3/12 Work Schedule Calculator
3/12 Work Schedule Calculator
Plan a 3-day, 12-hour work week. See your shift end time, weekly hours, days off and estimated pay in seconds.
What is a 3/12 work schedule?
A 3/12 schedule means you work three days a week, twelve hours a day, for a total of 36 hours per week. It is very common in nursing, hospital care, emergency services, security, manufacturing and long-shift operations. Instead of five shorter days, you work three long shifts and get four days off. Some employers count a 3/12 week as full time (36 hours), and many allow you to pick up a fourth shift for extra pay. The trade-off is longer, more demanding work days in exchange for more days away from work each week.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the time your shift normally starts (many 3/12 shifts start at 7:00 or 19:00).
- Type how many paid hours you work per shift (12 by default).
- Add your unpaid break in minutes, or tick the box if your break is paid.
- Select the three days you work. Consecutive days like Mon–Wed are common.
- Add your hourly rate if you want pay estimates, then press Calculate.
Quick facts about 3/12 schedules
- Standard week: 3 days × 12 hours = 36 hours per week.
- With a 30-minute unpaid break, you stay at work 12.5 hours per shift.
- Four days off every week — one of the highest rest-to-work ratios in shift work.
- Yearly total: about 1,872 paid hours before picking up extra shifts.
- Overtime usually starts after 40 hours, so a fourth shift is often paid at 1.5× in many countries.
Who is this calculator for?
- Nurses, doctors and hospital staff on 12-hour shifts
- Security, fire and emergency responders
- Factory and warehouse workers on 12-hour rotation
- Job seekers comparing a 3/12 offer with a 5/8 or 4/10 offer
- HR teams and schedulers planning shift coverage
- Anyone who wants to know exactly when their 12-hour shift ends
Why the 3/12 schedule matters
- Four days off per week gives more time for family, study, second jobs or rest.
- It saves several commutes per week, which means less fuel and less traffic stress.
- Longer shifts need better planning: meals, rest and focus matter more across 12 hours.
- Knowing your exact hours and shift end time helps you check your payslip, plan sleep and manage overtime.
- Many hospitals and 24/7 operations depend on 3/12 rotation to cover nights and weekends.
Conclusion
A 3/12 schedule gives you four days off every week in exchange for three long shifts. Use this calculator to check your shift end time, weekly and yearly hours and estimated pay before you accept an offer, bid on a shift pattern or plan your week.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is a 3/12 shift?
A 3/12 shift is 12 hours of work per day, three days a week. That is 36 hours a week, or about 1,872 hours a year before picking up extra shifts.
Is a 3/12 schedule full time?
In many hospitals and 24/7 operations, 36 hours a week counts as full time, especially when the schedule is part of a shift rotation. In standard office jobs, 40 hours is the usual full-time threshold, so a 3/12 week may be treated as 0.9 FTE.
Do you get overtime on a 3/12 schedule?
Usually not on the base 36-hour week, because overtime normally starts after 40 hours. However, if you pick up a fourth 12-hour shift, that extra shift is often paid at 1.5× in many countries and hospital systems.
How long is a 12-hour shift with a break?
With a 30-minute unpaid break you stay at work 12.5 hours and are paid for 12. If your shift uses a longer unpaid meal break (like 45 or 60 minutes), add that to your at-work time.
Is 3/12 better than 4/10 or 5/8?
It depends on you. A 3/12 week gives you four days off, which is the biggest rest block of any common pattern. The trade-off is longer and more physically demanding shifts, and a shorter total work week (36 hours instead of 40).
How many days off do you get on a 3/12 schedule?
Four days off per week, which is about 208 days off per year plus public holidays. That is 104 more days off than a standard 5×8 schedule.
Does a night 3/12 shift pay more?
In many hospitals and factories, night shifts include a shift differential — usually 10% to 25% extra per hour. Enter your base rate above for a baseline estimate, then add the differential manually to your hourly rate to see the night-shift version.