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48/96 Schedule Calendar
On a 48/96 schedule you work two 24-hour shifts back to back (48 hours) and then have 96 hours off, a 6-day cycle. Pick a day you start work and get your whole year.
48/96 Schedule at a glance
- Cycle
- 6 days
- Shift length
- 24 hours
- Crews for 24/7
- 3
- Hours a week
- 56
- Hours a year
- 2,920
- Days off per cycle
- 4
What is a 48/96 schedule?
On a 48/96 schedule you work two 24-hour shifts back to back (48 hours) and then have 96 hours off, a 6-day cycle. Three platoons cover 24/7. Several US fire departments moved to it in 2025 and 2026.
One cycle, crew by crew
Standard (6 days)
Employers often shift the start or swap the order of blocks. If your rota differs, change the start date until the calendar matches a week you already know.
Printable 48/96 schedule template
Working a 48/96 schedule
On a 48/96 schedule you work two 24-hour shifts back to back and then have four days off. The hours are the same as a 24/48 (about 56 a week), but there are half as many commutes, which is why departments where many firefighters live far away, often in the western US, moved to it.
The concern is fatigue in the second 24 hours, especially at busy stations. If your department is considering it, ask how busy stations will be handled and what will be measured during a trial.
Under 7(k) a 48/96 puts 9 or 10 shifts into any 28-day work period, the same as a 24/48, so overtime is similar. Shift swaps are harder because the other person has to cover 48 hours.
Overtime on a 48/96 schedule under 7(k)
Fire departments usually pay overtime under section 7(k) of the FLSA: after 212 hours in a 28-day work period (29 CFR 553.230). In any 28 days this cycle puts 8 or 10 shifts of 24 hours, so 192 or 240 hours, which is up to 28 hours over the threshold before Kelly days, swaps or callbacks.
Try your own work period in the 7(k) overtime calculator.
How many hours is a 48/96 schedule?
| Version | Cycle | Crews | Avg hours a week | Hours a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 6 days | 3 | 56 | 2,920 |
Hours a year = hours worked in one cycle × 365 ÷ days in the cycle. Standard: 48 h × 365 ÷ 6 = 2,920 h. These are scheduled hours; overtime, leave and swaps change your own total.
48/96 pay calculator: hours, overtime and pay a year at your hourly rate.
48/96 Schedule pros and cons
Pros
- Four full days off in every 6.
- Fewer commutes, which suits people who live far from the station.
- Same 56-hour average as a 24/48.
Cons
- 48 hours on duty is a long time without proper sleep.
- Swapping shifts is harder in 48-hour blocks.
- Studies on fatigue are mixed: ask your department what they measured.
48/96 Schedule calendar 2027
An example year with Crew A starting its cycle on Monday, January 4, 2027; the other crews follow 2 days apart. For your own dates, use the calendar at the top of the page.
| Crew | Shifts in 2027 | Hours | Full weekends off |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 122 | 2,928 | 25 |
| B | 122 | 2,928 | 26 |
| C | 121 | 2,904 | 27 |
Day shifts yellow, nights blue, 24-hour shifts red, US federal holidays with an orange corner.
January 2027
February 2027
March 2027
April 2027
May 2027
June 2027
July 2027
August 2027
September 2027
October 2027
November 2027
December 2027
Who uses the 48/96 schedule?
Fire departments, mostly in the western United States.
48/96 vs 24/48: which is better?
Similar patterns
- 24/48 Schedule3-day cycle, 56 h a week
- Kelly Schedule9-day cycle, 56 h a week
- 24/72 Schedule4-day cycle, 42 h a week
Questions
How many hours a week is a 48/96 schedule?
On average 56 hours a week: 2 shifts of 24 hours every 6 days. Over a year that is about 2,920 scheduled hours, before overtime, leave or Kelly days.
How many crews does a 48/96 schedule need?
3 crews for this version, with exactly one crew on each shift every day.
How many hours a year is a 48/96 schedule?
About 2,920 scheduled hours a year: about 122 shifts of 24 hours. Overtime, leave, Kelly days and shift swaps change your own total; the pay calculator works it out at your hourly rate.
How long is the 48/96 schedule cycle?
6 days. After that the same days repeat, so the calendar for any year follows from one start date.
How do I add my shifts to Google Calendar or my iPhone?
Pick your pattern and a day you start a block, press "Add to calendar" and open the file. Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook import it as all-day events, so daylight saving time does not move them.
Can my family see my schedule?
Yes. Press "Copy link" ("Share" on a phone) and send it. The link holds your pattern and start date, so it opens the same calendar on any phone. Nobody needs an account.
Can I add Kelly days to a 48/96 schedule?
Yes. Under "Kelly days" choose how often you get one, for example every 7th shift. On a 48/96 schedule that is every 21 days, and it cuts the average week from 56 to 48 hours. The Kelly days show on the calendar, in the calendar file and in the hours and pay.
Can I download it to Excel?
Yes. Press "Excel" to download the year as a CSV file that opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers. With "All crews" selected you get one column per crew, ready to print or post for the whole team.