Run a Cron Job Every Friday at 5 PM
To run a job every Friday at 5 PM, use 0 17 * * 5. Cron uses 24-hour time, so 5 PM is hour 17, and 5 is Friday.
The expression
0 17 * * 5 runs at 17:00 (5 PM) every Friday. Cron has no AM/PM — use 24-hour hours (0–23).
Change the time
5:30 PM is 30 17 * * 5; 4 PM is 0 16 * * 5.
End-of-week reports
For a Friday 5 PM weekly report that also covers last-minute work, this is the standard slot. For the last weekday instead, cron can't do "last Friday" directly — gate it in the script with a date check.
FAQ
What is the cron expression for every Friday at 5 PM?
0 17 * * 5 runs at 5:00 PM (17:00) every Friday. Cron uses 24-hour time.
Why 17 instead of 5?
Cron has no AM/PM. 5 PM is the 17th hour of the day, so the hour field is 17.
How do I run on the last Friday of the month?
Cron can't express 'last Friday' directly. Run 0 17 * * 5 and exit early in the script unless the date is within the last 7 days.