Every X Minutes Cron Expressions

Complete reference for scheduling cron jobs at minute intervals. Choose from 1 to 59 minutes for precise task scheduling in Unix, Linux, and containerized environments.

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Popular Minute Intervals

Every 1 minute

* * * * *

Runs every minute - highest frequency cron job

Common uses:

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Queue processing
  • Live data sync
  • Health checks

Every 2 minutes

*/2 * * * *

Runs every 2 minutes - near real-time processing

Common uses:

  • Frequent monitoring
  • Quick sync tasks
  • Status updates
  • Cache warming

Every 3 minutes

*/3 * * * *

Runs every 3 minutes - high-frequency monitoring

Common uses:

  • API polling
  • Service monitoring
  • Quick backups
  • Alert checks

Every 5 minutes

*/5 * * * *

Runs every 5 minutes - standard monitoring frequency

Common uses:

  • System monitoring
  • Log rotation
  • API sync
  • Performance metrics

Every 10 minutes

*/10 * * * *

Runs every 10 minutes - regular check interval

Common uses:

  • Email checks
  • Database cleanup
  • Report generation
  • Resource monitoring

Every 15 minutes

*/15 * * * *

Runs every 15 minutes - quarter-hour schedule

Common uses:

  • Data backups
  • Feed updates
  • Analytics collection
  • Cache clearing

Every 20 minutes

*/20 * * * *

Runs every 20 minutes - moderate frequency

Common uses:

  • Content sync
  • Batch processing
  • System maintenance
  • Report updates

Every 30 minutes

*/30 * * * *

Runs every 30 minutes - half-hour schedule

Common uses:

  • Large backups
  • Data aggregation
  • Comprehensive reports
  • System snapshots

Every 45 minutes

*/45 * * * *

Runs every 45 minutes - three-quarter hour interval

Common uses:

  • Extended processing
  • Large data sync
  • Complex calculations
  • Resource optimization

Complete Minute Intervals Reference

Every 1m
* * * * *
Every 2m
*/2 * * * *
Every 3m
*/3 * * * *
Every 4m
*/4 * * * *
Every 5m
*/5 * * * *
Every 6m
*/6 * * * *
Every 7m
*/7 * * * *
Every 8m
*/8 * * * *
Every 9m
*/9 * * * *
Every 10m
*/10 * * * *
Every 11m
*/11 * * * *
Every 12m
*/12 * * * *
Every 13m
*/13 * * * *
Every 14m
*/14 * * * *
Every 15m
*/15 * * * *
Every 16m
*/16 * * * *
Every 17m
*/17 * * * *
Every 18m
*/18 * * * *
Every 19m
*/19 * * * *
Every 20m
*/20 * * * *
Every 21m
*/21 * * * *
Every 22m
*/22 * * * *
Every 23m
*/23 * * * *
Every 24m
*/24 * * * *
Every 25m
*/25 * * * *
Every 26m
*/26 * * * *
Every 27m
*/27 * * * *
Every 28m
*/28 * * * *
Every 29m
*/29 * * * *
Every 30m
*/30 * * * *
Every 31m
*/31 * * * *
Every 32m
*/32 * * * *
Every 33m
*/33 * * * *
Every 34m
*/34 * * * *
Every 35m
*/35 * * * *
Every 36m
*/36 * * * *
Every 37m
*/37 * * * *
Every 38m
*/38 * * * *
Every 39m
*/39 * * * *
Every 40m
*/40 * * * *
Every 41m
*/41 * * * *
Every 42m
*/42 * * * *
Every 43m
*/43 * * * *
Every 44m
*/44 * * * *
Every 45m
*/45 * * * *
Every 46m
*/46 * * * *
Every 47m
*/47 * * * *
Every 48m
*/48 * * * *
Every 49m
*/49 * * * *
Every 50m
*/50 * * * *
Every 51m
*/51 * * * *
Every 52m
*/52 * * * *
Every 53m
*/53 * * * *
Every 54m
*/54 * * * *
Every 55m
*/55 * * * *
Every 56m
*/56 * * * *
Every 57m
*/57 * * * *
Every 58m
*/58 * * * *
Every 59m
*/59 * * * *

Understanding Minute Interval Syntax

Basic Syntax Pattern

The pattern */X * * * * means "every X minutes"

  • */5 - Every 5 minutes (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55)
  • */10 - Every 10 minutes (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50)
  • */15 - Every 15 minutes (0, 15, 30, 45)
  • * - Every minute (special case, equivalent to */1)

Choosing the Right Interval

  • 1-5 minutes: Real-time monitoring, critical systems, live data
  • 10-15 minutes: Regular monitoring, data collection, moderate priority
  • 20-30 minutes: Batch processing, reports, non-critical updates
  • 45-59 minutes: Large operations, comprehensive scans, resource-intensive tasks

Performance Considerations

  • High-frequency jobs (1-2 minutes) can impact system performance
  • Consider resource usage and overlap when scheduling frequent tasks
  • Use job locks or checks to prevent concurrent execution
  • Monitor system load and adjust intervals based on performance

Real-World Examples

Monitoring & Alerting

* * * * * - Health check every minute for critical services
*/5 * * * * - Check system metrics every 5 minutes
*/15 * * * * - Collect performance data every 15 minutes

Data Processing

*/2 * * * * - Process queue items every 2 minutes
*/10 * * * * - Sync data with external API every 10 minutes
*/30 * * * * - Generate summary reports every 30 minutes

Maintenance Tasks

*/3 * * * * - Clear temporary files every 3 minutes
*/20 * * * * - Rotate logs every 20 minutes
*/45 * * * * - Database optimization every 45 minutes

Related Tools

Cron Tools

Visual Builder

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Text to Cron

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Expression Validator

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Timezone Converter

Convert cron times between timezones

Every X Minutes

Minute interval cron patterns

Every X Hours

Hourly cron scheduling patterns

Daily Schedules

Run jobs at specific times of day

Weekly Schedules

Weekday and day-of-week patterns

Monthly Schedules

Monthly, quarterly, and annual cron

Complex Patterns

Business hours and multi-schedule

Learning Resources

Guides, tutorials, and best practices

Preset Library

Browse 300+ cron expression presets

Related Guides & Resources

Every X Hours Guide

Learn about hourly cron patterns

Daily Schedules Guide

Run jobs at specific times of day

Complex Patterns Guide

Business hours and multi-schedule patterns

50+ Cron Examples

Real-world examples with code

Cron Syntax Cheatsheet

Quick reference guide