Roster patterns
3/1 FIFO roster — 3 weeks on, 1 week off
The 3/1 roster is an extended FIFO rotation pattern: 21 consecutive days on swing at site, followed by 7 days of R&R at home. The 28-day cycle is close to a calendar month, making it straightforward to plan. It is common in oil and gas projects, remote healthcare and nursing roles, and some extended mining operations where longer swings reduce travel frequency.
How the 3/1 cycle works
On swing
21 days
3 weeks at site
R&R
7 days
1 week at home
Full cycle
28 days
repeating
28-day roster preview
Days 1–21 on swing, days 22–28 R&R. Cycle repeats every 28 days.
Planning a 3/1 roster with FIFO Planner
FIFO Planner includes a built-in 3/1 Extended template. Set your swing start date and the planner automatically calculates every future 21-day swing and 7-day R&R period. The 28-day cycle is close to a calendar month, so it is easy to see patterns at a glance. Export your schedule to Apple, Google, or Outlook Calendar, and overlay public holidays for any Australian state or territory.
Who uses the 3/1 FIFO roster?
The 3/1 pattern suits operations where travel to site is expensive or infrequent, making it economical to keep workers on site for 21 consecutive days. Common sectors include:
- Oil and gas exploration — Onshore drilling and wellsite operations in remote WA and the NT, where the high cost of charter flights makes three-week swings efficient.
- Remote healthcare and nursing — Remote area nurses (RANs) and allied health workers in Aboriginal communities and regional hospitals across WA, QLD, and the NT.
- Extended mining operations — Underground operations and exploration camps where accommodation and resupply logistics favour longer site stays.
- Marine and offshore — Some offshore support vessel and platform crew roles use a 3/1 structure for crew change scheduling.
Because the 3/1 cycle aligns closely with the calendar month (28 days), it is administratively straightforward for payroll, rostering, and planning leave.
Pros and cons of the 3/1 roster
Advantages
- 28-day cycle aligns with calendar months — simple to plan around
- Fewer flights per year (13 round trips vs 17 for 2/1) — less travel fatigue
- Higher earning potential — approximately 274 days on site per year
- Good fit for single workers or those with fewer family commitments at home
Disadvantages
- 21 consecutive days away is one of the longer standard swings — significant mental health challenge
- Only 7 days off — not enough for long-haul travel or extended family visits
- High on-site ratio (roughly three-quarters of the year) increases burnout risk
- Less common than 2/1 — fewer job openings on this pattern across most industries
Common questions about the 3/1 roster
Is the 3/1 roster harder on relationships than the 2/1?
Generally yes — 21 days away is a longer stretch than 14, which puts more pressure on partners and family at home. FIFO Planner's family-share links help partners track the swing countdown in real time.
What is the difference between a 3/1 and a 2/1 FIFO roster?
The 2/1 runs on a 21-day cycle (14 on, 7 off) with ~243 days on site per year. The 3/1 runs on a 28-day cycle (21 on, 7 off) with ~274 days on site. Both give 1 week off per cycle, but the 3/1 swing is a full week longer.
How many public holidays do I miss on a 3/1 roster?
Your 28-day cycle intersects differently with public holidays each year. FIFO Planner overlays all Australian state public holidays on your roster so you can see exactly which ones fall on swing versus R&R.
Can I use the 3/1 template in FIFO Planner for free?
Yes. The 3/1 Extended template is included on the free plan. Create an account, select the template, set your start date, and the planner calculates every future swing and R&R automatically.
How many days per year is a 3/1 FIFO worker on site?
Each 28-day cycle has 21 days on site and 7 days at home. Over 365 days this works out to approximately 274 days on site and 91 days at home — significantly more site time than the 2/1 or 4/2.