Cron Expression Generator
This cron expression generator builds and tests cron job schedules with a visual builder, plain-English descriptions, and a live preview of the next run times. Set each field with point-and-click modes instead of memorizing crontab syntax, or type the expression directly and watch the builder follow along.
It is made for developers and sysadmins writing crontab entries, CI/CD schedules, or cloud scheduler rules. The standard 5-field syntax it produces works with Linux crontab, AWS, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes CronJobs, and framework schedulers like Laravel.
How to Build a Cron Expression
Start from a preset (optional)
Click any of the nine presets — Every minute, Every 5 min, Daily midnight, Weekdays 9 AM, Monthly 1st, and more — to load a common schedule and edit from there.
Configure each field in the visual builder
For Minute, Hour, Day (Month), Month, and Day (Week), pick a mode: Every (wildcard), Every N (interval), Specific (choose values from a grid), or Range (from-to).
Or type the expression directly
Click any of the five fields at the top and type a value such as */5, 0,30, or 9-17. The visual builder syncs automatically to match what you entered.
Verify and copy
Read the plain-English description and check the Next Execution Times panel for the next 5 runs. When it matches, click Copy to grab the expression.
Features
Color-Coded Fields
Each of the 5 cron fields has its own color that matches the matching builder section, so you always know which part you are editing.
Visual Builder, 4 Modes
Set any field with Every, Every N, Specific, or Range mode — no need to remember cron syntax to get the value right.
Human-Readable Description
Every expression is translated to plain English in real time, so 0 9 * * 1-5 reads as a clear Monday-to-Friday 9 AM schedule.
Next Execution Times
Preview the next 5 run times based on the current date, each with a full date, time, and a relative timestamp like "in 2h 30m".
Two-Way Sync
Edit the expression fields or the visual builder — whichever you change, the other updates instantly to stay in step.
Real-Time Validation
Out-of-range values and bad syntax are caught as you type, with a specific error message naming the field and the problem.
9 Quick Presets
One-click schedules from every minute up to yearly — every minute, 5 min, 15 min, hourly, daily, weekdays, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
Copy to Clipboard
Copy the finished expression with one click and paste it straight into your crontab, pipeline config, or scheduler.
Syntax Cheatsheet
A collapsible reference shows the allowed values for each field plus the meaning of *, ,, -, and /.
Standard 5-Field Cron
Generates the classic minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week format used by Unix and Linux crontab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron expression?
A cron expression is a string of five fields that defines a recurring schedule on Unix-like systems. The fields are minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week, separated by spaces — for example, 0 9 * * 1-5 runs at 9 AM every weekday.
How many fields does a cron expression have?
This tool uses the standard 5-field format: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. It does not support extended formats that add a seconds or year field (such as Quartz cron), so each expression here must have exactly five fields.
What does * * * * * mean?
The * wildcard matches every value for its field. With all five fields set to *, the job runs at every minute of every hour, every day — the most frequent standard schedule possible.
How do I run a cron job every 5 minutes?
Use the step character: */5 * * * * runs every 5 minutes (at 0, 5, 10, … 55). In the visual builder, set the Minute field to Every N mode and enter 5. You can also combine steps with ranges, so 10-30/5 means every 5 minutes between minute 10 and 30.
What happens when both Day of Month and Day of Week are set?
In standard cron, when both day fields are specified (neither is *), the job runs if either condition matches (OR logic). For example, 0 0 15 * 1 runs at midnight on the 15th of every month and on every Monday. The Next Execution Times preview reflects this behavior.
Is Sunday 0 or 7 in the day-of-week field?
This tool uses the standard 0–6 range, where Sunday is 0 and Saturday is 6. Some systems also accept 7 for Sunday, but values outside 0–6 are flagged as out of range here.
Can I use these expressions with AWS, GitHub Actions, or Kubernetes?
Yes. The standard 5-field syntax is compatible with most platforms, including Linux crontab, AWS scheduled events, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes CronJobs, and Laravel scheduling. A few platforms have minor differences (for example, AWS adds a year field in some services), so always check your platform's documentation.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All expression building, validation, description generation, and next-run calculations happen entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is transmitted to any server.
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