Generate shift schedules for employees with 8-hour or 12-hour shift patterns. Free online shift planner for workforce management.
The shift planner creates a weekly shift schedule for your team based on 8-hour (3 shifts: Morning, Afternoon, Night) or 12-hour (2 shifts: Day, Night) patterns. It fairly distributes shifts across employees with rotating schedules, ensures adequate coverage for each shift, and includes rest days between shift changes. This is essential for healthcare, manufacturing, security, retail, and any 24/7 operation.
8hr pattern: 3 shifts (6AM-2PM, 2PM-10PM, 10PM-6AM) | 12hr pattern: 2 shifts (6AM-6PM, 6PM-6AM)The 8-hour pattern divides 24 hours into three 8-hour shifts, requiring more employees but providing better work-life balance. The 12-hour pattern uses two 12-hour shifts, requiring fewer employees per day but with longer working hours. Both patterns rotate employees through different shifts on a regular basis.
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| 5 employees, 8hr shifts, Monday start | Week 1: Alice→Morning, Bob→Afternoon, Charlie→Night, Diana→Morning, Eve→Off (rotation) |
| 4 employees, 12hr shifts, Monday start | Week 1: Alice & Bob→Day, Charlie & Diana→Night (2-on, 2-off rotation) |
| 6 employees, 8hr shifts | 2 per shift with rotating off-days across the week |