Skip to content
i-TimeManagement
Time cardTime calculatorHours calculatorTime card calculatorSee all: Time and hoursDate calculatorDays between datesBusiness days calculatorSee all: DatesCountdown timerStopwatchPomodoro timerSee all: Timers and focus2-2-3 work scheduleDuPont schedule4/10 work scheduleSee all: Shift schedulesOvertime rulesFederal holidaysHours in a yearSee all: Guides

Shift schedule

24/48 schedule: calendar and hours

One 24-hour shift, then two days off, on a 3-day cycle.

By i-TimeManagement · Updated · How we calculate

Pattern24 hours on, 48 hours off
Cycle3 days
Average hours per week56
Hours per year, average2,922
Days worked per yearabout 122
Hours in any 28 days216 to 240
Shift length24 hours
Longest run of shifts1 in a row

The 24/48 schedule (“one on, two off”) is a classic fire service rotation: a 24-hour shift followed by 48 hours off.

The pattern

Day 1 2 3
Hours 24 off off

Hours

Over one 3-day cycle that is 24 hours, an average of 56 hours a week. Because the cycle does not line up with a calendar week, some weeks have more hours than others: the calendar above shows each week’s total and the hours over 40.

Many departments add a Kelly day to bring average hours down: see the Kelly schedule.

Overtime

Under federal law, most hourly employees get overtime for hours over 40 in their employer’s fixed workweek, whatever the schedule. Fire and police departments can use a longer work period under section 7(k) of the FLSA; for fire protection that is 212 hours in 28 days. State rules and union contracts can add more.

Sources

Sources last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is 24/48?

24 hours every 3 days, an average of 56 a week.

How many shifts a month on 24/48?

About 10.

Who works 24/48?

Mostly fire departments and some EMS services.

Other shift schedules

Fire service 24-hour48/96 schedule A fire service schedule: two 24-hour shifts in a row, then four days off. Fire service 24-hourKelly schedule A fire service rotation of three 24-hour shifts on alternating days, then four days off.