Quick Answer
To calculate a FIFO roster, add your days on and days off to get the cycle length, divide 365 by that number for cycles per year, then multiply by your days on for annual on-site days and by your days off for annual R&R days.
- 8/6: 14-day cycle · ≈ 26 swings · ≈ 209 days on site · ≈ 156 days off
- 7/7: 14-day cycle · ≈ 26 swings · ≈ 183 days on site · ≈ 183 days off
- 2/1 (14/7): 21-day cycle · ≈ 17 swings · ≈ 243 days on site · ≈ 122 days off
- Swing dates: add the cycle length to the first day of your current swing.
Work it out: FIFO roster calculator
Pick a preset or type your own pattern, set the first day of a swing, and the calculator projects your swing and R&R dates along with annual totals. Nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
FIFO roster calculator
Pick a pattern or enter your own, set the first day of a swing, and see your swing dates, on-site days and R&R days. Everything stays in your browser.
Cycle length
14 days
Cycles per year
26.1
Days on per year
209
R&R days per year
156
| Swing | On site | R&R at home |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Thu, 10 Sept 2026 → Thu, 17 Sept 2026 | Fri, 18 Sept 2026 → Wed, 23 Sept 2026 |
| #2 | Thu, 24 Sept 2026 → Thu, 1 Oct 2026 | Fri, 2 Oct 2026 → Wed, 7 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | Thu, 8 Oct 2026 → Thu, 15 Oct 2026 | Fri, 16 Oct 2026 → Wed, 21 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | Thu, 22 Oct 2026 → Thu, 29 Oct 2026 | Fri, 30 Oct 2026 → Wed, 4 Nov 2026 |
| #5 | Thu, 5 Nov 2026 → Thu, 12 Nov 2026 | Fri, 13 Nov 2026 → Wed, 18 Nov 2026 |
| #6 | Thu, 19 Nov 2026 → Thu, 26 Nov 2026 | Fri, 27 Nov 2026 → Wed, 2 Dec 2026 |
Estimates only. Your actual roster depends on your employer's cycle, travel arrangements, shutdowns and any agreed swaps — always confirm against the roster your employer issues.
The formula, step by step
Add your days on and days off together
That total is your cycle length. 8/6 is a 14-day cycle, 2/1 is 21 days, 14/14 is 28 days. Everything else is worked out from this number.
Divide 365 by the cycle length
That gives cycles per year. A 14-day cycle repeats 26.1 times a year, a 21-day cycle 17.4 times, a 28-day cycle 13 times.
Multiply cycles per year by your days on
8/6 → 26.1 × 8 ≈ 209 days on site a year. Multiply by your days off instead and you get R&R days: 26.1 × 6 ≈ 156.
Project the actual dates from your first swing day
Swing 1 starts on day 1 and runs for your days-on count. Swing 2 starts one full cycle later, and so on. Add the cycle length each time.
Decide how travel days count
If travel in and out sit inside your days on, subtract two to get shifts actually worked. On 8/6 that is 6 worked shifts per swing, roughly 156 a year rather than 209.
Adjust for leave, shutdowns and swaps
Annual leave taken as a whole swing, extended shutdown swings and swapped swings all move the pattern. Recalculate from the new first day.
Worked examples: common Australian rosters over a year
| Roster | Cycle | Swings a year | On site | R&R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 / 7 | 14-day cycle | 26.1 cycles a year | ≈ 183 days on site | ≈ 183 R&R days |
| 8 / 6 | 14-day cycle | 26.1 cycles a year | ≈ 209 days on site | ≈ 156 R&R days |
| 2 / 1 (14 / 7) | 21-day cycle | 17.4 cycles a year | ≈ 243 days on site | ≈ 122 R&R days |
| 9 / 5 | 14-day cycle | 26.1 cycles a year | ≈ 235 days on site | ≈ 130 R&R days |
| 4 / 3 | 7-day cycle | 52.1 cycles a year | ≈ 209 days on site | ≈ 156 R&R days |
| 14 / 14 | 28-day cycle | 13.0 cycles a year | ≈ 183 days on site | ≈ 183 R&R days |
| 3 / 1 (21 / 7) | 28-day cycle | 13.0 cycles a year | ≈ 274 days on site | ≈ 91 R&R days |
7 / 7 — ≈ 183 days on site
Even time. Same swing dates repeat fortnightly, so if you start on a Monday you always start on a Monday.
