What if my team uses a different variation of the DuPont schedule?

The DuPont schedule described here is a 4-team, 12-hour pattern with a 28-day cycle that includes 7 consecutive days off. Some workplaces may shift the order of day and night blocks. The same marking method applies: use the exact sequence given by your employer.

Can I use the same calendar for both day and night shifts?

Yes. Assign one colour for day shifts and a different colour for night shifts. This way you can see both types on the same calendar without confusion.

How do I handle months that start in the middle of a cycle?

Continue the cycle from the previous month without restarting. For example, if the 14-day cycle ends on the 10th of the month, start the next cycle on the 11th. Mark the full cycle across the month boundary.

What if I work a 4-on-4-off pattern but my shifts are 10 hours instead of 12?

The 4-on-4-off pattern described here repeats every 8 days regardless of shift length. The marking method stays the same: 4 days on, 4 days off. Use colour to indicate whether those days are day or night if needed.

Shift Work Calendar Templates: 2-2-3, DuPont and 4-on-4-off

Rotating rosters scramble your sense of which day it is. A shift work calendar solves that. It takes any repeating pattern and pins it onto a printable monthly grid so you can see your workdays, nights, and free time without doing mental arithmetic. Three patterns dominate: the 2-2-3 (Pitman), the DuPont, and the 4-on-4-off. Here is how each cycle runs and how to mark it clearly. Do it once and everyone in the house can glance at the wall and know when you are working.

The 2-2-3 (Pitman) Schedule

The 2-2-3, also called the Pitman, runs on 12-hour stints and four teams. It repeats every 14 days. The sequence: 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, then 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off. That last block gives you a three-day weekend every other week. Because the cycle is 14 days long, it does not align with calendar months. The start day lands on different weekdays each month. To stay oriented, mark the full 14-day cycle on every month page.

Marking a 2-2-3 Cycle

Pick a start date for the rotation. The first day of a new cycle works best.
Choose one colour for day blocks, one for nights, and one for off days.
Colour the first 2 days as day shift, the next 2 as off, then 3 as day shift, then 2 off, 2 day, and 3 off.
Repeat the same 14-day block immediately after the previous one ends.

The DuPont Schedule

The DuPont also uses 12-hour stints and four teams, but the cycle spans 4 weeks (28 days). Its standout feature is a block of 7 consecutive days off. That long break simplifies planning. The trade-off: the pattern still drifts against the calendar because 28 days is not a month. The rotation mixes day blocks, night blocks, and off days in a sequence that repeats every 28 days.

Marking a DuPont Cycle

Identify the first day of your 28-day rotation.
Use the same colour system: one for day, one for night, one for off.
Fill in each day of the 28-day sequence according to your team's specific rotation. The exact order of day, night, and off depends on the team.
When the month ends, continue the sequence on the next month's page exactly where you left off.

The 4-on-4-off Pattern

This one is simple. Work 4 days, then take 4 days off. The cycle repeats every 8 days. Because 8 does not divide evenly into a month, the start day jumps forward by a few days each month. Over a year the pattern lands on every weekday. Mark the full 8-day block on each month page so you can see, without counting, which days are work and which are free.

4 days on (day or night, depending on your assignment)
4 days off
Repeat the 8-day block continuously across months

Why Cycles Do Not Line Up with Months

Cycles of 8 or 14 days never match the calendar. The pattern drifts to different weekdays each month. Say a 2-2-3 cycle starts on a Monday in January. The next cycle begins on a Monday two weeks later, but February will start mid-cycle. Glancing at a single month without the full rotation marked is how you show up on a night you thought you had off. Mark the complete cycle on every month page and that mistake disappears.

Using Colour to Keep the Calendar Readable

One colour per type. Day blocks get blue, nights get red, off days get green. The system lets you read the month at a glance, no text required. It also means your family can check the wall and know your rhythm without asking.

General Steps for Any Rotating Schedule

Get a printable calendar with day cells large enough to colour.
Know your cycle length: 8, 14, or 28 days.
Choose a start date. If you are mid-rotation, begin from your next confirmed block.
Assign one colour for day blocks, one for nights, and one for off days.
Fill in the entire cycle across the calendar, carrying over to the next month as needed.
Repeat the cycle block until you have filled the months you need.

Using a Printable Calendar Template

A blank printable calendar template gives you the freedom to mark your own rotating roster. Print one page per month and use coloured pencils or markers to fill in your blocks. Because the template carries no pre-printed shift information, it adapts to any pattern: the 2-2-3, the DuPont, or the 4-on-4-off. Follow the cycle length and colour system above.