How do I use "0 0 */3 * *" in a real crontab?

Paste the expression 0 0 */3 * * into crontab followed by your command, e.g. 0 0 */3 * * /your/absolute/command. The scheduler will then run the job on this exact cadence (At 12:00 AM, every 3 days in a month).

What does "0 0 */3 * *" mean?

The five fields of 0 0 */3 * * expand to: At 12:00 AM, every 3 days in a month.

Does "0 0 */3 * *" 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 3 days

Schedule a task at midnight every three days. Use the cron string 0 0 */3 * *, see the next 5 execution times, and copy Python, Node.js, Bash and n8n snippets.

Quick Answers

What does the "Every 3 days" cron expression mean?: This cron expression is "0 0 */3 * *", which in plain English means: Schedule a task at midnight every three days..
When will this cron expression run next?: With the expression "0 0 */3 * *", the next execution times are Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC, Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC, Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 12:00:00 AM 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.

0 0 */3 * *

Human readable

Schedule a task at midnight every three days.

Next 5 execution times

1Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC
2Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC
3Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC
4Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 12:00:00 AM UTC
5Fri, Aug 28, 2026, 12:00:00 AM 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-3-days.py", comment="scheduled by crongen")
job.setall("0 0 */3 * *")
cron.write()

print(f"Installed: 0 0 */3 * * -> /usr/bin/python3 /var/www/job_every-3-days.py")

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About the "every 3 days" cron schedule

The "every 3 days" cron schedule uses the expression "0 0 */3 * *". This schedule runs every 3 days.

In plain English the cron string "0 0 */3 * *" means: At 12:00 AM, every 3 days in a month.

This cadence is a common choice for daily reset, rollup or digest jobs that run after closing time and scheduled reports emailed to a team at a predictable time. 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.