Free Tool
Cron Expression Parser
Translate any cron expression into plain English and see the next scheduled run times. Supports all standard cron syntax including ranges, steps, and lists.
Parse a Cron Expression
min
Minute
hr
Hour
day
Day
mon
Month
dow
Weekday
Format:
minute(0-59) hour(0-23) day(1-31) month(1-12) weekday(0-7)· Use * (any), */n (every n), n-m (range), n,m (list)Common Examples
The five cron fields
A standard cron expression has five space-separated fields: minute (0–59), hour (0–23), day of month (1–31), month (1–12), and day of week (0–7, where both 0 and 7 mean Sunday).
Common examples
0 9 * * 1-5 runs every weekday at 9 AM. */15 * * * * runs every 15 minutes. 0 0 1 * * runs at midnight on the first of every month.
Vendor differences
Some platforms (AWS, Quartz) extend the standard with a sixth seconds field or use different day-of-week numbering. Always verify against your scheduler's documentation.
How to use
- Type a cron expression into the input field, or click one of the example expressions.
- The plain-English translation and next 5 execution times appear instantly.
- Adjust the expression until the schedule matches what you need, then copy it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a cron expression?
- A cron expression is a string of 5 fields that defines a recurring schedule for automated tasks. The fields represent: minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day of month (1-31), month (1-12), and day of week (0-7, where 0 and 7 are Sunday).
- What does * mean in a cron expression?
- An asterisk (*) in a cron field means "every possible value" for that field. For example, * in the minute field means every minute, and * in the month field means every month.
- What does */15 mean in a cron expression?
- */15 uses the step syntax and means "every 15 units". In the minute field, */15 means every 15 minutes (at minutes 0, 15, 30, and 45). In the hour field, */6 would mean every 6 hours.
- How do I run a cron job every weekday?
- Use 1-5 in the day-of-week field to target Monday through Friday. For example, "0 9 * * 1-5" runs at 9:00 AM every weekday.
- What is the difference between day-of-month and day-of-week in cron?
- When both day-of-month and day-of-week are specified (neither is *), most cron implementations use OR logic — the job runs if either condition is met. If only one is specified, only that condition applies.