ShiftFlowr Get the app

4-on-4-off shift pattern

Build your 4-on-4-off rota once.
Apply it for months in seconds.

ShiftFlowr has a built-in 4-on-4-off preset. Set your anchor date, pick your shift type, preview the calendar, and fill as many months as you need — without re-entering anything.

Get it on Google Play See all features

7-day free trial · 19 shifts free · Cancel anytime

What is it?

How the 4-on-4-off pattern works

A 4-on-4-off rota is an 8-day rotating cycle. You work 4 consecutive days, then rest for 4 consecutive days. Because the cycle is 8 days — not 7 — your days off shift through the week over time, so you'll work some weekends and have others free.

It is one of the most common shift patterns in the UK, used across healthcare, security, manufacturing, warehousing, and emergency services. On a standard 12-hour shift, you average around 42 hours a week.

The 8-day cycle

Day 1 ✓ Day 2 ✓ Day 3 ✓ Day 4 ✓ Day 5 off Day 6 off Day 7 off Day 8 off

Then repeats. ShiftFlowr tracks exactly where you are in the cycle and fills your calendar automatically.

Also known as a 4-on-4-off roster in Australia and New Zealand, or a 4 and 4 rotating schedule in the US and Canada.

Who uses it?

Common industries and roles

🏥 Healthcare

Nurses, HCAs, and care home staff across the NHS and private sector frequently run 4-on-4-off, particularly on Day/Night split rotas.

🛡️ Security

Door staff, control room operators, and site security teams use 4-on-4-off to cover 24/7 operations with two alternating crews.

🏭 Manufacturing

Factory and warehouse workers on continuous production lines commonly run 4-on-4-off with rotating early, late, and night shifts.

🚨 Emergency services

Some fire, ambulance, and police services use 4-on-4-off alongside patterns like Panama and Continental.

How ShiftFlowr handles it

Three steps to a filled calendar

1. Pick the preset

Select 4-on-4-off from the pattern library. Choose your shift type (Days, Nights, Earlies — in your region's language) and your start and end times.

2. Set your anchor date

Tell ShiftFlowr which day your current cycle started. It calculates exactly where you are and where you'll be for every future month.

3. Preview and apply

See every shift day-by-day on a grid before committing. Then pick the months you want filled. Existing shifts are never overwritten.

Common questions

4-on-4-off FAQ

How many hours is 4-on-4-off per week?
On 12-hour shifts, you average around 42 hours per week across the 8-day cycle. ShiftFlowr's salary calculator works out your exact take-home based on your hourly rate, night and weekend uplifts, and UK or US tax.
Does my day off move around?
Yes — because the cycle is 8 days and a week is 7, your days off rotate through the week over time. ShiftFlowr tracks this automatically from your anchor date.
Can I mix day and night shifts in the same pattern?
Yes. You can apply the same 4-on-4-off cycle with different shift types across different months, or use ShiftFlowr's custom pattern builder to create a day/night alternating version.
Will it overwrite shifts I've already added?
Never. ShiftFlowr checks each date before applying and skips any day that already has a shift logged.

Stop re-entering your rota every month.

ShiftFlowr builds your 4-on-4-off pattern once. You apply it in seconds, as far ahead as you need.

Get it on Google Play

7-day free trial · 19 shifts free

Other rota patterns in ShiftFlowr

More shift patterns

Panama (2-2-3) Hospital 3-week rotation DuPont schedule Pitman (2-3-2) Continental 7-on-7-off 3-2-2-3 Weekly alternating