What is a 48/96 schedule?
A 48/96 schedule means you work two 24-hour shifts back to back — 48 hours on duty — and then have 96 hours (four full days) off. Three platoons rotate, so the station is always covered and the cycle repeats every six days.
Many departments switched from the 24/48 to the 48/96 to cut commuting and give crews longer breaks. The average week is the same 56 hours; what changes is how the hours are grouped.
How the 48/96 rotation works
The cycle: 2 days on (48 hours), 4 days off — repeats every 6 days.
Each platoon works days 1 and 2 of the six-day cycle, then is off on days 3, 4, 5 and 6. A starts, B takes over two days later, then C, and the cycle comes back to A.
Over a year that is about 61 work blocks of 48 hours. Because the cycle is six days, your days on duty move forward one weekday each week.
| Platoon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | ||||||||
| B | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | ||||||||
| C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
48/96 hours, overtime and days off
| Shift length | 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | 6 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 48/96 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 48/96 schedule?
- Fire departments in the western US, especially California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and Washington
- Departments with long commutes or crews that live far from the station
- Some EMS agencies
Pros and cons
Pros
- Four full days off in every six
- Half as many commutes as a 24/48
- Fewer handovers between platoons, so fewer things fall through the cracks
- Long breaks make travel and second jobs easier
Cons
- 48 hours on duty can be exhausting on busy stations
- Fatigue in the second 24 hours is the main concern for departments considering it
- Missing a family event means missing two days, not one
- Same 56-hour average week as the 24/48
Variations
48/96 with Kelly days: Some departments add a Kelly day to reduce average hours below 56.
24/48: One shift, then two days off — the schedule most departments switch from.
24/72: Four platoons and a 42-hour average week.
48/96 compared with similar rotations
| Rotation | Cycle | Shift | Avg hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48/96 Schedule | 6 days | 24 h | 56 |
| 24/48 Schedule | 3 days | 24 h | 56 |
| Kelly Schedule | 9 days | 24 h | 56 |
| 24/72 Schedule | 4 days | 24 h | 42 |
Tips for living on a 48/96 schedule
Plan the second 24. Agree on rest windows with your crew for the second day, and keep the first off day for recovery.
Share the calendar with family. Send the share link above to your partner — they will see exactly which days you are away.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 48/96 schedule?
You work 48 hours straight (two 24-hour shifts), then have 96 hours (four days) off. Three platoons rotate on a six-day cycle.
How many hours a week is a 48/96?
It averages 56 hours a week — the same as a 24/48 — because each platoon works 48 of every 144 hours.
Is a 48/96 better than a 24/48?
It depends on the station. Crews like the four-day breaks and fewer commutes; the concern is fatigue in the second 24 hours on busy stations.
How does overtime work on a 48/96?
Under FLSA 7(k), overtime is owed after 212 hours in a 28-day work period. A 48/96 schedules about 224 hours in 28 days, so roughly 12 hours per period are overtime unless your department uses Kelly days.
How often do you work weekends on a 48/96?
Because the cycle is six days, your duty days move one weekday later each week, so you work a weekend day in most weeks but get full weekends off regularly.
ShiftRotations is an independent site. Rotations vary between employers and departments — always check your own schedule or contract.