Free Excel shift schedule template
A ready-to-use monthly roster: pick shift codes from a dropdown, colours change automatically, and daily headcount is checked against what each shift needs — short days turn red.
Updated 2026-10-06
Download .xlsx
2-shift roster (day / night)
D · N · OFF · Leave
Download .xlsx3-shift roster (morning / afternoon / night)
M · A · N · OFF · Leave — 24 hours
Download .xlsx
What’s inside
Dropdown shift codes
Every day cell (1–31) has a shift-code dropdown — no typing, fewer mistakes
Automatic shift colours
Day, night, days off and leave each have their own colour — read a whole month at a glance
Daily headcount + shortage alert
Enter how many people each shift needs; days that are short turn red
Work days / nights / days off per person
See instantly who has too many night shifts and keep the roster fair
How to use it
Download the file and open it in Excel or Google Sheets
Enter the month, branch, employee names and posts
Pick a shift code for each day and enter how many people each shift needs
Check the headcount rows — red cells are days still short-staffed
FAQ
Free Excel shift template
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets — the dropdowns and headcount formulas keep working.
Can I change shift times or add codes?
Yes. Edit the list in Data validation and the COUNTIF formulas in the headcount rows to match your new codes.
When is an Excel roster no longer enough?
When you have many branches or files, frequent swaps, or want actual attendance and payroll to follow the roster without re-keying — that’s when shift scheduling software pays off.
Can I move this data into OrgFlow?
Yes. You can import employees and branches from Excel yourself in the product, and our team helps during onboarding.
Growing team, many branches?
OrgFlow rosters every branch in one schedule, highlights understaffed posts in the roster, shows staff their shifts on mobile and carries on into attendance and payroll.
Other free tools: OT calculator
Let our team walk you through it
See it with your own business's way of working — the form takes under a minute. Our team will get back to you to schedule an online demo and help set up your company when you're ready.
- Online demo at a time that suits you
- Self-service Excel import, plus onboarding help
- Start from 1 branch
- Send the form — it reaches our team immediately
- We call you back on the number you entered to set a time
- See the system online with your business's way of working
Book a walkthrough or request a quote on one page · under a minute, we call you back