Shift schedule calendar maker

Kelly schedule

The Kelly schedule is a 9-day fire department rotation for three platoons: 24 hours on, 24 off, 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, then 96 hours (four days) off. That averages 56 hours a week. Some sources call the same rhythm the California swing.

Crew 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Crew A 24 24 24
Crew B 24 24 24
Crew C 24 24 24

Cycle of 9 days, 3 crews, 56 hours a week on average. D = day shift, N = night shift, 24 = 24-hour shift.

Your crew

The first day of the cycle for crew A, as on your posted schedule. Check the preview against a week you know.

Leave empty to repeat the rotation with no end date.

How the Kelly schedule works

  • Each platoon works three 24-hour shifts in five days, then has four days off.
  • The platoons follow each other as A, B, A, B, C, B, C, A, C.
  • A "Kelly day" is something else: an extra day off some departments add to a 24/48 schedule.
  • Some sources use "Kelly" for a plain 24/48; if that's yours, use the 24/48 page.

Pros

  • Four days off every nine days.
  • Never more than one shift in a row.
  • 56 hours a week, the same as 24/48.

Cons

  • Three 24-hour shifts in five days.
  • Only one day off between those shifts.
  • Harder to remember than 24/48.

Similar schedules

  • 24/48

    3 platoons, 24 hours on, 48 hours off.

    56 hours a week on average

  • 48/96

    3 platoons, 48 hours on, 96 hours off.

    56 hours a week on average

Other schedules: DuPont, Panama, Pitman (2-2-3), 4 on 4 off, 12x36, 4/10 (four tens), 9/80

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kelly schedule?
A 9-day rotation for three fire platoons: 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, then four days off.
What is the difference between a Kelly schedule and a Kelly day?
The Kelly schedule is the 9-day rotation drawn here. A Kelly day is an extra day off added to a 24/48 schedule every few weeks.
Why is it called the Kelly schedule?
Sources name different people, including a Chicago mayor and a fire chief, and none cite a primary source, so we don't know.
How many hours a week is the Kelly schedule?
56 hours a week on average: three 24-hour shifts every nine days.

Get your roster from a photo, PDF or screenshot instead

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