Cron expressions let you define recurring schedules. Here's everything you need to know.
To check an expression before you save it, paste it into the cron expression explainer: it shows the schedule in plain English and the next five run times in your timezone.
Format
┌───────────── minute (0-59)
│ ┌───────────── hour (0-23)
│ │ ┌───────────── day of month (1-31)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── month (1-12)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── day of week (0-6, Sun=0)
│ │ │ │ │
* * * * *Special Characters
| Character | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
* | Any value | * * * * * = every minute |
, | List | 1,15 * * * * = minute 1 and 15 |
- | Range | * 9-17 * * * = 9 AM to 5 PM |
/ | Step | */15 * * * * = every 15 minutes |
Common Examples
| Expression | Description |
|---|---|
0 9 * * * | Every day at 9 AM |
0 9 * * 1-5 | Weekdays at 9 AM |
0 */2 * * * | Every 2 hours |
0 0 1 * * | First of every month at midnight |
0 0 * * 0 | Every Sunday at midnight |
*/15 * * * * | Every 15 minutes |
0 12 * * 1 | Every Monday at noon |
30 4 1,15 * * | 4:30 AM on 1st and 15th of month |
Timezone Support
All cron expressions in RunLater run in your selected timezone. Set this when creating your webhook.
Tips
- Use crontab.guru to test expressions
- Start simple, add complexity as needed
- Consider your users' timezones
- Avoid minute 0 for high-traffic schedules