About the Shift Coverage Calculator
Staff needed to cover a rota around the clock, allowing for leave and absence.
Also known as: staffing calculator, rota coverage, how many staff for 24/7, fte calculator shifts.
How to use this calculator
- Enter hours to cover per week, staff needed on each shift, contracted hours per person, annual leave and training and the other fields.
- The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
- Review the breakdown shown under the main result.
- Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.
Formula
staff = hours to cover ÷ (contracted hours × availability)
Worked example
Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:
- Hours to cover per week = 168
- Staff needed on each shift = 2
- Contracted hours per person = 37.5
- Annual leave and training = 14 %
- Absence allowance = 5 %
the calculator returns:
- Staff required: 12
- Exact requirement: 11.062 FTE
- Hours to cover per week: 336
- Effective hours per person: 30.37