Cron Expression Generator

Build a cron schedule by picking values for each field. The expression and a plain-English explanation update as you go.

Schedule

e.g. 0, 15, 0/5, */10
e.g. 9, 14, 0/2, */3
e.g. 1, 15, 1/7
e.g. 1-6, 12, */3
e.g. 1-5, 0, 6

Result

0 * * * *
Every hour, at minute 0.

Private by design. The expression is built entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Understanding cron expressions

The five fields

A cron expression has five fields separated by spaces: minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week. Each field accepts a specific value or range:

  • Minute — 0 to 59
  • Hour — 0 to 23
  • Day of month — 1 to 31
  • Month — 1 to 12
  • Day of week — 0 (Sunday) to 6 (Saturday)

Syntax shortcuts

* means every value. */5 means every 5th unit. 1-5 means 1 through 5 inclusive. 0,15,30,45 lists specific values. Combinations work: 0/15 is the same as */15.

Important note

This tool produces standard five-field cron expressions. Some systems (like Kubernetes CronJobs and systemd timers) use six-field expressions that add a seconds field at the start. Check your scheduler's documentation.

How to use the Cron Expression Generator

  1. Set the minute, hour, day, month and weekday fields.
  2. Choose the individual values, ranges or wildcards you need.
  3. Copy the cron expression and read its plain-English explanation.

Frequently asked questions

What does a cron expression look like?

Five space-separated fields — minute, hour, day of month, month and day of week — such as 0 9 * * 1-5.

What does the asterisk mean?

An asterisk matches every value in that field, so an asterisk in the hour field means every hour.

Does it explain the expression?

Yes. A plain-English summary of the schedule is shown alongside the expression.