2-2-3 Schedule Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate the 2-2-3 work schedule — The 2-2-3 (Panama-family) rotation: 2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off — a 14-day cycle on 12-hour shifts where every other weekend is 3 days off. See your average weekly hours, annual hours, and the next weeks of the rotation from any start date.
Quick answer: The 2-2-3 Schedule runs a 14-day cycle with 7 shifts of 12 hours — averaging 42.0 hours/week (2190 hours/year) across 4 crews for continuous coverage.
The Pattern
The 2-2-3 (Panama-family) rotation: 2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off — a 14-day cycle on 12-hour shifts where every other weekend is 3 days off. Four numbers define it:
| Cycle length | 14 days | Shifts per cycle | 7 x 12h |
| Average week | 42.0 hours | Annual hours | ~2190 |
| Crews for 24/7 | 4 | Typical users | dispatch, healthcare, manufacturing, casinos |
Worked Example
At $28/hour, the 42.0-hour average week grosses about $1,176/week — but pay varies BY WEEK with the rotation: weeks containing more shifts cross 40 hours and trigger overtime under weekly-OT rules, while light weeks run short. Many employers average or use period-based agreements; check how yours handles the heavy weeks.
Strengths and Trade-offs
Works well: no more than 3 consecutive shifts ever; alternating 3-day weekends; easy to memorize.
Watch for: the mid-week 2-shift bursts fragment sleep on nights, and 48/36 alternating weeks complicate OT. Night blocks also trigger night differentials where policy provides.
Overtime and Pay-Period Mechanics
Fixed-cycle schedules interact awkwardly with weekly overtime laws: a 14-day cycle does not align with 7-day workweeks, so some weeks exceed 40 hours even though the AVERAGE is 42.0. US employers handle it with premium built into rates, period agreements, or straight OT payment on heavy weeks; California daily rules add 1.5x past 8 hours (2x past 12) on every 12-hour shift unless an alternative workweek was adopted — see the California overtime calculator.
Living on This Rotation
Sleep research favors forward rotation and consistent blocks; the long off-stretches are this pattern’s reward — plan them like mini-vacations rather than recovery-only time. Swaps should trade like-for-like blocks to keep the cycle (and the pay averaging) intact. For planning days off around the rotation, the cycle preview below maps any month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2-2-3 work schedule?
The 2-2-3 (Panama-family) rotation: 2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off — a 14-day cycle on 12-hour shifts where every other weekend is 3 days off. It averages 42.0 hours/week over the 14-day cycle.
How many hours a year is this schedule?
About 2190 hours — 7 shifts x 12 hours per 14-day cycle, across 365 days.
Does this pattern trigger overtime?
Weeks with more shifts than average can exceed 40 hours even though the cycle averages 42.0 — weekly-OT jurisdictions owe premiums on those weeks unless a lawful averaging agreement applies.
How many crews does 24/7 coverage need?
4 crews rotate this pattern for continuous coverage — each crew offset within the cycle.
Is 2-2-3 the same as the Panama schedule?
The Panama schedule is the 2-2-3 pattern (often with slow day/night rotation every few cycles) — same 14-day, 7-shift structure.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026