8 / 6 — ≈ 209 days on site
Also a 14-day cycle, so swing days of the week stay fixed — but you are away 26 more days a year than 7/7.
2 / 1 (14 / 7) — ≈ 243 days on site
The classic long swing. Fewer trips and fewer flights, but the largest share of the year away.
9 / 5 — ≈ 235 days on site
Common where a site needs weekend coverage rotated across two crews.
4 / 3 — ≈ 209 days on site
Weekly cycle, usually DIDO or bus-in work. Same total on-site days as 8/6 with far more travel.
14 / 14 — ≈ 183 days on site
Even time on a monthly cycle. Popular for interstate and offshore work where travel is long.
3 / 1 (21 / 7) — ≈ 274 days on site
Usually project, shutdown or exploration work rather than a permanent production roster.
Two rosters with the same cycle length are not the same deal. 7/7 and 8/6 both repeat every fortnight, but 8/6 puts you on site about 26 extra days a year. For a breakdown of which patterns run where, see the most common FIFO rosters and what a FIFO swing actually is.
Turning days into shifts and hours
Days away and shifts worked are different numbers. If the travel-in and travel-out days sit inside your days on, subtract two from each swing to get worked shifts, then multiply by shift length:
| Roster | Worked shifts per swing | Shifts a year | At 12 hours a shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/6 | 6 | ≈ 156 | ≈ 1,870 hours |
| 7/7 | 5 | ≈ 130 | ≈ 1,560 hours |
| 2/1 | 12 | ≈ 209 | ≈ 2,500 hours |
| 14/14 | 12 | ≈ 157 | ≈ 1,880 hours |
How those hours are paid — ordinary hours averaged across the swing, overtime, shift loadings, travel and allowances — comes from the award or enterprise agreement covering your site. That side is covered in how FIFO pay works in Australia.
Where roster maths goes wrong
Counting travel days twice
Many rosters include the fly-in and fly-out day in the days-on figure. If you count them as extra you will overstate your swing by two days and be short on R&R.
Assuming R&R days are full days at home
A late flight out means the first day off is largely travel and sleep. Real usable break time is often a day shorter than the roster suggests.
Forgetting odd cycles drift through the week
Any cycle that is not a multiple of 7 (like 2/1's 21 days — actually a multiple, versus 9/5's 14) will change which weekday your swing starts. Check school holidays and events against projected dates, not habit.
Treating 365 as exact
Leap years, roster changes mid-year and public holiday shutdowns mean annual totals are estimates. Use them for comparison, not for pay calculations.
Ignoring the back-to-back
Your calculated pattern only holds if your back-to-back's swing lines up. If they take leave, your swing dates will move.
If you are the one building the roster
Check compliance against swing dates, not today
A ticket or medical that expires mid-swing strands a worker on site. Match expiry dates to the projected swing calendar before mobilisation.
Book travel off the same calendar
Flights, buses and camp beds sequenced to swing start and finish dates cut no-shows and unused seats.
Cover the whole year, not the next swing
Projecting a full year of cycles shows exactly where crews collide, where coverage gaps sit and how shutdowns fit in.
Track fatigue exposure across consecutive days
Consecutive-shift counts, night changeovers and extended swings all need recording alongside the controls applied.
Feed the roster into timesheets and payroll
Rostered days become expected hours; approved actual hours flow to payroll with penalties and allowances applied by the agreement.
Related reading: What does FIFO mean · What is a FIFO swing · How FIFO pay works · Best FIFO roster apps · How FIFO tax is calculated.
FIFO roster calculations — FAQs
This article and calculator are general information for Australian mining and heavy industry workers and employers, not legal, payroll or tax advice. Annual figures are estimates based on a 365-day year and assume the pattern repeats without leave, shutdowns or swapped swings. Roster change notice, ordinary hours, travel treatment and fatigue controls are set by the applicable award, enterprise agreement or site procedure.
