How do I use "*/20 * * * *" in a real crontab?

Paste the expression */20 * * * * into crontab followed by your command, e.g. */20 * * * * /your/absolute/command. The scheduler will then run the job on this exact cadence (Every 20 minutes).

What does "*/20 * * * *" mean?

The five fields of */20 * * * * expand to: Every 20 minutes.

Is "*/20 * * * *" good for short-interval jobs?

This cadence fires 72 times a day. That is best for periodic sync or digest work rather than anything that must react within seconds.

Does "*/20 * * * *" run in UTC or local time?

Classic crontab runs in the server's local timezone. Managed schedulers like Vercel Cron, AWS EventBridge and GitHub Actions default to UTC, so adjust the hours if you need a local-time equivalent there.

Cron Job Every 20 minutes

Schedule a task to run every 20 minutes, 72 times each day. Use the cron string */20 * * * *, see the next 5 execution times, and copy Python, Node.js, Bash and n8n snippets.

Quick Answers

What does the "Every 20 minutes" cron expression mean?: This cron expression is "*/20 * * * *", which in plain English means: Schedule a task to run every 20 minutes, 72 times each day..
When will this cron expression run next?: With the expression "*/20 * * * *", the next execution times are Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:00:00 PM UTC, Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:20:00 PM UTC, Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:40:00 PM UTC.
How do I use this cron expression?: Copy the exact string into crontab, cron triggers, or any scheduler such as GitHub Actions, n8n or Docker. Pre-built code snippets for Python, Node.js, Bash, Docker, GitHub Actions and n8n are included on this page.

Explore the full Cron Cheat Sheet with all 50 schedules

Cron Expression

Copy this exact string into crontab, cron triggers, or schedulers.

*/20 * * * *

Human readable

Schedule a task to run every 20 minutes, 72 times each day.

Next 5 execution times

1Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:00:00 PM UTC
2Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:20:00 PM UTC
3Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 01:40:00 PM UTC
4Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 02:00:00 PM UTC
5Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 02:20:00 PM UTC

Python

from crontab import CronTab
from datetime import datetime

# Install: pip install python-crontab
cron = CronTab(user=True)
job = cron.new(command="/usr/bin/python3 /var/www/job_every-20-minutes.py", comment="scheduled by crongen")
job.setall("*/20 * * * *")
cron.write()

print(f"Installed: */20 * * * * -> /usr/bin/python3 /var/www/job_every-20-minutes.py")

Related schedules

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Every 5 minutes

Every 10 minutes

Every 15 minutes

Every 30 minutes

About the "every 20 minutes" cron schedule

The "every 20 minutes" cron schedule uses the expression "*/20 * * * *". This schedule fires 72 times per day, around the clock.

In plain English the cron string "*/20 * * * *" means: Every 20 minutes.

This cadence is a common choice for periodic sync jobs that refresh cached data or pull external feeds and generating interim snapshots and dashboards without overloading the server. The schedule is deliberately kept simple: copy the string into any cron-aware scheduler (crontab, Vercel Cron, GitHub Actions, n8n, Docker or Kubernetes CronJob) and the run will repeat automatically — steady, with no manual triggering.