3×12 Nursing Schedule 2026: Calendar & Pay Calculator
Three 12s is the classic hospital week — pick your days, see the month at a glance, export it, and know exactly what each shift is worth before you pick up a fourth.
What is the 3×12 schedule?
Three 12-hour shifts on fixed weekdays — 36 scheduled hours, typically posted as 0.9 FTE. It is the dominant full-time pattern for hospital RNs, respiratory therapists, imaging techs, lab scientists and pharmacists, because it concentrates presence into three long days and returns four consecutive days off when the shifts run back-to-back.
The two classic layouts trade different benefits: consecutive (Mon-Tue-Wed) minimizes commute days and maximizes the recovery block; scattered (Mon/Wed/Fri or Tue/Thu/Sat) spreads the physical load so no single shift starts from a depleted tank. Self-scheduling systems usually let you hold a pattern for a full schedule period.
Example month: Mon / Wed / Fri
Four weeks of a Monday-Wednesday-Friday pattern (September 2026 example):
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
D = your 12-hour day · O = off. Tick your own days in the picker above.
Pros and cons of three 12s
- Pro: four days off per week in the consecutive layout — childcare, travel and per-diem side work all get easier.
- Pro: 34.5 paid hours stays under the federal overtime line; your base paycheck is predictable.
- Pro: fixed days make standing commitments (school runs, leagues, courses) actually work.
- Con: a 12-hour shift with a commute is 13+ hours door to door; three in a row compounds fatigue.
- Con: picking up a fourth shift changes your pay week dramatically — know your OT rules first.
- Con: weekend and holiday rotations still apply; fixed days do not exempt you from the holiday spreadsheet.
3×12 pay calculator
A plain 3×12 week pays 34.5 hours with zero federal overtime. The two levers that change everything: a fourth shift (crosses 40 hours → 1.5× on the excess under FLSA), and California-style daily overtime, which pays hours 8–12 of every single 12 at 1.5×. Set your rate and state rule below — it saves on this device for next time.
Weighing a weekend-option program? Put the weekend differential into the shift differential calculator to see its yearly value before you commit your Saturdays.
3×12 schedule FAQ
- What is a 3x12 nursing schedule?
- Three 12-hour shifts per week on fixed days — the standard full-time hospital pattern (0.9 FTE). Common setups are three in a row (Mon-Tue-Wed) for a four-day stretch off, or scattered days (Mon/Wed/Fri) to break up the week.
- How many hours is 3 12-hour shifts a week?
- 36 scheduled hours, which becomes 34.5 paid hours after a typical 30-minute unpaid meal break. That stays under the federal 40-hour weekly overtime threshold, so a plain 3×12 week earns no FLSA overtime.
- Do nurses get overtime on 12-hour shifts?
- Depends on the state and the week. Federal law only counts weekly hours, so three 12s never trigger it — but a fourth shift (picked up or mandated) usually does. California, and states with daily overtime, pay 1.5× for hours 8–12 of every 12-hour shift regardless.
- Is it better to work three 12s in a row or scattered?
- In-a-row buys a four-day recovery block and halves your commutes; scattered spreads the physical toll and keeps you fresher per shift. Hospital self-scheduling usually lets you choose — many nurses run consecutive blocks for the long stretch off.
- What is a weekend-option 3x12?
- Some hospitals offer weekend-only programs: two 12s Saturday and Sunday plus one weekday, often with a weekend differential on top. It trades your weekends for a meaningfully higher effective rate.
- How do I make a 3x12 calendar?
- Tick your three days above — the calendar, .ics download and print view update instantly and remember your selection on this device.