What is a 24/48 schedule?
A 24/48 schedule means you work one 24-hour shift, then you are off for the next 48 hours. Three platoons — usually called A, B and C shift — take turns, so the station is covered every day and each firefighter is on duty every third day.
It is the most common rotation in American fire departments and is also used by many EMS agencies. Because a shift lands every three days, your duty day moves through the week: if you work a Monday, your next shifts are Thursday, then Sunday, then Wednesday.
How the 24/48 rotation works
The cycle: 1 day on (24 hours), 2 days off — repeats every 3 days.
The cycle is only three days long: on, off, off. A shift typically starts at 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning and ends 24 hours later, when the next platoon relieves you.
Over a year that adds up to about 122 shifts per platoon. Since every shift is 24 hours, the schedule averages 56 hours a week — which is why most departments pair it with overtime pay or with Kelly days (extra scheduled days off) to bring the average down.
| Platoon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 24 | 24 | ||||
| B | 24 | 24 | ||||
| C | 24 | 24 |
24/48 hours, overtime and days off
| Shift length | 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | 3 days |
| Platoons for 24/7 coverage | 3 |
| Hours in a 7-day week | 48 to 72 (depends where the week falls in the cycle) |
| Average hours per week | 56 |
| Hours per year (scheduled) | about 2,920 |
| Shifts per year | about 122 |
| Days off per year | about 243 |
Overtime (FLSA 7(k)): fire departments may use a work period of 7 to 28 days and owe overtime after 212 hours in 28 days (or the same ratio for shorter periods). A 24/48 schedules about 224 hours in 28 days, so roughly 12 hours per 28-day period are overtime unless Kelly days or trades reduce the hours. Your contract or state law may pay more. Source: U.S. Department of Labor.
Who uses the 24/48 schedule?
- Municipal and county fire departments
- EMS and ambulance services that run 24-hour units
- Airport and industrial fire brigades
- Some wildland and federal fire stations
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two full days off after every shift — easy to plan around
- Only about 122 commutes a year
- Simple to learn: on, off, off
- Easy to trade shifts with other platoons
Cons
- 56-hour average week is long
- Sleep at the station is often interrupted by calls
- Your duty day moves through the week, so weekends and holidays rotate
- Only one day of real recovery between shifts if the second day is busy
Variations
24/48 with Kelly days: The department schedules an extra day off every so often (for example, every 7th or 9th shift) to reduce average hours and FLSA overtime. See the Kelly schedule.
48/96: Two 24-hour shifts back to back, then four days off. Same 56-hour average, fewer commutes, longer stretches on duty.
24/72: A four-platoon version: one 24-hour shift, then three days off, for a 42-hour average week.
24/48 compared with similar rotations
| Rotation | Cycle | Shift | Avg hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/48 Schedule | 3 days | 24 h | 56 |
| 48/96 Schedule | 6 days | 24 h | 56 |
| Kelly Schedule | 9 days | 24 h | 56 |
| 24/72 Schedule | 4 days | 24 h | 42 |
Tips for living on a 24/48 schedule
Protect the day after. Treat the first off day as recovery, especially after a busy night. Short naps beat staying up all day.
Put it in your phone once. Add your platoon to your phone calendar with the button above — it repeats every three days forever, so you never have to type shifts in again.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 24/48 schedule?
You work one 24-hour shift, then have 48 hours off. Three platoons (A, B and C) rotate so each works every third day.
How many hours a week is a 24/48 schedule?
It averages 56 hours a week: one 24-hour shift every three days (24 ÷ 3 × 7 = 56).
How many shifts a year do you work on a 24/48?
About 122 shifts a year (365 ÷ 3), which is roughly 2,920 hours before Kelly days, leave or trades.
Do firefighters on a 24/48 get overtime?
Under the federal FLSA 7(k) rule, fire departments owe overtime after 212 hours in a 28-day work period. A 24/48 schedules 224 hours in 28 days, so about 12 hours per period are overtime unless Kelly days reduce the hours. Your contract or state law may be more generous.
What is the difference between 24/48 and 48/96?
Both average 56 hours a week. On a 24/48 you work one shift and get two days off; on a 48/96 you work two shifts back to back and get four days off.
ShiftRotations is an independent site. Rotations vary between employers and departments — always check your own schedule or contract.