What Is a 4-on-3-off Shift Pattern?

A 4-on-3-off shift pattern is a compressed work schedule where employees work four consecutive days (typically 10–12 hour shifts) followed by three consecutive days off. This pattern provides 156 days off per year—52 more than a traditional five-day workweek—while maintaining full-time hours.

Quick Facts
Pattern: Four consecutive days on, three off
Shift length: 10–12 hours
Days off per year: 156 vs 104 traditional
Common in: manufacturing, healthcare, public safety, logistics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 29.4 million U.S. workers use alternative shift schedules, with compressed workweeks increasingly popular in 24/7 operations.

How the Schedule Works

The pattern is simple: work four consecutive days, then get three completely off. Repeat every week.

Shift length determines how many hours you work:

10-hour shifts = 40 hours per week, no overtime
12-hour shifts = 48 hours per week (40 regular + 8 overtime under FLSA)

Timing options affect your daily rhythm:

Fixed shifts keep you on the same schedule—always days, always evenings, or always nights. This is easiest on your body because your sleep schedule stays consistent. If you’re a natural night owl, permanent third shift might actually work for you.

Rotating shifts move you between day, evening, and night schedules. This distributes the burden of less-desirable shifts fairly across the team, but it’s harder on your circadian rhythm. One week you’re working 7 AM–7 PM, the next you’re on nights.

Most operations use multiple teams on staggered schedules to cover 24/7.

Comparing 4-on-3-off to Other Schedules

Schedule Type	Days Off/Year	Shift Length	Total Hours/Week
4-on-3-off	156 days	10–12 hours	40–48 hours
4-10 schedule	156 days	10 hours	40 hours
9/80 schedule	130 days	9 hours	80 hours/2 weeks
7-on-7-off	182 days	12 hours	42 hours average

vs. 4-10 schedule: Both give 156 days off, but 4-10 always uses 10-hour shifts (no overtime). 4-on-3-off can use 12-hour shifts for 24/7 coverage, which triggers weekly overtime.

vs. 7-on-7-off: Seven-on gives more time off (182 days) but requires seven consecutive 12-hour days—serious fatigue by day 6–7. 4-on-3-off balances rest more frequently.

vs. standard shifts: Unlike traditional 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift five-day schedules, 4-on-3-off compresses your week for extended rest periods.

Factory worker on a 4-on-3-off shift rotation

Benefits of 4-on-3-off

For employees:

156 days off per year—50% more than traditional schedules, with three-day weekends every week
Fewer commutes (208 days vs 260), saving time and money
Predictable rhythm makes childcare and appointments easier to manage

For employers:

Better retention—attractive schedules reduce turnover costs
Improved coverage with dedicated handoff time between shifts
Lower absenteeism when workers are genuinely rested

Challenges to Consider

Fatigue in final hours: NIOSH research shows injury rates increase 17–37% during hours 10–12 compared to the first eight
Overtime costs: 12-hour shifts mean 8 hours of overtime weekly—roughly 20% higher labor costs
Night rotation difficulty: Rotating night shifts with 12-hour days creates severe sleep disruption
Limited evening time: Working 7 AM–7 PM means missing dinner and family time for four consecutive days

Warehouse floor operations with compressed work schedule

What Industries Use 4-on-3-off Schedules?

Manufacturing — continuous facilities, assembly lines, processing plants (10-hour shifts)
Healthcare — hospitals, nursing homes, labs (12-hour rotating shifts)
Public Safety — police, fire, emergency dispatch (12-hour shifts)
Logistics — distribution centers, fulfillment operations (10–12 hour shifts)
Energy — power plants, utilities, oil/gas (12-hour rotating crews)

Overtime: The Math That Changes Everything

10-hour shifts give you 40 hours per week with no overtime under federal law. This is the cleanest option if your state allows it.

12-hour shifts push you to 48 hours per week—that’s 40 regular hours plus 8 overtime hours at time-and-a-half under FLSA rules. For employers, this means roughly 20% higher labor costs. For workers, it means bigger paychecks (and potentially double time in some states) but also longer days and more fatigue.

California changes the math. The state requires overtime after 8 hours in a single day—not just 40 in a week. That means both 10-hour and 12-hour shifts trigger daily overtime. If you’re operating in California, the 4-on-3-off pattern gets significantly more expensive.

Other states follow federal FLSA rules: overtime kicks in after 40 hours per week, not per day.

How to Implement It Successfully

1. Calculate coverage needs. How many teams do you need to cover 24/7? Each team works four days and is off three, so you’ll need multiple crews on staggered schedules.

2. Survey your team. Don’t assume everyone wants longer shifts for more days off. Some workers prefer traditional schedules. Get input before committing.

3. Model the costs. If you’re using 12-hour shifts, factor in that 20% overtime premium. Run scenarios for both 10-hour and 12-hour options.

4. Run a pilot first. Start with one department for 30 days. Track fatigue levels, incident rates, and attendance. Run weekly surveys with specific go/no-go criteria for continuing. Use the pilot to tune handoffs, break spacing, and rotation patterns before rolling out company-wide.

5. Monitor ongoing. Safety metrics, absenteeism, and turnover should improve if the schedule is working. If they don’t, adjust or abandon it.

Try ShiftFlow’s scheduling tools for automated rotation planning, overtime calculations, and team communication to coordinate handoffs.

Is This Schedule Right for You?

Good fit if:

You value three-day weekends over shorter daily shifts
Your job needs 24/7 coverage and you want predictability
You can handle long shifts without fatigue-related safety risks

Reconsider if:

You have family obligations requiring normal evening hours
Your state has daily overtime rules (like California)
You struggle to maintain focus during 10–12 hour shifts

Sources

NIOSH Working Hours Health and Safety Guide – CDC research on extended work hours and fatigue impacts
Bureau of Labor Statistics Shift Work Data – U.S. shift work statistics and trends
OSHA Workplace Safety Guidelines – Federal safety regulations for extended shifts

Frequently Asked Questions