What is a 24/72 schedule?
A 24/72 schedule means one 24-hour shift followed by 72 hours (three days) off. It needs four platoons — A, B, C and D — instead of three, and each firefighter works every fourth day.
Because there is a fourth platoon, the average week drops to 42 hours, close to a standard work week. Departments that move to a 24/72 usually do it to reduce fatigue and overtime, at the cost of hiring more staff.
How the 24/72 rotation works
The cycle: 1 day on (24 hours), 3 days off — repeats every 4 days.
The cycle is four days long: on, off, off, off. Platoon A works day 1, B day 2, C day 3 and D day 4.
That is about 91 shifts a year, roughly 2,190 hours — around 25% fewer than a 24/48.
| Platoon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 24 | 24 | ||||||
| B | 24 | 24 | ||||||
| C | 24 | 24 | ||||||
| D | 24 | 24 |
24/72 hours, overtime and days off
| Shift length | 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | 4 days |
| Platoons for 24/7 coverage | 4 |
| Hours in a 7-day week | 24 to 48 (depends where the week falls in the cycle) |
| Average hours per week | 42 |
| Hours per year (scheduled) | about 2,190 |
| Shifts per year | about 91 |
| Days off per year | about 274 |
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 24/72 schedules about 168 hours in 28 days, which is under the threshold, so the schedule itself creates no federal overtime. Your contract or state law may pay more. Source: U.S. Department of Labor.
Who uses the 24/72 schedule?
- Fire departments with four-platoon staffing (common in Canada and some large US cities)
- Departments reducing hours under union agreements
Pros and cons
Pros
- 42-hour average week
- Three full days off after every shift
- Little or no FLSA overtime
Cons
- Needs about a third more staff than three platoons
- Lower overtime earnings
- Fewer departments use it, so fewer shift trades
Variations
24/48: Three platoons, 56-hour week.
48/96: Three platoons, two shifts back to back.
24/72 compared with similar rotations
| Rotation | Cycle | Shift | Avg hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/72 Schedule | 4 days | 24 h | 42 |
| 24/48 Schedule | 3 days | 24 h | 56 |
| 48/96 Schedule | 6 days | 24 h | 56 |
| Kelly Schedule | 9 days | 24 h | 56 |
Frequently asked questions
What is a 24/72 schedule?
You work 24 hours, then have 72 hours off. Four platoons rotate, so each works every fourth day.
How many hours a week is 24/72?
It averages 42 hours a week (24 ÷ 4 × 7).
Do you get overtime on a 24/72?
Usually not under the federal 7(k) rule: a 24/72 schedules about 168 hours in a 28-day period, under the 212-hour threshold.
ShiftRotations is an independent site. Rotations vary between employers and departments — always check your own schedule or contract.