Cron Expressions Explained (With Examples)
Updated June 2026
Cron Expression Generator
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Build & explain cron schedules.
Cron is how Unix systems schedule recurring jobs. A cron expression looks cryptic at first, but it's just five fields that answer "when should this run?"
The five fields
┌ minute (0–59)
│ ┌ hour (0–23)
│ │ ┌ day of month (1–31)
│ │ │ ┌ month (1–12)
│ │ │ │ ┌ day of week (0–6, Sun=0)
* * * * *
The symbols
- * — every value ("any minute", "any day").
- 5 — a specific value.
- 1-5 — a range (Monday to Friday).
- 1,15 — a list (the 1st and 15th).
- */15 — a step ("every 15").
Common examples
| Expression | Runs |
|---|---|
* * * * * | Every minute |
0 * * * * | Every hour, on the hour |
0 0 * * * | Every day at midnight |
0 9 * * 1 | Every Monday at 9am |
*/15 * * * * | Every 15 minutes |
0 0 1 * * | The 1st of every month |
Use the generator below to build one from dropdowns, or paste an expression to read it in plain English.
Cron Expression Generator
Open the free tool →
Build & explain cron schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What does */5 mean in cron?
It means "every 5" of that field. In the minute field, */5 runs every 5 minutes.
Is Sunday 0 or 7?
Sunday is 0 in the standard format (and some systems also accept 7). Monday is 1 through Saturday is 6.