Free daily shift roster (Excel)
Hourly shift planning for businesses that need detailed daily coverage. Perfect for high turnover venues, busy service days, and events where you need to see exactly who's working each hour.
Daily shift roster
Excel format (.xlsx)
No signup required. Works with Excel and Google Sheets.
What's in this template
Hour-by-hour coverage planning
Time slots
Hourly rows from opening to closing (e.g., 6am-12am)
Employee columns
One column per staff member on shift
Break indicators
Mark meal and rest breaks clearly
Position/area
Assign staff to stations or zones
Notes
Special instructions for each time slot
How the hourly view works
Time runs down the left column, with each staff member in their own column. Fill cells to show when each person is working. This makes it easy to see coverage at any hour and identify gaps.
| Time | Sarah (Manager) | James (Barista) | Emma (Floor) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Opening | - | - | Setup |
| 8:00 AM | Counter | Coffee | - | Rush starts |
| 12:00 PM | BREAK | Coffee | Floor | Lunch peak |
How to use this template
Get started in four simple steps
Download
Get the Excel file
Add staff columns
One column per employee
Fill time slots
Mark positions and breaks
Share or print
Post for your team
Who uses this template
Ideal for detailed daily planning
Busy service days
Plan coverage for peak trading periods
High turnover venues
Manage multiple shift changes per day
Hospitality events
Coordinate staff for functions and events
Template disclaimer
This template is provided as a general planning tool only. It does not calculate wages, penalties, or entitlements. For automated calculations and compliance support, use roster and payroll software.
When excel stops working
Daily rosters in Excel work for occasional busy days. But if you're constantly updating hourly schedules, managing breaks, and coordinating across positions, it gets overwhelming fast. Our free online roster tool makes it easier with drag-and-drop scheduling.
Try the free online roster toolDaily shift roster FAQ
- The template includes hourly rows from 6am to midnight. You can add earlier or later rows to match your business hours.
- Use a clear indicator like 'BREAK' or shade the cell differently. This helps visualise when staff are unavailable during their shift.
- Yes, you can note position changes in each time slot. For example, an employee might be on counter from 9am-12pm then move to kitchen from 12pm-3pm.
- No, this is a planning template only. It helps visualise daily coverage but does not calculate hours worked or pay. For automated calculations, consider rostering software.
- Use the daily roster when you need hour-by-hour planning for a particularly busy day, an event, or when you have many short shifts. The weekly template is better for regular scheduling.
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Ready to plan your daily roster?
Download the template now and start planning hour by hour.
Disclaimer
This template is provided as a general planning tool only. It does not calculate wages, penalties, or entitlements. RosterElf Pty Ltd accepts no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this template. For automated calculations and compliance support, use roster and payroll software.