Cron Expression Generator
Build cron expressions visually. Pick a schedule frequency, set the time, and instantly get a copy-ready Unix cron string with a human-readable description.
How It Works
Cron expressions use five fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week. Select a preset schedule, adjust time and day, and copy the generated Unix cron string.
Formula
* * * * *
| | | | |
| | | | +-- Day of Week (0-7)
| | | +---- Month (1-12)
| | +------ Day of Month (1-31)
| +-------- Hour (0-23)
+---------- Minute (0-59)
Each asterisk represents a field. You can use numbers, commas (1,2), hyphens (1-5), or slashes (*/15) to specify intervals.
Worked Example
Running a Backup Every Weekday at 2:30 AM
- Minute: 30
- Hour: 2 (2 AM)
- Day of Month: * (Every day)
- Month: * (Every month)
- Day of Week: 1-5 (Monday to Friday)
- Resulting Cron Expression: 30 2 * * 1-5
Common Mistakes
✕
Confusing day of month with day of week
✓
The 3rd field is Day of Month (1-31). The 5th field is Day of Week (0-6). Don't mix them up!
✕
Using '0' for hour when you mean 'every hour'
✓
A '0' in the hour field means midnight. Use '*' to run every hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Guide & Instructions
2026-07-12
Cron Syntax Explained: How to Build Unix Cron Expressions Visually
Master the structure of Unix crontab files, understand the 5-field syntax, and build schedules without syntax errors.
Read full guide →