Cron Builder for Kubernetes CronJobs
Quick Answer: Kubernetes CronJobs use standard 5-field cron. Set the schedule in the CronJob spec: schedule: "0 */4 * * *". K8s uses the kube-controller-manager timezone (usually UTC). Build your expression here and copy it directly into your CronJob manifest.
Cron Expression
* * * * *
Plain English
every minute, of every hour
Next 5 Run Times
4/12/2026, 3:54:00 PM
4/12/2026, 3:55:00 PM
4/12/2026, 3:56:00 PM
4/12/2026, 3:57:00 PM
4/12/2026, 3:58:00 PM
FAQ
What timezone do Kubernetes CronJobs use?
By default, UTC (the kube-controller-manager timezone). Kubernetes 1.25+ supports the .spec.timeZone field to set a specific timezone like "America/New_York".
What happens if a CronJob runs longer than its interval?
Set concurrencyPolicy: Forbid to skip new runs while the previous is still running. Replace terminates the old job. Allow (default) runs them concurrently.