The Shift Coverage Capacity Gap Calculator compares required shift hours with the hours your scheduled workforce can supply. It shows the remaining weekly coverage gap and converts that gap into approximate full-time-equivalent capacity.
Use it before deciding whether to add overtime, temporary staff, schedule changes, or additional hires. The calculator measures hours, so it does not account for skill mix, certifications, location constraints, or whether available hours occur at the exact times they are needed.
1. Enter required hours
Use the total labor hours needed to cover the target weekly shift plan.
2. Enter available hours
Add hours the scheduled workforce can actually supply.
3. Set the FTE standard
Enter the weekly hours used for one full-time-equivalent in your planning model.
4. Review the gap
Check uncovered hours, coverage rate, and FTE-equivalent capacity.
5. Test alternatives
Change available hours to compare scheduling, overtime, or staffing scenarios.
A positive gap shows weekly labor hours still needing coverage. If available hours exceed requirements, the gap is zero and surplus capacity is shown separately.
FTE equivalent is a planning conversion of hours, not a recommendation for a specific number of hires.
Given: 2,400 required hours, 2,180 available hours, and 40 hours per FTE.
Calculation: Gap = 2,400 − 2,180 = 220 hours. FTE equivalent = 220 ÷ 40 = 5.5 FTE. Coverage rate = 2,180 ÷ 2,400 × 100 = 90.8%.
Result: The schedule has a 220-hour weekly capacity gap, equal to about 5.5 FTE of weekly hours.
Yes. On a large schedule, a small percentage shortfall can still represent many labor hours, so review the hour gap as well as the rate.
Yes if those hours cannot be used to cover the required shifts. Available hours should represent usable scheduled capacity.
The main gap becomes zero and the calculator shows surplus capacity separately.
No. It simply converts missing hours into your chosen weekly FTE standard; scheduling pattern, part-time mix, overtime, and skills may change the staffing response.
Capacity gap measures missing hours. The yearly cost estimator puts a monetary value on coverage hours you plan to use.