DuPont schedule
The DuPont schedule rotates four crews through 12-hour day and night shifts over a 28-day cycle: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, then 7 days off. That works out to 42 hours a week on average.
| Crew | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew A | N | N | N | N | D | D | D | N | N | N | D | D | D | D | ||||||||||||||
| Crew B | N | N | N | N | D | D | D | N | N | N | D | D | D | D | ||||||||||||||
| Crew C | D | D | D | D | N | N | N | N | D | D | D | N | N | N | ||||||||||||||
| Crew D | D | D | D | N | N | N | D | D | D | D | N | N | N | N |
Cycle of 28 days, 4 crews, 42 hours a week on average. D = day shift, N = night shift, 24 = 24-hour shift.
How the DuPont schedule works
- Each crew works 14 shifts in 28 days: 7 day shifts and 7 night shifts.
- The blocks are 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days and 7 off.
- Each crew is one week behind the one before, so one crew is always on days and one on nights.
- Shifts are commonly 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM; set your own times above.
Pros
- A full week off every four weeks.
- Long stretches off without using vacation days.
- 42 hours a week on average.
Cons
- One week has six 12-hour shifts, 72 hours, with a switch from days to nights in the middle.
- You switch between days and nights several times a cycle.
- Weekends off only come around some of the time.
Similar schedules
-
Panama
4 crews, 12-hour shifts, 2-2-3 rhythm, days and nights swap every two weeks.
42 hours a week on average
-
Pitman (2-2-3)
4 crews, 12-hour shifts, 2-2-3 rhythm on fixed days or nights.
42 hours a week on average
-
4 on 4 off, rotating days and nights
4 crews, four days, four off, four nights, four off.
42 hours a week on average
Other schedules: 24/48, 48/96, Kelly, 4/10 (four tens), 9/80
Frequently asked questions
- What is a DuPont schedule?
- A 12-hour shift rotation for four crews over 28 days: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days and 7 days off. It covers the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- What is the DuPont schedule for 2026?
- The same 28-day cycle repeats all year. Set your crew and the cycle start above and the preview and the calendar file show your 2026 shifts.
- Why is it called the DuPont schedule?
- It's widely said to be named after the DuPont company, which is said to have introduced it at its plants. We found no primary source for that.
- How many hours a week is the DuPont schedule?
- 42 hours a week on average: 14 shifts of 12 hours every 28 days. The heaviest week has 72 hours and one week is completely off.
Get your roster from a photo, PDF or screenshot instead
Not on a fixed rotation, or does your schedule come as a picture of the board or a PDF each month? Calendar Vision reads it and puts every shift in your calendar.