What time does a night shift start and end?

A typical night shift starts between 10 pm and midnight and ends between 6 am and 8 am. Common patterns are 10 pm – 6 am (8-hour) or 7 pm – 7 am (12-hour). Exact times vary by employer and industry.

What is the difference between night shift and graveyard shift?

They refer to the same shift. 'Night shift' is the universal term used in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. 'Graveyard shift' is the common American term for the overnight shift, typically running from around midnight to 8 am.

What is the third shift?

Third shift is the American term for the overnight or night shift — the third of three rotating crews in a 24-hour operation. It typically runs from 11 pm to 7 am or midnight to 8 am.

Can ShiftFlowr track my night shifts?

Yes. ShiftFlowr lets you set your night shift start and end times and applies them across your rotating pattern automatically. The wake-up alarm (which bypasses silent mode) is especially useful for sleeping before a night shift.

Do night shift workers get paid more?

In many contracts, yes. ShiftFlowr's earnings calculator applies night-shift uplifts automatically to estimate your take-home pay before payday.

Night shift explained

What is a night shift?
Hours, names, and how to track it.

A night shift covers the overnight hours — typically 10 pm to 6 am, though exact times vary. It is the last of the three standard shifts in a 24-hour operation, and it goes by a different name depending on where you work.

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What is it?

Night shift hours and when it runs

A night shift is the overnight working period — the stretch between late evening and early morning when most of the world is asleep. It typically begins between 10 pm and midnight and ends between 6 am and 8 am.

In a three-shift system, night is the third shift. In a two-shift day/night pattern, it is the second. On a 12-hour rotating pattern, night shifts commonly run 7 pm – 7 am or 8 pm – 8 am.

Typical hours by shift length

Shift length	Typical start	Typical end	Notes
8 hours	10:00 pm	6:00 am	Most common in healthcare and manufacturing
8 hours	11:00 pm	7:00 am	Common in US / CA operations
10 hours	10:00 pm	8:00 am	Used in some emergency services rotas
12 hours	7:00 pm	7:00 am	NHS, security, FIFO — fills full overnight
12 hours	8:00 pm	8:00 am	Variant used in some factory patterns

What's it called where you are?

Night shift names by region

The same overnight shift has different names depending on where you live and what industry you work in. ShiftFlowr auto-detects your region and uses the terminology your workplace actually uses.

Region	Common names
🇬🇧 UK	Night, Nights, Night Duty, Night Shift
🇺🇸 US	Graveyard Shift, Third Shift, Night, Overnight
🇨🇦 Canada	Night, Nights, Night Shift, Overnight
🇦🇺 Australia	Night, Night Shift, Nights
🇳🇿 New Zealand	Night, Night Duty, Night Shift

The term graveyard shift originated in the US and refers to the eerie quiet of working through the early hours of the morning. It is rarely used outside North America.

Who works nights?

Industries that run night shifts

🏥 Healthcare

NHS nurses, HCAs, paramedics, and care home staff cover overnight shifts to provide 24/7 care. Night duty is a fixed part of most rotating nursing rotas.

🏭 Manufacturing

Factory and warehouse operations that run continuously — automotive, food production, logistics — rely on a third-shift night crew to keep lines moving.

🚨 Emergency services

Police, fire, and ambulance services cover the overnight period with dedicated night-shift crews on 8- or 12-hour rotating patterns.

🛡️ Security

Security officers, control room operators, and CCTV staff provide overnight coverage, often on 4-on-4-off or Panama patterns that include nights.

How ShiftFlowr helps

Track nights without re-entering them every month

🔔 Full-screen alarm

ShiftFlowr's insistent alarm fires at full volume, bypassing silent and Do Not Disturb mode — exactly what you need when sleeping before a night shift.

📅 Pattern-aware calendar

Build your rotating pattern once — 4-on-4-off, Panama, Continental, or custom — and ShiftFlowr fills your night shifts automatically for months ahead.

💷 Night-uplift pay

The salary calculator applies your contracted night-shift enhancement to estimate real take-home before payday.

🌐 Your region's language

Whether you say Nights, Graveyard, or Night Duty, ShiftFlowr uses the term you actually say at work — auto-detected from your timezone.

Common questions

Night shift FAQ

What is the difference between night shift and graveyard shift?: They are the same shift — the overnight working period. "Night shift" or "Nights" is the standard term in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. "Graveyard shift" is the common American name for the same hours (typically midnight to 8 am or 11 pm to 7 am).
What is the third shift?: Third shift is the American term for the overnight shift — the third of three rotating crews covering a 24-hour operation. It typically runs 11 pm – 7 am or midnight – 8 am, after the first shift (morning) and second shift (afternoon/swing).
Do night shift workers get paid more?: Many contracts include a night-shift enhancement or unsocial hours uplift. ShiftFlowr's salary calculator applies your night uplift rate automatically so you can see your real take-home before payday.
Will ShiftFlowr's alarm wake me up before a night shift?: Yes. ShiftFlowr's wake-up alarm plays at full volume and bypasses silent and Do Not Disturb mode — it's designed specifically so rotating shift workers don't sleep through an early or night shift start.

Stop re-entering your nights every month.

ShiftFlowr builds your rotating pattern once. It fills your night shifts automatically — as many months ahead as you need.

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Other shift types

Every shift type explained

Early / Morning shift Late / Swing 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 night shift?Hours, names, and how to track it.