21/7 rotation calendar illustrative annual totals: 2027 annual example
Assumptions: first duty day 1 Jan 2027; 21 consecutive duty days followed by 7 consecutive rest days; no travel-day allocation, overrides or leave taken. A duty day is a calendar date marked by the repeating work/rest cycle, not a shift-hours calculation.
Month
Duty days
Rest days
January
24
7
February
21
7
March
24
7
April
23
7
May
24
7
June
23
7
July
24
7
August
24
7
September
23
7
October
21
10
November
21
9
December
22
9
2027 total
274
91
These counts change if the first duty date changes. Calculate your actual annual totals using the interactive planner.
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The 21/7 rotation calendar example starts with duty on 1 January 2027. Real shift changes, travel and approved leave can alter the dates.
Nationwide public holidays do not convert scheduled duty into time off. Regional holidays and employer rules may differ.
2027 pattern facts for 21/7 rotation calendar
Using 1 Jan 2027 as the first duty date, this 21-on / 7-off illustration contains 91 rostered rest dates in 2027, with a longest uninterrupted rest stretch of 7 days inside the calendar year. That starting point is illustrative, not your employer’s published duty roster.
Across all 28 equally weighted possible starting phases, the entire 24–26 Dec Christmas period is free in 5 phases (17.9%); 31 Dec through 1 Jan is free in 6 phases (21.4%).
For illustrative summer-school intervals, the mean number of rostered rest dates is 10.5 of 42 dates for an Australian December–January example, 10.5 of 42 for a UK July–August example, and 15.5 of 62 for a US June–August example. These fixed windows are not official countrywide school calendars and do not include travel or approved leave.
On a 21/7 rotation, three consecutive weeks of duty precede one week of scheduled rest. That means a 28-day baseline cycle with a relatively short recovery interval. It is not equivalent to 14/14 even though both are commonly discussed in the same FIFO communities. The 2027 table highlights how work-heavy a 21/7 year can appear when viewed by calendar dates.
Because the duty block is long, a single missed anchor date shifts many planned weekends and family events. Use a first work day confirmed on a roster, not the day you happen to travel to site. Some operations count mobilisation and demobilisation separately. If travelling consumes the first or final rest date, the usable period at home can be materially shorter than the seven nominal off dates.
An additional week of leave adjacent to a scheduled rest block can look attractive in theory, but different employers debit leave using different hours and shift rules. Check which duty dates would actually require approval. A partner on 7/7 or 8/6 may share only part of your seven-day rest interval. Comparing both schedules is more reliable than adding the individual rest totals together.
A three-week duty run often intersects several weekend dates, while the following seven-day home break is relatively concentrated. This makes the timing of travel especially important. If the site requires arrival the evening before scheduled duty, entering that evening as free can distort planned family events. A leave proposal during the middle of a twenty-one-day assignment has a different practical effect from leave immediately before the scheduled rest week. Verify both the actual duty dates and the employer’s approval process.
Frequently asked questions
How does 21/7 rotation calendar repeat?
Three weeks of duty followed by one week of rest. Actual travel and leave can change usable time off. Each projection depends on the verified first duty date.
How should I interpret the 21/7 rotation calendar 2027 example?
The 21/7 rotation calendar table describes calendar duty and rest dates. Use the exact confirmed shift start; exceptions, flights and hourly leave charging must be handled separately.
Can I plan time together using 21/7 rotation calendar?
Yes. Begin with the 21/7 rotation calendar cycle, then compare the other person’s individually anchored roster. Suggested leave dates are not approved absences.