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Week on, week off

Week on, week off is the simplest equal-time schedule: seven nights with one parent, then seven with the other. There is one handoff a week, and the changeover day is yours to choose. Many families pick Friday after school or Sunday evening.

nights each fortnight
7 / 7
nights each fortnight
handoffs a fortnight
2
handoffs a fortnight
longest stretch, nights
7
longest stretch, nights

Your Week on, week off calendar

Pattern
First nights go to

Week on, week off schedule

Starts Monday 9 November 2026. Handoffs at 5:00pm. Made with ParentHelm.

Your year

Week on, week off

50%
Parent A · 182 nights
50%
Parent B · 182 nights
Handoffs a month
4.3
Longest with Parent A
7 nights
Longest with Parent B
7 nights

The first four weeks

9Nov
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1Dec
2
3
4
5
6

Twelve months

  • Parent A
  • Parent B
  • Handoff day
November 2026
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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December
1
2
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January 2027
1
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February
1
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9
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March
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April
1
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May
1
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June
1
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July
1
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August
1
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September
1
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October
1
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5
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20
21
22
23
24
25
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27
28
29
30
31

Keep it, and share it with the other parent

Free. Both of you see the same calendar, on any phone.

How a fortnight works

  1. Seven nights with parent A, starting on the changeover day you choose.
  2. Seven nights with parent B.
  3. Repeat. Each parent has every other weekend in full.

Who it suits

  • Older children and teenagers who want fewer moves.
  • Parents who live further apart, as long as both are within reach of school.
  • Families where handoffs are hard: there are only two a fortnight.

What to watch for

  • A week is a long time for young children to go without seeing a parent. Some families add a midweek dinner or a video call.
  • Packing for a whole week means forgotten kit costs more. Duplicate the essentials.

Choosing the changeover day

Friday changeovers give each parent a full weekend to settle the children in. Sunday evening changeovers mean the school week starts in the home it will be spent in. Monday changeovers at school remove the face-to-face handoff altogether. In the builder, the start date sets the changeover day: pick a Friday and every handoff falls on a Friday.

Adding a midweek visit

A common variation is week on, week off with a dinner (not an overnight) with the other parent midweek. Since ParentHelm counts nights, dinners do not change the calendar; agree them between you, or log them as messages so they are on the record.

Questions

What age is week on, week off good for?

It is used most with children of about nine and older, and teenagers often prefer it because they move less. Younger children may find seven nights away from a parent long.

How many handoffs are there?

One a week, about four a month.

Can we change the handoff day later?

Yes. Change the schedule from a date in Settings, and the nights before keep the old rotation.

Compare: 5-2-2-5 custody schedule, 2-2-3 custody schedule, Every other weekend, or see all schedules side by side.

ParentHelm keeps a dated record of your schedule, swaps, expenses and messages. It does not give legal advice, and it is not a court-approved or court-mandated service. For advice about custody or a parenting plan, talk to a family lawyer or mediator where you live.