Roster templates
FIFO roster templates — 6 common rotation patterns
FIFO Planner has six one-click templates for the most common rotations, including the multi-cycle 6/3/6/3 and 4/1/4/2. Pick a pattern, set your first swing day, and the planner calculates every future swing and R&R period automatically. If your roster does not match any of these, you can set your own weeks or days on and off.
All six patterns
2/1 Standard
Standard2 weeks on, 1 week off
Cycle
21 days
14 days on swing followed by 7 days R&R. One of the most common FIFO patterns in Australia.
Set up with: One-click template
Learn more3/1 Extended
Standard3 weeks on, 1 week off
Cycle
28 days
21 days on swing followed by 7 days R&R. Common in remote operations with longer travel distances.
Set up with: One-click template
Learn more4/2 Mining
Mining4 weeks on, 2 weeks off
Cycle
42 days
28 days on swing followed by 14 days R&R. A longer cycle often used in major mining operations.
Set up with: One-click template
Learn more8/6 Day Pattern
Mining8 days on, 6 days off
Cycle
14 days
An 8-day swing followed by 6 days R&R, repeating every two weeks. Predictable and calendar-aligned.
Set up with: One-click template
Learn more6/3/6/3
Custom6 weeks on, 3 weeks off — repeating
Cycle
126 days
Two identical cycles of 6 weeks on and 3 weeks off. Used in longer-duration site rotations.
Set up with: One-click template (opens the multi-cycle builder)
4/1/4/2
Custom4 on, 1 off, 4 on, 2 off
Cycle
77 days
An asymmetric two-cycle pattern: 4 weeks on, 1 week off, then 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off.
Set up with: One-click template (opens the multi-cycle builder)
How much time each pattern spends on site
Over a 365-day year, 3/1 Extended puts you on site longest (about 274 days, 75% of the year) and 8/6 Day Pattern the least (about 209 days, 57%). Exact counts shift by a few days depending on where your first swing falls, so treat these as expected values.
| Pattern | Cycles / year | Days on site | Days at home | On site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1 Standard | 17.4 | ~243 | ~122 | 67% |
| 3/1 Extended | 13 | ~274 | ~91 | 75% |
| 4/2 Mining | 8.7 | ~243 | ~122 | 67% |
| 8/6 Day Pattern | 26.1 | ~209 | ~156 | 57% |
| 6/3/6/3 | 2.9 | ~243 | ~122 | 67% |
| 4/1/4/2 | 4.7 | ~265 | ~100 | 73% |
Want your own numbers for a pattern not listed here? Use the FIFO roster calculator, or compare all the common rotations in the roster patterns guide.
How to set a pattern up
One-click templates. When you create a roster, the Quick Pattern buttons for 2/1, 3/1, 4/2 and 8/6 fill in the pattern for you. Then choose your start date, which is day one of your first swing.
Custom weeks or days. Choose Custom to set how many weeks (1 to 52) or days (1 to 365) you spend on and off. A live preview shows the pattern as on and off blocks before you save.
Multi-cycle builder. Choose Multi-cycle to chain cycles together. Each cycle has its days on, its days off and a repeat count, and you can reorder or remove cycles. The 6/3/6/3 and 4/1/4/2 templates fill the builder for you, and you can edit them. The builder also has quick-add buttons for 8/6, 7/7, 4/2 and 2/1.
Custom and multi-cycle patterns are free. They are not limited to the Pro plan.
Custom patterns
If none of the templates match your roster, define your own with your own swing lengths, R&R lengths and repeat counts. 7/7 (7 days on, 7 off) is a quick-add button in the builder, and patterns such as 5/2, 9/5 or 10/4 are a single cycle with those numbers of days.
Start with a free accountCommon questions
What is a FIFO roster template?
A template is a ready-made rotation: how many days you spend on swing at site and how many on R&R at home. You pick one, enter your first swing day, and FIFO Planner works out every later swing and R&R period.
Can I create a custom FIFO roster pattern?
Yes, and it is free. Set your own weeks or days on and off, or use the multi-cycle builder to chain cycles together with a repeat count. That covers patterns such as 5/2, 9/5, 10/4 and 7/7.
Which FIFO roster template is right for me?
Use the pattern your employer rosters you on, which is usually in your employment contract or roster notice. If you are comparing offers, the table above shows how much time each pattern spends on site over a year.