Rotations
Choose a pattern to see how it works, who uses it and its 2026 and 2027 calendars by platoon.
How to make your shift calendar
- Choose your pattern, or Custom cycle and type it, like D D N N - - - -.
- Pick your platoon.
- Enter the first day of a rotation you work. The default is shown under the date.
- Set the start time and length of a shift.
- Select Download .ics to add the year to your calendar, Print year for a one-page Letter calendar, or Copy link to share it.
Custom cycle examples
| Type | Means |
|---|---|
| 1,-2 | 1 day on, 2 off (24/48) |
| 2,-4 | 2 on, 4 off (48/96) |
| D D N N - - - - | 2 days, 2 nights, 4 off |
| D D D - - - D D D D - - - - | 3 on, 3 off, 4 on, 4 off |
| 5,-2 | 5 on, 2 off |
D is a shift at the start time. N is a night shift that starts when the day shift ends. Cycles can be up to 56 days, with 1 to 4 platoons spread evenly across them.
Hours, overtime and holidays
The totals count the shifts that start in the year, times the shift length, minus any dates you skip. Average hours a week is the year's hours divided by 52.1 or 52.3 weeks.
Public fire departments can pay overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days under section 7(k) of the Fair Labor Standards Act instead of the usual 40-hour workweek. For fire protection employees on a 28-day work period, overtime starts after 212 hours; for law enforcement, after 171. A 24-hour rotation with three platoons averages 56 hours a week, about 224 hours in 28 days, which is one reason some departments add Kelly days. Contracts and state laws often pay more. This is general information, not legal advice. Sources: DOL Fact Sheet #8 and 29 CFR 553.230.
For 12-hour rotations in private employment, overtime is usually counted per 7-day workweek: see the overtime calculator or add up a pay period on the biweekly time card.
Questions
Is this my department's official calendar?
No. It follows the pattern and the date you choose. Departments set their own start dates, Kelly days, trades and holiday rules, so check the result against your department's published schedule.
How do I line it up with my shift?
Pick your platoon, then enter the date of the first day of any rotation you worked or will work, such as the first shift after your long break. Every other day of the year lines up from it, backward and forward.
Can I skip vacation days or trades?
Yes. On the generator, tap a shift in the month view or type the dates under More options. Skipped shifts leave the .ics, the printout and the totals. They are saved in the link you copy.
How are holidays counted?
The calendar marks the 11 federal holidays on the actual date, such as July 4, and counts a holiday as worked when one of your shifts starts that day. When a holiday falls on a weekend, the observed weekday is listed too. Your employer's holiday pay rules may use either date.
Is my schedule saved?
Your settings stay in this browser so the generator opens where you left it. Copy link puts them in a link you can send to your phone or share with your crew. Nothing is sent to our server.
How do I add the .ics file to my phone?
iPhone: open the downloaded file and tap Add All, or import it into a new calendar so it is easy to remove later. Google Calendar: on a computer, go to Settings, Import and export, choose the file and the calendar to add it to. Outlook: File, Open and export, Import, or drag the file onto the calendar. Each shift becomes one timed event, and 48-hour tours are one event.
Which time zone should I pick?
Choose your department's time zone so shifts stay at the right time if you travel. Device time writes times with no zone, and every calendar shows them as local time on the device. Across daylight saving changes, a shift keeps its clock times: 7:00 AM to 7:00 AM is 23 or 25 hours on those two nights, and the totals here count the scheduled length.