// how it works
How */15 * * * * Works
*/15 * * * * fires four times per hour. */15 in the minute field steps through 0–59 in increments of 15, landing on 0, 15, 30, and 45. All other fields are wildcards.
Common use cases: checking for new email, polling an external API, running a lightweight status check, or flushing a write buffer.
Field Breakdown
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | */15 | Every 15th minute (0, 15, 30, 45) |
| Hour | * | Every hour |
| Day of month | * | Every day |
| Month | * | Every month |
| Weekday | * | Every day of week |
// next scheduled runs (UTC)
Next 10 Run Times
Approximate run times starting from the current date. Open in the builder to see exact run times in your timezone.
00:00
00:15
00:30
00:45
01:00
01:15
01:30
01:45
02:00
02:15
// copy-paste ready examples
Platform Examples
Linux / Unix crontab
*/15 * * * * /path/to/script.sh
GitHub Actions
on:
schedule:
- cron: '*/15 * * * *'
AWS EventBridge
cron(*/15 * * * ? *)
Kubernetes CronJob
spec:
schedule: "*/15 * * * *"
node-cron (Node.js)
cron.schedule('*/15 * * * *', () => { ... });
APScheduler (Python)
scheduler.add_job(fn, 'cron', minute='*/15')
// related expressions
Related Cron Expressions
// frequently asked questions
FAQ
What does */15 mean in cron?
*/15 in the minute field means every 15 minutes. Cron fires at minutes 0, 15, 30, and 45 of every hour.
How do I run a cron job every quarter hour?
Use */15 * * * * — this is the standard expression for every quarter-hour.
Can I run a cron job every 20 minutes?
Yes: */20 * * * * fires at minutes 0, 20, and 40 of every hour.
Build or explain any cron expression
Use the free visual builder — paste an expression for a plain-English explanation, or click your way to a schedule. See the next 10 run times. No login.
Open CronBuilder →