FREE PATTERN CALENDAR · 2026 / 2027
5-5-4 shift pattern calendar.
A clearly labelled 28-day work/off example: five work, five off, four work, five off, five work, four off. Compare the full sequence with your own rota first.
CHECK THE CYCLE FIRST
Your 28-day cycle.
Clearly mapped.
This example has 14 work days and 14 off days in each complete cycle. The five-, five- and four-day work blocks are separated by five-, five- and four-day breaks. It deliberately leaves day/night assignments unspecified because the name 5-5-4 does not establish those details.
W W W W W O O O O O W W W W O O O O O W W W W W O O O O
W work · D day · E early · L late · N night · O off
EXAMPLE CALENDAR
2026, planned.
*Saturday + Sunday both off or on leave, wholly within 2026. These are day counts, not hours.
An example to explore. Confirm your pattern and day 1, then select “Generate my calendar”.
January 2026
Your generated calendar will let you adjust individual dates. Night shifts are marked on their start date.
What about that day?
A quick check for birthdays, appointments or a weekend away. Dates outside the displayed year follow the base pattern.
Plans change.
Add leave or a shift swap without moving the rest of your cycle. Generate your calendar first.
0 date changes in this calendar.
Take it with you.
Choose “Save as PDF” in your browser’s print dialog. Turn off browser headers and footers for a clean page.
Exports cover all of 2026, including your date changes. ICS uses all-day markers, with no alarms or exact shift times. Import into a separate calendar; importing again may create duplicates.
A little less setup next time.
Save one rota in this browser. It won’t sync to other devices. Clearing site data removes it.
My shift calendar · 2026
28-day cycle · Day 1: 2026-01-01 · EXAMPLE
MUSE STUDIO
Cycle: W W W W W O O O O O W W W W O O O O O W W W W W O O O O
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
MAKE IT MATCH YOUR TEAM
A reliable start.
A useful calendar.
- Find the right cycle day 1.
Anchor the first day of the opening five-day work block. There is another five-day work block later in the cycle, so identify which block you have before setting the date.
- Try the worked example.
Starting on 1 January 2026 gives work on 1–5, off on 6–10, work on 11–14, off on 15–19, work on 20–24 and off on 25–28 January. The next cycle starts on 29 January.
- Check before sharing.
Find the four-day work block and the four-day break on your official rota. These distinctive blocks help confirm that your 28-day anchor is correct. The copy-link action shares the repeat and anchor, not personal leave or date swaps.
Your pattern, explained.
Why does my employer’s 5-5-4 look different?
Pattern names are shorthand, and employers can arrange blocks or shift types differently. You can edit the letters in this generator. If the day/night assignment repeats over more than 28 days, enter that entire sequence, up to 56 days, rather than assuming a 28-day cycle.
Can I make a 2027 calendar without restarting my cycle?
Yes. Change Calendar year to 2027 and keep the same cycle day 1 date. The generator counts forward and backward from that anchor, so New Year does not restart the pattern. Any year from 2020 to 2040 is supported; 2026 is preselected on this page.
How do I print or share this calendar?
Set your pattern and start date, then choose Generate my calendar. Use Print / save as PDF for an A4 or US Letter calendar, CSV for a spreadsheet, or ICS for all-day labels in a calendar app. Copy crew link gives colleagues the same repeating pattern. It is a snapshot, not a live rota; personal leave and swaps are excluded.
Does this replace my employer’s rota?
No. This repeats the sequence you enter and does not receive staffing changes, calculate hours or verify rest requirements. Compare the result with your employer’s official rota before making plans. Night labels mark the starting date only.
A DIFFERENT REPEAT?
Start with the right pattern.
THE REST OF YOUR WEEK
Dates here.
More detail in Shift & Life.
The optional planner bundle adds hours, estimated pay and personal plans in spreadsheet, fillable PDF and Notion formats. You can use this calendar without buying anything.