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24-hour shift schedule template
Every 24-hour schedule is a short cycle repeated all year. Pick yours below, copy the cycle or open it in the calendar, and you get a template for every platoon that you can print, download for Excel or add to a phone.
By Asier Fernández ·
The templates
| Schedule | Cycle (X = 24 h on, O = off) | Length | Platoons | Hours a week | Hours in 28 days | Full weekends off in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/48 | XOO | 3 days | 3 | 56 | 216–240 h | 17 to 18, depending on the weekday your cycle starts |
| 48/96 | XXOOOO | 6 days | 3 | 56 | 192–240 h | 25 to 27, depending on the weekday your cycle starts |
| Kelly | XOXOXOOOO | 9 days | 3 | 56 | 216–240 h | 16 to 18, depending on the weekday your cycle starts |
| 24/72 | XOOO | 4 days | 4 | 42 | 168 h | 26 |
| 1-3-2-3 | XOOOXXOOO | 9 days | 3 | 56 | 216–240 h | 23 to 24, depending on the weekday your cycle starts |
One platoon, 2027, cycle starting Monday, January 4. Hours in 28 days is the 7(k) work period used by fire departments: overtime is due after 212 hours (29 CFR 553.230).
How to make the template for your department
- Choose the schedule and the date platoon A starts a shift in the shift calendar.
- Under “Show”, pick “All crews” to see A, B and C (and D on a 24/72) side by side, with your department's colors under “Crew names”.
- Press “Print” for a wall calendar, “Excel” for a spreadsheet with one column per platoon, or “Embed” to put “who is on duty today” on the station website.
- Add Kelly days under “Kelly days” if your department uses them.
Building a template by hand
Write the cycle once, one letter per day, then shift it for each platoon: on a 24/48 platoon B starts one day after A and platoon C two days after. In Excel, a formula such as =MID("XOO", MOD(date - start, 3) + 1, 1) returns the state of any date for a 3-day cycle. The calendar does the same for every day of the year and every platoon at once, and handles leap years and the clock changes.
Which one to choose
The 24/48 is the most common; the 48/96 halves the commutes; the 24/72 needs a fourth platoon but brings the week down to 42 hours. Compare them in 48/96 vs 24/48 and on firefighter shift schedules.
More guides
Figures are worked out from each cycle; rules checked against official sources on . How we calculate
Questions
How do you make a 24-hour shift schedule?
Write the cycle (for a 24/48: one day on, two off), give each platoon its own start date one day apart and repeat it for the year. The shift calendar does this for every platoon at once.
What is the most common 24-hour shift schedule?
The 24/48: one 24-hour shift, then 48 hours off, with three platoons (A, B and C).
How many hours is a 24-hour shift schedule a week?
56 on average with three platoons (24/48, 48/96, Kelly) and 42 with four (24/72).
Can I download a 24-hour schedule template for Excel?
Yes: open your schedule in the calendar, choose All crews and press Excel to download the year with one column per platoon.
What is a 24-hour shift template with 4 platoons?
The 24/72: one 24-hour shift and 72 hours off, platoons A to D one day apart.