What is the DuPont schedule?

The DuPont schedule is a 28-day rotating shift pattern using four crews. Each crew rotates through a sequence of four 12-hour day shifts, three days off, three 12-hour night shifts, one day off, three 12-hour day shifts, three days off, four 12-hour night shifts, and then seven consecutive days off — creating a 28-day super-cycle. Workers average 42 hours per week.

How many days off in a row does the DuPont schedule give?

The DuPont schedule includes a 7-day break (a full week off) once every 28 days. This is its defining feature and the reason it is popular in demanding industries like chemical plants and oil refineries.

Can ShiftFlowr handle the DuPont schedule?

Yes. ShiftFlowr includes a built-in DuPont schedule preset. Set your anchor date, choose whether your current block starts on days or nights, preview the 28-day cycle, and apply it to as many months ahead as you need.

DuPont schedule

Build your DuPont rota once.
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ShiftFlowr has a built-in DuPont schedule preset. Set your anchor date, preview the full 28-day cycle, and apply it as far ahead as you need — without re-entering anything.

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What is it?

How the DuPont schedule works

The DuPont schedule is a 28-day rotating pattern built for four crews covering continuous 24/7 operations. Each crew works a sequence of 12-hour day and night shifts with built-in rest periods — and crucially, one full week off every 28 days.

Originally developed by DuPont in the 1950s for chemical plants, it's now common in oil refineries, power stations, and heavy industrial sites that need continuous staffing with scheduled recovery time.

The 28-day cycle (one crew)

4× Days 3 off 3× Nights 1 off 3× Days 3 off 4× Nights 7 off ★

Day shift

Night shift

★ Full week off

ShiftFlowr tracks exactly where you are in the 28-day cycle from your anchor date and fills your calendar automatically.

Who uses it?

Common industries

⚗️ Chemical plants

Process operators and safety technicians in continuous chemical production rely on DuPont scheduling for its built-in recovery week after heavy shift blocks.

🛢️ Oil & gas

Refinery workers and offshore support staff in the oil and gas sector use DuPont scheduling for its predictable day/night rotation.

⚡ Power generation

Control room operators and maintenance engineers at power stations and utilities commonly run DuPont schedules for continuous 24/7 cover.

🏗️ Heavy industry

Steel mills, paper mills, and other continuous-process manufacturing sites use DuPont scheduling to balance productivity with rest.

How ShiftFlowr handles it

Three steps to a filled calendar

1. Pick the preset

Select DuPont schedule from the pattern library. Choose your day and night shift times and whether your current block starts on days or nights.

2. Set your anchor date

Enter the date your current 28-day cycle began. ShiftFlowr calculates exactly which block you're in and projects the full cycle forward.

3. Preview and apply

See all four weeks — including your week off — on a calendar grid before committing. Apply to as many months ahead as you need.

Common questions

DuPont schedule FAQ

How many hours per week does the DuPont schedule average?: You work 21 shifts over the 28-day cycle. On 12-hour shifts that's 252 hours every 28 days — an average of about 42 hours per week. Your week off is built into that average.
Will ShiftFlowr show my week off on the calendar?: Yes. The 7-day break appears on your calendar as rest days so you can see it alongside your shift blocks and plan ahead.
Can I see when my next week off falls?: Yes. Once you apply the pattern, every future week off is visible on the calendar as far ahead as you've applied the pattern. You can scroll months ahead to see upcoming breaks.
My site uses a modified DuPont with different days off. Can I still use ShiftFlowr?: Yes. If your schedule differs from the standard DuPont cycle, use ShiftFlowr's custom pattern builder to define your exact day-by-day sequence of shifts and rest days.

Know exactly when your next week off is.

ShiftFlowr builds the 28-day DuPont cycle once and fills your calendar automatically — including every week off, months ahead.

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Other rota patterns in ShiftFlowr

More shift patterns

4-on-4-off Panama (2-2-3) Hospital 3-week rotation Pitman (2-3-2) Continental 7-on-7-off 3-2-2-3 Weekly alternating

Build your DuPont rota once.Fill months ahead in seconds.