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Shift Roster Coverage Calculator

Work out shift roster coverage instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Shift Roster Coverage Calculator

Continuous coverage requires far more staff than the number of positions suggests: four positions covered 24/7 is 672 hours a week, which is nearly 17 FTE before any allowance for leave, sickness and training. The relief factor is what turns a theoretical roster into a workable one.

Formulas

Weekly hours

Weekly hours = Positions x Hours per day x 7

Staff required

Staff = Weekly hours / 40 x (1 + Relief factor %)

Worked example

With the default values below, Shift Roster Coverage Calculator returns Staff required of 21. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Positions to cover at all times
4
Hours per day requiring cover
24
Shift length
8
Relief factor for leave, sickness and training
22

Results

Staff required
21
Base FTE for coverage
16.80
Additional relief FTE
3.70
Shifts per day
3.0

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Weekly hours
  3. 3Staff required
  4. 4Staff required= 21
  5. 5Base FTE for coverage= 16.80
  6. 6Additional relief FTE= 3.70
  7. 7Shifts per day= 3.0

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What relief factor should I use?

Typically 18-25% for a workforce with statutory leave, average sickness and mandatory training. Higher for roles with heavy certification requirements.

Why do rosters fail in practice?

Almost always because the relief factor was set too low, so every absence has to be covered by overtime or a gap in cover.

Related Calculators

Shift Roster Coverage Calculator – Calculate Staff required