule works
- Make four crews of the same size. Each crew needs the number of people you want on one shift.
- Each shift is 12 hours: a day shift (for example 7 am to 7 pm) and a night shift (7 pm to 7 am).
- Every crew follows the same 28 days: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, 7 off.
- Start each crew one week after the one before it. Then one crew is on days, one is on nights and two are off on every day.
- After 28 days the cycle starts again from the top.
One cycle for crew 1, day by day: NNNNOOODDDONNNOOODDDDOOOOOOO (D day, N night, O off).
Pros
- Seven days off in a row once every four weeks.
- Only four crews give 24/7 cover.
- Each person works 14 shifts in 28 days, so there are fewer trips to work.
Cons
- One week has six 12-hour shifts (72 hours), which is tiring.
- Crews change between days and nights inside the cycle, which upsets sleep.
- Hours swing from 0 to 72 a week, so pay and overtime change week to week.
Who uses it
Plants, refineries, utilities and other sites that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is named after the DuPont company, where it was first used.
Questions
How many hours a week is the DuPont schedule?
42 hours on average. Over 28 days each person works 14 shifts of 12 hours: 168 hours. From a Monday start, the four weeks are 48, 72, 48 and 0 hours.
How many people do I need for a DuPont schedule?
Four crews. If you need 3 people on each shift, you need 12 people, before any cover for time off and sickness.
Does the DuPont schedule cause overtime?
Often, yes. Under the US federal rule, hours over 40 in a workweek are overtime. The 48 and 72 hour weeks go over 40, even though the average is 42. Check your state rules too.
What is the difference between DuPont and 2-2-3?
Both use four crews and 12-hour shifts and average 42 hours. DuPont has longer runs of work (6 shifts in 7 days once a cycle) and a 7-day break. The 2-2-3 has short runs of 2 or 3 shifts and a 3-day weekend every other week.
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