FIFO roster template, plan swings a year ahead
A FIFO roster sets the swing pattern a worker flies in and out on, such as 2:1 (14 days on, 7 off) or even time. Pick the pattern and the first fly-in date, and this template lays out a 12-month calendar of day shifts, nights, travel days and R&R, counts the swings and checks crew cover.
Re-projecting swings every time someone changes crew?
In RosterElf you set each swing cycle once and it projects forward, shows who is on site each day, and sends approved timesheets to Xero or MYOB.
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What’s in the file
- A Setup tab: 8 swing patterns or your own, and a fly-in date
- A 12-month calendar of day, night, travel and R&R days
- A Crew tab for up to 40 workers, with a SHORT coverage check
- An Hours summary per worker: hours only, no pay
FIFO swing patterns compared
The patterns in the template’s library, worked out over a 365-day year. Pick one on the Setup sheet and every other sheet follows it.
| Pattern | Days on | Days off | Swings a year | Days on site a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:1 (14/7) | 14 | 7 | 17.4 | about 243 |
| 3:1 (21/7) | 21 | 7 | 13.0 | about 274 |
| 8/6 | 8 | 6 | 26.1 | about 209 |
| 9/5 | 9 | 5 | 26.1 | about 235 |
| 4/3 | 4 | 3 | 52.1 | about 209 |
| 5/2 | 5 | 2 | 52.1 | about 261 |
| 14/14 (even time) | 14 | 14 | 13.0 | about 183 |
| 7/7 (even time) | 7 | 7 | 26.1 | about 183 |
Days on site include travel days when fly-in and fly-out count as work days; the Setup sheet lets you count them as on site, as travel, or out of R&R, and every sheet follows that choice. 2:1 and 14/7 are the same roster, and 8/6 is not even time: it has two more days on than off in every 14. For more, read FIFO roster patterns explained.
Next week’s roster from this week’s, in one click
For when copying the sheet every week becomes the job.
Save a week as a template and copy it forward
- Save any roster as a reusable template
- Copy last week’s roster instantly
- Clone individual shifts across days
- Staff see their shifts on the iPhone and Android app
More roster templates and guides
The workbook counts days and hours only. It does not calculate pay, allowances or leave, and it does not check fatigue, rest breaks or maximum hours: check those against your award, agreement and site fatigue plan on fairwork.gov.au. Disclaimer.
FIFO roster template FAQ
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A 2:1 FIFO roster means two weeks on site for every week off: 14 days on, then 7 days of R&R. “2:1” and “14/7” are two names for the same pattern. Each cycle is 21 days, so a worker spends about two-thirds of the year on site. Travel days fall inside the 14 days or come out of the 7, depending on the employer.
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About 17. A 2:1 cycle is 21 days (14 on, 7 off), and 365 ÷ 21 = 17.4, so you work 17 full swings in most years and part of an 18th. The template’s 12-month calendar counts the swings that start in your own year, from your first fly-in date, and lists each one with its dates.
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Even time means equal days on and off, such as 14/14 or 7/7, so you spend half the year on site and half at home. 8/6 and 9/5 are sometimes called close to even time, but they aren’t: an 8/6 roster has two more days on than off in every 14-day cycle.
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Even time rosters (14/14 or 7/7) give the most time at home: half the year. Of the unequal rosters, shorter swings such as 8/6 or 9/5 mean less time away in one stretch than 2:1 or 3:1. The right fit depends on travel time, family and pay, so compare the R&R days a year on the template’s Hours summary.
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No. It counts on-site days, travel days, R&R days and hours, but it doesn’t calculate pay, allowances or penalty rates. For rates, see our Mining Award pay rates guide (MA000011). For typical earnings, read how much FIFO workers make.