Common Day, Mid, & Night Shift Times (2024)

FAQs

What are the most common shift times? ›

Middle of shift examples

If a full factory shift runs from 7am - 3pm, the mid shift time would likely refer to the hours around 12 pm. Another example could be an overnight hospital shift from 11pm - 7am. The mid shift hours would fall around 3-4am in the early morning.

In the United Kingdom, several industries implement the 3 shift pattern due to the nature of their operations, which require continuous productivity. This shift pattern is characterised by teams rotating through morning, afternoon, and night shifts to cover a full 24-hour period.

A mid shift runs anywhere between 10-8pm or 12-10pm.

Rotating shifts

For the most people, rotating forward through day, afternoon and night shift is better than backwards (night, afternoon then day). The frequency of rotation is also controversial. Some people advocate prolonged rotation, such as two to three weeks.

Second shifts are midday shifts that often overlap with first and third shifts. Employees on these shifts have mornings and nights off from work, generally starting work anytime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and finishing before midnight.

The 3d shift is a period of overnight hours, typically ranging from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. However, it's important to recognize that these specific timeframes can vary when considering different companies, industries, and locations. Manufacturing: 1st Shift: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM. 2nd Shift: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

2pm to 11pm is the normal start and end time of the mid shift.

Morning shift hours: Usually 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening shift hours: Typically 4 p.m. to midnight. or 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Overnight shift hours: Also known as the graveyard shift, this shift lasts from midnight to 8 a.m. or 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Regular 4-on 4 off:

This is a classic continuous working pattern based on 12 hour shifts. Participants work for four consecutive 12-hour days, followed by four consecutive days off, then four consecutive 12-hour nights, followed by four consecutive days off, then four more days and so on.

Why is 7 3 the best shift? ›

In the context of frontline industries, the 7-3 early shift schedule allows employees to align their work patterns with the typical operational hours of these sectors. As these industries often require round-the-clock availability, the 7-3 early shift enables the effective deployment of staff during high-traffic hours.

It consists of a 4-week cycle where each team works 2 consecutive day shifts, followed by 2 days off duty, works 3 consecutive day shifts, followed by 2 days off duty, works 2 consecutive day shifts, followed by 3 days off duty, 2 consecutive night shifts, followed by 2 days off duty, works 3 consecutive night shifts, ...

In general, 8-hour shifts are preferable to 12-hour shifts. Circadian physiology suggests that morning shifts should begin no earlier than 8:00 am for the physiological best fit to circadian rhythmicity.

Morning people tend to be more alert and productive in the mornings, making the day shift a perfect fit for you. Conversely, night owls may perform better when the sun goes down and may be better suited for a night shift. The key is understanding your bodily clock and recognizing when you're at your best.

There are only three types of work. You either have a job, a career, or a calling. I have been a career coach for over 20 years and I can tell you that after working with thousands of people what you do for work falls into one of these three categories.

The second shift, also known as the swing shift, generally runs from afternoon to around midnight. The timing of the shift can vary dramatically, and start times can be as early as 11 a.m. or as late as 5 p.m. In many industries, especially hospitality, this can often be the busiest shift of all.

Some common examples are educational institutions, post offices, courts, daycare centers, banks, etc. — and those are usually closed during weekends.