How do I use the cron expression generator?
- Choose the frequency.
- Set the time, weekday or day of the month.
- Copy the expression into your crontab or scheduler.
Cron expression generator: frequently asked questions
What are the five cron fields?
Minute, hour, day of month, month and day of week, in that order.
What time zone does cron use?
The server’s time zone, often UTC. Convert from Dubai time (UTC+4) or set the zone in your scheduler.
What does */15 mean?
Every 15 units — in the minute field, every 15 minutes.
Is Sunday 0 or 7?
Both work in most cron implementations; this generator uses 0.
Can I run a job on weekdays only?
Use 1-5 in the day-of-week field, e.g. 0 9 * * 1-5.
How do I check an existing expression?
Use our cron explainer to translate any expression into plain English.
Do GitHub Actions use the same format?
Yes, five fields in UTC, with a minimum interval of five minutes.
What happens on the 31st in short months?
The job does not run in months without that day.
Is there an API for this tool?
Selected tools are available through a rate-limited public API. Contact us if you need higher volumes.
Is the cron expression generator free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up and no usage limits for normal use.