What time does a late shift start and end?

A late shift typically starts between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm and ends between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm. The most common hours are 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Exact times depend on the employer and the shift length (8, 10, or 12 hours).

What is the difference between a late shift and swing shift?

They refer to the same shift. In the UK, it is called the 'late' or 'Lates'. In the US and Canada, the same afternoon-into-evening shift is called the 'swing shift' or 'second shift'. In Australia, 'Arvo' (afternoon) is a common informal term for the same hours.

What is a second shift?

Second shift is the American term for the afternoon or evening shift — the second of three rotating crews in a 24-hour operation. It typically runs from around 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm, bridging the day and night crews.

What is a swing shift?

Swing shift is the common North American name for the afternoon or late shift, typically running from 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm or 11:00 pm. The name comes from the shift 'swinging' between day and night.

Can ShiftFlowr track my late shifts?

Yes. ShiftFlowr lets you set your late shift start and end times and applies them across your rotating pattern automatically. Whether your employer calls it Lates, Swing, Afternoon, or Arvo, ShiftFlowr uses the term for your region.

Late shift / swing shift explained

What is a late shift?
Swing shift, hours, and all the names it goes by.

The late shift — also called the swing shift, second shift, afternoon shift, or Arvo — covers the afternoon and evening hours, typically starting between 1 pm and 3 pm and ending between 9 pm and 11 pm.

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What is it?

Late shift hours and when it runs

The late shift is the second of the day in a standard three-shift rotation. It takes over from the early or morning crew and bridges the working day into the evening, handing over to the night shift.

In a two-shift system, the late may cover a longer stretch. On 12-hour rotating patterns, the late runs from early afternoon through to the early hours.

Typical hours by shift length

Shift length	Typical start	Typical end	Notes
8 hours	2:00 pm	10:00 pm	Most common — healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality
8 hours	3:00 pm	11:00 pm	US/CA second shift — follows 7 am–3 pm first shift
8 hours	1:00 pm	9:00 pm	Common in retail and some NHS rotas
10 hours	2:00 pm	12:00 am	Extended overlap, some security and emergency patterns
12 hours	7:00 pm	7:00 am	NHS and security night-into-morning — often called nights

What's it called where you are?

Late / swing shift names by region

The afternoon-into-evening shift has more regional names than any other. ShiftFlowr detects your region from your timezone and uses the terminology your workplace actually uses.

Region	Common names
🇬🇧 UK	Late, Lates, Afternoon, PM
🇺🇸 US	Swing Shift, Second Shift, PM Shift, Afternoon
🇨🇦 Canada	Afternoon, Evening, Swing, Second Shift
🇦🇺 Australia	Arvo, Afternoon Shift, Late
🇳🇿 New Zealand	Afternoon, Evening, Late

Arvo is Australian slang for afternoon — used informally on sites and in shift schedules. Swing shift gets its name from "swinging" between day and night, bridging the two extremes of the 24-hour cycle.

Who works late shifts?

Common roles and industries

🏥 Healthcare

NHS nurses and HCAs on rotating rotas work Lates to cover the afternoon through to the evening handover. Lates typically run 1 pm – 9 pm or 2 pm – 10 pm in most NHS trusts.

🏭 Manufacturing

The second shift keeps production lines running through the afternoon and evening. On three-shift continuous operations, the late crew bridges day and night.

🍽️ Hospitality

Hotels, restaurants, and bars rely heavily on afternoon and evening shifts. The late shift covers the peak trading hours and closes down the operation.

🛡️ Security & emergency

Security officers and emergency services rotate through late shifts as part of 4-on-4-off, Panama, or Continental patterns covering 24/7 operations.

How ShiftFlowr helps

Track your lates without re-entering them every month

📅 Automatic pattern filling

Set your rotation once and ShiftFlowr fills your Lates, Nights, and Earlies across months automatically. 4-on-4-off, Panama, NHS 3-week — all built in.

🌐 Your region's vocabulary

Whether you call it Lates, Swing, Afternoon, or Arvo, ShiftFlowr uses the name that matches your region — auto-detected from your timezone.

💷 Unsocial hours pay

Evening and weekend uplifts can be applied in the salary calculator to see your real take-home before payday.

📆 Calendar sync

Late shifts appear on your device calendar so family and friends can see when you finish at 10 pm — no explaining your rota every month.

Common questions

Late shift FAQ

What is the difference between a late shift and a swing shift?: They refer to the same thing. In the UK, the afternoon-into-evening shift is called the "late" or "Lates". In the US and Canada, the same hours are called the "swing shift" or "second shift". In Australia, "Arvo" (afternoon) is the common informal name. ShiftFlowr uses the term that matches your region automatically.
What time does a swing shift start?: A swing shift typically starts between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, depending on the operation. In a standard three-shift system where the first shift runs 7 am – 3 pm, the swing shift starts at 3:00 pm and ends at 11:00 pm.
Is a late shift bad for your health?: Late shifts disrupt the standard social schedule — finishing at 10 pm means missing evenings. Some people find lates easier to adapt to than nights, as you can still wake at a normal time in the morning. ShiftFlowr's salary calculator shows any unsocial hours uplifts your contract provides.
Can I see my lates on my phone calendar?: Yes. ShiftFlowr's calendar sync adds your shifts directly to your device calendar, so your Lates show up alongside your personal events without having to re-enter anything.

Stop re-entering your Lates every month.

Build your pattern once in ShiftFlowr. Your afternoon shifts, nights, and rest days fill in automatically — months ahead.

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Other shift types

Every shift type explained

Early / Morning shift Night / Graveyard shift Back Shift (UK) On Call Rest Day / RDO

Or explore ShiftFlowr's full shift pattern library — 11 ready-made rotas, rosters, and schedules for rotating shift workers.

What is a late shift?Swing shift, hours, and all the names it goes by.