4/12 Work Schedule Calculator
4/12 Work Schedule Calculator
Plan a 4-day, 12-hour work week. See your shift end time, weekly hours, overtime and estimated pay in seconds.
What is a 4/12 work schedule?
A 4/12 schedule means you work four days a week, twelve hours a day, for a total of 48 hours per week. It is a compressed shift pattern used most often in nursing, hospital care, emergency services, security, manufacturing, mining and 24/7 operations. Instead of five shorter days, you work four long shifts and get three days off, which some workers prefer for the extra rest block and reduced commuting.
Because 48 hours exceeds the standard 40-hour week used in most countries, a 4/12 schedule usually involves overtime. In many places, the first 8 hours above 40 are paid at 1.5× the normal rate, which makes the 4/12 an attractive pattern for workers who want higher weekly pay. Rules vary widely by country and contract, so it is important to check your local labour law or union agreement.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the time your shift normally starts. Many 4/12 shifts begin at 7:00 AM or 7:00 PM.
- Type how many paid hours you work per shift. The standard for a 4/12 is 12 hours.
- Add your unpaid break in minutes, or tick the checkbox if your break is paid.
- Select the four days you work. Mon–Thu and Tue–Fri are common 4/12 patterns.
- Add your hourly rate if you want pay estimates, then press Calculate.
Quick facts about 4/12 schedules
- Standard week: 4 days × 12 hours = 48 hours per week.
- With a 30-minute unpaid break, you stay at work 12.5 hours per shift.
- Yearly total: about 2,496 paid hours — roughly 416 hours more than a standard 40-hour week.
- Overtime usually starts after 40 hours, so 8 hours per week are often paid at 1.5×.
- Three days off per week (156 days per year) gives a bigger rest block than a 5/8 or 4/10 schedule.
- Long shifts need careful planning for meals, sleep, hydration and driving safety.
Who is this calculator for?
- Nurses, doctors and hospital staff on 12-hour rotations
- Security, fire, police and emergency responders
- Factory, mining and warehouse workers on 4/12 shift patterns
- Power plant, oil and gas, and utility shift crews
- Job seekers comparing a 4/12 offer with a 4/10, 5/8 or 3/12 offer
- HR teams and schedulers planning shift coverage and overtime budgets
Why the 4/12 schedule matters
- It gives three days off per week, which supports family time, recovery and long-distance commuting.
- It reduces the number of commutes per week, saving fuel, tolls and travel time.
- It creates built-in weekly overtime for many workers, which increases gross pay significantly.
- It requires careful sleep and meal planning — twelve-hour shifts can be physically and mentally demanding.
- It is widely used in 24/7 industries, so it is worth understanding if you work in healthcare, security or manufacturing.
- Knowing your exact hours and pay helps you check your payslip and verify your overtime rate is correct.
Conclusion
A 4/12 schedule gives you three days off every week in exchange for four long shifts and up to 8 hours of weekly overtime. Use this calculator to confirm your shift end time, weekly and yearly hours, overtime hours and estimated pay — then compare it against a 5/8, 4/10, 9/80 or 3/12 pattern before you accept an offer or bid on a shift rotation.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is a 4/12 shift?
A 4/12 shift is 12 hours of work per day, four days a week. That is 48 hours a week, or about 2,496 paid hours a year before vacation and public holidays.
Is a 4/12 schedule full time?
Yes, and it is well above full time. Most countries define full time at 35–40 hours a week, so a 48-hour 4/12 week is full time plus 8 hours of overtime.
Do you get overtime on a 4/12 schedule?
In most countries, hours over 40 in a single week count as overtime. On a 4/12 week that means about 8 hours per week are paid at 1.5× the normal rate. Some places also apply daily overtime after 8 or 12 hours, which can raise the number further. Check your local labour law or union agreement for the exact rule.
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 60-minute unpaid meal break, add another 30 minutes to your at-work time, so 13 hours total.
Is 4/12 better than 4/10 or 3/12?
It depends on you. A 4/12 week gives three days off and 8 hours of weekly overtime, which means more pay but longer, more tiring shifts. A 4/10 keeps you at exactly 40 hours with three days off but no overtime. A 3/12 gives you four days off but a shorter week at 36 hours, so it may count as part time in some workplaces.
How many days off do you get on a 4/12 schedule?
Three days off per week, which is about 156 days off per year, plus public holidays and paid leave depending on your employer.
Does a night 4/12 shift pay more?
In many hospitals, factories and security operations, night shifts include a shift differential of 10% to 25% extra per hour. Enter your base rate above for a baseline estimate, then increase the rate to see what a night-shift version would pay.
Is a 4/12 schedule legal everywhere?
Not always. Some countries and regions cap weekly working hours at 40 or 48, require additional rest days after long shifts, or require specific compensation for shifts over 10 or 12 hours. Always check your local labour law or contract before agreeing to a 4/12 pattern.