Firefighter Shift Calculator
Every fire and EMS rotation on one page. Pick 24/48, 48/96, 24/72, or a 3-platoon swing, set your team and who’s on today, compare two patterns, and see your hours and FLSA 7(k) position. Then share the link or save it to your calendar.
No more hunting for the right calculator
One page covers every common fire and EMS rotation. Switch patterns in place, or open a pattern's own guide for the hours math, Kelly-day notes, and the FLSA breakdown.
All 14 shift patterns at a glance
Fire and EMS rotations plus the common general-industry patterns, side by side: cycle length, shift length, crew count, average weekly hours, and what each one is typically used for.
| Pattern | Cycle | Shift | Teams | Avg/wk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24/48 | 3d | 24h | 3 | 56h | Fire departments, EMS |
48/96 | 6d | 24h | 3 | 56h | Fire departments |
24/72 | 4d | 24h | 4 | 42h | Fire departments (4 platoon) |
3-Platoon swing | 9d | 24h | 3 | 56h | Fire departments |
DuPont | 28d | 12h | 4 | 42h | Chemical plants, factories |
Panama / 2-2-3 / 3-2-2-3 (Pitman) | 14d | 12h | 2 | 42h | Police, manufacturing, healthcare |
4-on-4-off | 8d | 12h | 2 | 42h | Simple operations, security |
Continental (8h 2-2-3) | 28d | 8h | 4 | 42h | Manufacturing, 24/7 operations |
4-on-2-off | 6d | 10h | 3 | 46.7h | Manufacturing, logistics |
3-on-3-off | 6d | 12h | 2 | 42h | Healthcare, security |
7-on-7-off | 14d | 12h | 2 | 42h | Healthcare, EMS, energy |
DDNNOO (2-2-2) | 6d | 12h | 3 | 56h | Manufacturing, public safety |
5-5-4 | 15d | 12h | 3 | 50.4h | Police, corrections, security |
Fixed Days (Mon-Fri) | 7d | 8h | 1 | 40h | Offices, single-crew ops |
Fixed Nights | 7d | 8h | 1 | 40h | Offices, single-crew ops |
Average weekly hours are the annualized base rate for each rotation. Fire rotations (24/48, 48/96, 24/72, 3-platoon) project a full 24-month calendar with FLSA 7(k) and free exports in the builder above.
Questions firefighters ask
Which shift patterns does the calculator support?
Every common fire and EMS rotation on one page: 24/48 (24 on, 48 off across three platoons), 48/96, 24/72 (four platoons), and the classic 3-platoon swing. Pick one from the pattern cards and the whole calendar, hours, and FLSA position update instantly.
How do I find out which platoon I'm on?
Pick your team (A, B, C, or D) and the team that is on shift today. The calculator assumes today's date and phases the whole rotation from there, so your on-duty days line up with the board at your station. No on-duty date to look up, no account, no setup.
Can I compare two rotations?
Yes. Use "Compare with another rotation" to put your current pattern next to any other one and see the difference in average work week, annual hours, on-days per cycle, cycle length, platoons, and FLSA 7(k) position, side by side.
Is it really free, and do I need an account?
It's completely free and needs no signup. Share your exact result with a link, download your shifts as an .ics calendar file, or create a free RescueShift account to keep your whole rotation, trades, and coverage in one synced place.
Keep planning your rotation
Put your whole rotation on autopilot
RescueShift keeps your shifts, Kelly days, trades, and coverage in one place, synced across your phone and the web. Free for individual firefighters and EMTs.