8/6 FIFO roster calendar illustrative annual totals: 2027 annual example
Assumptions: first duty day 1 Jan 2027; 8 consecutive duty days followed by 6 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
19
12
February
16
12
March
19
12
April
18
12
May
16
15
June
16
14
July
18
13
August
19
12
September
18
12
October
17
14
November
16
14
December
17
14
2027 total
209
156
These counts change if the first duty date changes. Calculate your actual annual totals using the interactive planner.
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The 8/6 FIFO roster 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 8/6 FIFO roster calendar
Using 1 Jan 2027 as the first duty date, this 8-on / 6-off illustration contains 156 rostered rest dates in 2027, with a longest uninterrupted rest stretch of 6 days inside the calendar year. That starting point is illustrative, not your employer’s published duty roster.
Across all 14 equally weighted possible starting phases, the entire 24–26 Dec Christmas period is free in 4 phases (28.6%); 31 Dec through 1 Jan is free in 5 phases (35.7%).
For illustrative summer-school intervals, the mean number of rostered rest dates is 18.0 of 42 dates for an Australian December–January example, 18.0 of 42 for a UK July–August example, and 26.6 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.
Planning notes specific to 8/6 FIFO roster calendar
An eight-on, six-off FIFO roster repeats every fourteen calendar days, giving slightly more duty days than rest dates in each cycle. Many workers use a shorthand such as 8/6 without specifying the phase. In practice, eight days beginning on a Friday produce a different set of weekends than eight days beginning on a Tuesday. For an annual picture, the exact first work date is essential.
The 2027 example assigns January 1 as a duty day and continues through all calendar months. It does not reset on New Year’s Day for later years; a continuous cycle must be projected from its genuine anchor. Calendar month lengths change how many duty dates appear in each month even though the underlying roster never changes. Before submitting leave, verify whether mobilisation or a night-shift handover is included in the stated eight-duty-day block.
For partners, an 8/6 schedule can overlap surprisingly little with a 14/14 or 21/7 roster. The longest shared break and the most shared dates in a year are different outcomes. Plan transport separately from nominal rest dates, and avoid treating a public holiday on a duty date as automatic time off. Publish or subscribe only after the sample has been adjusted to reflect your confirmed swing.
To check your 8/6 projection quickly, identify a recent confirmed work-start date and count forward eight calendar dates for duty, then six for rest. Repeat across at least one month boundary. If the displayed result disagrees with your actual roster, inspect whether a travel day or an overnight shift has been counted as a duty date. Do not fix an anchor mismatch by arbitrarily changing one rest day; correct the initial reference first, then add genuinely irregular exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
How does 8/6 FIFO roster calendar repeat?
A repeating eight duty days and six rostered off days; anchor your actual swing start for reliable totals. Each projection depends on the verified first duty date.
How should I interpret the 8/6 FIFO roster calendar 2027 example?
The 8/6 FIFO roster 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 8/6 FIFO roster calendar?
Yes. Begin with the 8/6 FIFO roster calendar cycle, then compare the other person’s individually anchored roster. Suggested leave dates are not approved absences.