What is the format of a cron expression?

A standard cron expression has 5 fields: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-6, where 0 = Sunday). Each field can use *, specific values, ranges (-), lists (,), or step values (/).

What does */15 mean in cron?

The */15 syntax means 'every 15 units'. In the minute field, */15 means every 15 minutes (0, 15, 30, 45). In the hour field, it would mean every 15 hours.

How do I schedule a job for weekdays only?

Set the day-of-week field to 1-5 (Monday through Friday). For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' runs at 9:00 AM every weekday.

Cron Expression Generator

Build cron expressions visually with real-time preview of next execution times.

Processed in your browser

Quick Presets:

Minute

0-59

Hour

0-23

Day (Month)

1-31

Month

1-12

Day (Week)

0-6 (Sun-Sat)

Cron Expression

0 * * * *

At minute 0 of every hour

Next 5 Executions

1.Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 01:00 PM

2.Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 02:00 PM

3.Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 03:00 PM

4.Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 04:00 PM

5.Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 05:00 PM

Syntax Reference

* any value

5,10 value list

1-5 range

*/15 step values

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What is Cron Expression Generator?

A cron expression generator helps you build cron schedule expressions using a visual interface. Cron expressions define recurring schedules for automated tasks in Unix/Linux systems, CI/CD pipelines, and job schedulers like Kubernetes CronJobs.

How to Use

Set values for each field: minute, hour, day, month, and day of week
Use presets for common schedules like 'Every hour' or 'Weekdays at 8am'
Review the generated expression and its natural language description
Check the 'Next 5 Executions' preview to verify the schedule is correct

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of a cron expression?: A standard cron expression has 5 fields: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-6, where 0 = Sunday). Each field can use *, specific values, ranges (-), lists (,), or step values (/).
What does */15 mean in cron?: The */15 syntax means 'every 15 units'. In the minute field, */15 means every 15 minutes (0, 15, 30, 45). In the hour field, it would mean every 15 hours.
How do I schedule a job for weekdays only?: Set the day-of-week field to 1-5 (Monday through Friday). For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' runs at 9:00 AM every weekday.