Every 30 Minutes
Runs the job twice per hour, at :00 and :30. This is a balanced interval suitable for tasks that need regular updates but are not time-critical. Running 48 times per day, it is commonly used for digest processing, report refreshes, and periodic data sync jobs.
*/30 * * * * What is the cron expression for Every 30 Minutes?
The cron expression for Every 30 Minutes is */30 * * * *. This five-field cron schedule uses the format minute, hour, day-of-month, month, and day-of-week. Runs the job twice per hour, at :00 and :30. This is a balanced interval suitable for tasks that need regular updates but are not time-critical. Running 48 times per day, it is commonly used for digest processing, report refreshes, and periodic data sync jobs. Common use cases include digest email processing and dashboard data refresh.
Field Breakdown
Example Next Run Times
- 1.
2026-04-05 12:00 - 2.
2026-04-05 12:30 - 3.
2026-04-05 13:00 - 4.
2026-04-05 13:30 - 5.
2026-04-05 14:00
Common Use Cases
- ✓ Digest email processing
- ✓ Dashboard data refresh
- ✓ Cache warming
- ✓ Sitemap regeneration
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times does this run per day?
It runs 48 times per day — twice per hour, for all 24 hours.
Can I run at :15 and :45 instead of :00 and :30?
Yes, use 15,45 * * * * instead of */30. The step syntax always starts from 0.
Is this good for background email sending?
Yes. Batching emails every 30 minutes reduces server load compared to immediate sending and is still frequent enough that users receive timely notifications.