Panama Schedule Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate the Panama schedule — The Panama rotation: the 2-2-3 cadence on 12-hour shifts (2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off), with crews typically flipping days/nights every 2-4 cycles. See your average weekly hours, annual hours, and the next weeks of the rotation from any start date.
Quick answer: The Panama 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 Panama rotation: the 2-2-3 cadence on 12-hour shifts (2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off), with crews typically flipping days/nights every 2-4 cycles. 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 | border/security operations, call centers, plants |
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: every other weekend free; the slow day/night flip preserves circadian rhythm better than weekly flips.
Watch for: tracking which crew is on days vs nights needs the calendar below; holiday landing is luck-of-the-cycle. 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 Panama schedule?
The Panama rotation: the 2-2-3 cadence on 12-hour shifts (2 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off), with crews typically flipping days/nights every 2-4 cycles. 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.
How is Panama different from plain 2-2-3?
Structure is identical; "Panama" usually implies the slow rotation between day and night blocks every few cycles rather than fixed shifts.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026