Cron Expression Generator parses cron schedules into human-readable descriptions and calculates the next execution times. Enter any cron expression to understand exactly when it runs, or build one from scratch.
How to use this tool
Enter a cron expression (e.g., */5 * * * * for every 5 minutes).
See each field explained: minute, hour, day, month, weekday.
View the next 5 calculated run times.
Adjust fields to build your desired schedule.
Copy the expression for use in crontab or CI/CD pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
What is cron format?
Five fields: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-7). Use * for any, */N for every N, and comma-separated values for specific times.
How do I run a job every 5 minutes?
*/5 * * * * — the */5 in the minute field means every 5th minute. Similarly, */2 * * * * runs every 2 minutes, and 0 */3 * * * runs every 3 hours.
What's the difference between 0 and *?
In the minute field, 0 means "at minute 0" (once per hour at :00). * means "every minute". This distinction matters — 0 * * * * runs hourly, * * * * * runs every minute.
How do I schedule weekend-only jobs?
Use the weekday field: 0 9 * * 6,0 runs at 9am on Saturday (6) and Sunday (0). Some systems accept 7 for Sunday. Use 1-5 for weekdays only.