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Every other weekend

In an every other weekend schedule the children live mainly in one home and spend alternate weekends with the other parent, usually Friday and Saturday nights. A popular version adds a midweek overnight every week so the gap is never longer than a few days.

nights each fortnight
12 / 2
nights each fortnight
handoffs a fortnight
2
handoffs a fortnight
longest stretch, nights
12
longest stretch, nights

Your Every other weekend calendar

Pattern
First nights go to

Every other weekend schedule

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

Your year

Every other weekend

85.7%
Parent A · 312 nights
14.3%
Parent B · 52 nights
Handoffs a month
4.3
Longest with Parent A
12 nights
Longest with Parent B
2 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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30
December
1
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5
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January 2027
1
2
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February
1
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28
March
1
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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
2
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5
6
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9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
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. Monday to Thursday nights in the main home.
  2. Friday and Saturday nights with the other parent, every second week.
  3. Sunday night back in the main home, ready for school.
  4. With the midweek option, the other parent also has Wednesday night every week.

Who it suits

  • Parents who live far apart, or where one parent works long weekday hours.
  • Families where the children’s school life is centred on one home.

What to watch for

  • Twelve days between visits is long for many children. The midweek overnight variation halves that.
  • Holidays matter more on this schedule. Agree them early; they can be added as swaps.

With or without a midweek overnight

Without one, the split is 12 nights to 2 over a fortnight, about 86% to 14%. Adding Wednesday every week moves it to 10 to 4, about 71% to 29%. Pick either in the builder below to see your actual dates and the split for the year.

Which weekend is whose

The question that causes most confusion is simply "is it your weekend or mine?" two months out. A printed year calendar answers it, and a shared calendar answers it for both of you on your phones.

Questions

What percentage is every other weekend?

About 14% of nights for the visiting parent (2 in 14). With a weekly midweek overnight, about 29% (4 in 14).

Does the weekend include Sunday night?

In the standard version here, no: children go back on Sunday evening for school. If yours stay until Monday morning, use a custom rotation to add Sunday night.

Compare: Week on, week off, 5-2-2-5 custody schedule, 2-2-3 custody schedule, 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.