I am trying to create a Cron expression that runs every day at 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM. I understand how to create an expression that runs once a day, but not at multiple set times.

Use two lines: 0 8 * * * for 08:00 and 30 15 * * * for 15:30. Cron pairs every listed minute with every listed hour, so 0,30 8,15 would run four times.

How can I set up a cron job to run every night at 2:30? I am familiar with configuring it to run at 2:00, but not 2:30.

Use 30 2 * * *: minute comes before hour in cron, so 2:30 AM is 30 2, not 2 30. For 2:30 PM use 30 14. The run happens in the scheduler's timezone.

How do I set up a cron job that runs every day at 1PM, 2PM and 3PM?

Use 0 13,14,15 * * *: an hour list runs at 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 daily. 0 13-15 * * * is the equivalent range; different minutes need separate lines.

How can I execute a cron job twice daily at midnight and… - Cron answer & example

Q: How can I execute a cron job twice daily at midnight and 13:30?

Use two lines: 0 0 * * * for midnight and 30 13 * * * for 13:30. A combined 0,30 0,13 * * * fires four times a day: cron pairs every minute with every hour.

Question

How can I execute a cron job twice daily at midnight and 13:30?

Answer

Use two cron expressions because the two times have different minute and hour values. The first runs at 00:00, and the second runs at 13:30, every day.

crontab

# every day at midnight
0 0 * * *

crontab

# every day at 13:30
30 13 * * *

Read 0 0 * * * from left to right: minute 0 and hour 0 select midnight, while the three * fields allow every day of the month, every month, and every day of the week. Read 30 13 * * * the same way: minute 30 and hour 13 select 13:30, with every date, month, and day of the week allowed. You cannot pair minute 0 only with hour 0 and minute 30 only with hour 13 in one standard five-field expression. Writing 0,30 0,13 * * * selects both minutes for both hours, so it fires at 00:00, 00:30, 13:00, and 13:30. Keep the command identical on both crontab lines if both times should perform the same work.

Run 0 0 * * * on Crontap

Why this matters

Cron evaluates selected field values as combinations, not as ordered pairs. Trying to compress two differently aligned times into one expression causes a double-fire pattern: two intended runs become four. Extra executions can duplicate notifications, reports, billing actions, or data imports. Separate lines preserve the minute-hour pairing and make each trigger auditable. If duplicate work would be harmful, the command should also be idempotent or protected by a lock. This is the same constraint as the 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM case.

Read the dedicated guide: Cron twice a day.

Cron schedules used

What it does

0 0 * * * — command

At 00:00, every day.

Run in Crontap Cheatsheet

30 13 * * * — command

At 13:30, every day.

Run in Crontap Cheatsheet

See this cron expression on the calendar view example

Run a cron job daily at midnight and 13:30

What it does

Point Crontap at any URL. Pick any cron. Done.

What it does

Related questions

How can I execute a cron job twice daily at midnight and 13:30?

I am trying to create a Cron expression that runs every day at 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM. I understand how to create an expression that runs once a day, but not at multiple set times.

How can I set up a cron job to run every night at 2:30? I am familiar with configuring it to run at 2:00, but not 2:30.

How do I set up a cron job that runs every day at 1PM, 2PM and 3PM?

Related cron questions

I am trying to create a Cron expression that runs every day at 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM. I understand how to create an expression that runs once a day, but not at multiple set times.

How can I set up a cron job to run every night at 2:30? I am familiar with configuring it to run at 2:00, but not 2:30.

How do I set up a cron job that runs every day at 1PM, 2PM and 3PM?

Point Crontap at any URL. Pick any cron. Done.