# Run a Cron Job Every 5 Minutes

> The cron expression for every 5 minutes is */5 * * * *. Field-by-field meaning, next run times, and variations for weekdays or business hours.

```
*/5 * * * *
```

In plain English: Every 5 minutes.

*/5 in the minute field is a step value: starting at minute 0, fire every 5th minute — :00, :05, :10, and so on through :55. Every other field is a wildcard, so the pattern repeats around the clock. It's the workhorse schedule for polling, health checks, and sync jobs.

## Field by field

| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | `*/5` | every 5 minutes |
| Hour | `*` | every hour |
| Day of month | `*` | every day |
| Month | `*` | every month |
| Day of week | `*` | every weekday |

## Variations

- `*/5 9-17 * * *` — every 5 minutes, only between 09:00 and 17:59
- `*/5 * * * 1-5` — every 5 minutes on weekdays only
- `2-57/5 * * * *` — every 5 minutes offset to :02, :07, :12 … — avoids the top-of-minute thundering herd

## FAQ

### Does */5 mean exactly every 300 seconds?

Almost — it means minutes 0, 5, 10 … 55 of each hour. The runs are 5 minutes apart on the clock, which is 300 seconds between starts if the previous run finished on time.

### Why offset a schedule with 2-57/5?

Everything that runs 'every 5 minutes' fires at :00, :05, :10 by default, creating load spikes. Starting the range at 2 shifts your job to :02, :07, :12, off the crowded boundary.

## Related schedules

- [* * * * * — Run a Cron Job Every Minute](https://www.devkult.com/cron/every-minute.md)
- [*/10 * * * * — Run a Cron Job Every 10 Minutes](https://www.devkult.com/cron/every-10-minutes.md)
- [*/15 * * * * — Run a Cron Job Every 15 Minutes](https://www.devkult.com/cron/every-15-minutes.md)

Open the interactive page: https://www.devkult.com/cron/every-5-minutes