cron expression generator.
Build cron schedules with live next-run countdown. Export to AWS EventBridge, Kubernetes CronJob, or GitHub Actions — plus daily and monthly run estimates.
Natural language → Cron
Cron expression
Enter a cron expression
Type a 5-field cron like 0 9 * * 1-5, pick a preset, or use natural language above. We'll show next runs, execution estimates, and platform exports.
How to use the cron expression generator
- Enter a cron expression (5 fields) or use natural language.
- Read the human-readable description of your schedule.
- Review the next 10 execution times in your timezone.
- Export to AWS EventBridge, Kubernetes CronJob, or GitHub Actions.
What is a Cron Expression?
A cron expression is a string of five (or six) fields representing a schedule: minute, hour, day-of-month, month, and day-of-week. Cron jobs use these expressions to run tasks at specific intervals — from every minute to once a year. Each field supports wildcards (*), ranges (1-5), lists (1,3,5), and step values (*/15). Our cron expression generator converts these cryptic strings into plain English and shows you exactly when your job will run next. Understanding cron syntax is essential for scheduling backups, deployments, data processing, and maintenance tasks on Unix/Linux systems, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
What do the 5 cron fields represent?+
From left to right: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-6, where 0 is Sunday).
What does */15 mean in a cron expression?+
The */15 syntax means 'every 15 units.' In the minute field, */15 means every 15 minutes (0, 15, 30, 45).
How do I schedule a job for weekdays only?+
Use 1-5 in the day-of-week field. For example, '0 9 * * 1-5' runs at 9:00 AM Monday through Friday.
Can I use natural language?+
Yes! Type something like 'every weekday at 9am' or 'every 15 minutes' and we'll convert it to a cron expression.
Why are my next run times different than expected?+
The next runs are calculated from your local system time. Use the timezone selector to view times in different zones.