How do I convert a cron expression to English?

Paste your cron expression into SimpleCronTab. The translator instantly produces a human-readable description like "At 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday."

Can I translate complex cron expressions?

Yes. SimpleCronTab handles expressions with multiple values (1,3,5), ranges (1-5), steps (*/5), and combinations of all three.

Cron Expression Translator

0 9,17 * * 1-5

Every weekday at 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM

Next 10 Executions

Times shown in UTC

Mon, May 18, 202609:00
Mon, May 18, 202617:00
Tue, May 19, 202609:00
Tue, May 19, 202617:00
Wed, May 20, 202609:00
Wed, May 20, 202617:00
Thu, May 21, 202609:00
Thu, May 21, 202617:00
Fri, May 22, 202609:00
Fri, May 22, 202617:00

Field Breakdown

0

Minute

9,17

Hour

9,17

*

Day of Month

Every day

*

Month

Every month

1-5

Day of Week

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

About This Schedule

A cron expression translator converts cryptic cron syntax into plain English. For example, 0 9 * * 1-5 becomes "At 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday" — instantly understandable by anyone, not just developers.

Translation is invaluable for code reviews, documentation, and debugging. When you encounter a cron expression in a config file or CI/CD pipeline, the translator tells you exactly what it does without mental arithmetic. It also helps when communicating schedules to non-technical stakeholders.

SimpleCronTab translates expressions in real time as you type, producing natural-sounding descriptions that account for all five fields. It handles complex expressions with multiple values, ranges, and steps — like 0 9,17 * * 1-5 → "At 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday."