What is a cron expression?

A cron expression is a string of 5 or 6 fields that defines a schedule for running automated tasks. Standard format uses 5 fields: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-7). Extended format adds seconds. Example: "0 9 * * 1" runs every Monday at 9:00 AM.

What do the asterisk (*) and slash (/) mean in cron?

Asterisk (*) means "every" - every minute, hour, day, etc. Slash (/) specifies intervals: */5 in the minute field means "every 5 minutes" (0, 5, 10, 15...). Example: "*/15 * * * *" runs every 15 minutes. Combine them for flexible schedules.

What is the difference between day of month and day of week?

Day of month (field 3) specifies calendar dates: 1-31. Day of week (field 5) specifies weekdays: 0=Sunday, 1=Monday, 7=Sunday (alternative). If both are set, the task runs when EITHER condition matches. Use * in one field to ignore it. Example: "0 9 15 * *" runs on the 15th of every month.

How do I schedule a task to run once per day?

Use "0 0 * * *" to run at midnight daily. Or specify a different hour: "0 9 * * *" runs at 9:00 AM every day. The format is: minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week. Asterisks in the last three fields mean "every day."

Can I use ranges and lists in cron expressions?

Yes. Ranges use hyphens: 1-5 means values 1 through 5. Lists use commas: 1,3,5 means values 1, 3, and 5. Combine them: MON-FRI or 9-17 for business hours. Example: "0 9-17 * * MON-FRI" runs hourly from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.

What are common cron presets?

Common presets include @hourly (0 * * * *), @daily or @midnight (0 0 * * *), @weekly (0 0 * * 0), @monthly (0 0 1 * *), and @yearly (0 0 1 1 *). Some systems support @reboot for running at startup. These are easier to remember than numeric expressions.

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Cron Expression Parser

A cron expression schedules automated tasks using 5 or 6 fields: minute, hour, day, month, weekday. Format: "minute hour day month weekday". Example: "0 9 * * 1" runs every Monday at 9:00 AM. Use * for "every", / for intervals (*/5 = every 5), ranges (1-5), and lists (1,3,5). Common presets: @daily, @weekly, @monthly.

Parse and validate cron expressions with human-readable descriptions. See next scheduled run times, visual field breakdown, and use common presets. Supports both standard 5-field and extended 6-field (with seconds) formats.

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Cron Expression

Enter cron expression (5-field standard)

Include seconds (6-field format)

Show nextruns

Common Presets

Schedule

Every hour

Field Breakdown

Field	Value	Range	Special
Minute	0	0-59	* , - /
Hour	*	0-23	* , - /
Day of Month	*	1-31	* , - / ? L W
Month	*	1-12	* , - /
Day of Week	*	0-6	* , - / ? L #

Next 5 Scheduled Runs

1.Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 03:00:00 AM

in 6m 50s

2.Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 04:00:00 AM

in 1h 6m

3.Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 05:00:00 AM

in 2h 6m

4.Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 06:00:00 AM

in 3h 6m

5.Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 07:00:00 AM

in 4h 6m

Cron Expression Syntax

┌───────── minute (0-59)
│ ┌───────── hour (0-23)
│ │ ┌───────── day of month (1-31)
│ │ │ ┌───────── month (1-12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────── day of week (0-6)
* * * * *

* - any value
, - value list separator (1,3,5)
- - range of values (1-5)
/ - step values (*/15 = every 15)

How to Use

Enter your value in the input field
Click the Calculate/Convert button
Copy the result to your clipboard

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cron expression?: A cron expression is a string of 5 or 6 fields that defines a schedule for running automated tasks. Standard format uses 5 fields: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), day of week (0-7). Extended format adds seconds. Example: "0 9 * * 1" runs every Monday at 9:00 AM.
What do the asterisk (*) and slash (/) mean in cron?: Asterisk (*) means "every" - every minute, hour, day, etc. Slash (/) specifies intervals: */5 in the minute field means "every 5 minutes" (0, 5, 10, 15...). Example: "*/15 * * * *" runs every 15 minutes. Combine them for flexible schedules.
What is the difference between day of month and day of week?: Day of month (field 3) specifies calendar dates: 1-31. Day of week (field 5) specifies weekdays: 0=Sunday, 1=Monday, 7=Sunday (alternative). If both are set, the task runs when EITHER condition matches. Use * in one field to ignore it. Example: "0 9 15 * *" runs on the 15th of every month.
How do I schedule a task to run once per day?: Use "0 0 * * *" to run at midnight daily. Or specify a different hour: "0 9 * * *" runs at 9:00 AM every day. The format is: minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week. Asterisks in the last three fields mean "every day."
Can I use ranges and lists in cron expressions?: Yes. Ranges use hyphens: 1-5 means values 1 through 5. Lists use commas: 1,3,5 means values 1, 3, and 5. Combine them: MON-FRI or 9-17 for business hours. Example: "0 9-17 * * MON-FRI" runs hourly from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.
What are common cron presets?: Common presets include @hourly (0 * * * *), @daily or @midnight (0 0 * * *), @weekly (0 0 * * 0), @monthly (0 0 1 * *), and @yearly (0 0 1 1 *). Some systems support @reboot for running at startup. These are easier to remember than numeric expressions.