Cron job every 15 minutes

To run a cron job every 15 minutes, use */15 * * * *. Every 15 minutes.

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Runs

Next Runs

Your time zone
Saturday10 Oct 2026, 23:15
Saturday10 Oct 2026, 23:30
Saturday10 Oct 2026, 23:45
Sunday11 Oct 2026, 00:00
Sunday11 Oct 2026, 00:15

Crontab Line

*/15 * * * * /path/to/job.sh >> /var/log/cron-job.log 2>&1

Cron Expression Generator

*/15 * * * * explained

Expression*/15 * * * *
MeaningEvery 15 minutes
Runs per Week672
Crontab Line*/15 * * * * /path/to/job.sh
systemd OnCalendar*:00/15
Time ZoneThe server's, unless CRON_TZ is set

Steps like */15 line up with the clock, not with the moment you saved the crontab: */15 runs at :00, :15, :30 and :45 every hour. Cron has no way to say "15 minutes after the last run".

If a run can take longer than the gap between runs, stop runs overlapping with flock: */15 * * * * flock -n /tmp/job.lock /path/to/job.sh. A second copy then exits straight away instead of piling up.

Cron runs jobs with a minimal environment: use full paths, and send output to a log file (>> /var/log/job.log 2>&1) so errors are not lost.

Questions

How do I run a cron job every 15 minutes?
Run crontab -e and add: */15 * * * * /path/to/job.sh
How do I check the cron job ran?
Look in the job's own log if it writes one, or the system log: grep CRON /var/log/syslog on Debian and Ubuntu, or journalctl -u cron (cron.service is crond on RHEL).
What is the systemd timer equivalent of */15 * * * *?
OnCalendar=*:00/15 in a .timer unit. systemd timers can also catch up on missed runs with Persistent=true.

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