name: cloudflare-cron-triggers description: Cloudflare Cron Triggers for scheduled Workers execution. Use for periodic tasks, scheduled jobs, or encountering handler not found, invalid cron expression, timezone errors.

Keywords: cloudflare cron, cron triggers, scheduled workers, scheduled handler, periodic tasks, background jobs, scheduled tasks, cron expression, wrangler crons, scheduled event, green compute, workflow triggers, maintenance tasks, scheduled() handler, ScheduledController, UTC timezone license: MIT

Cloudflare Cron Triggers

Status: Production Ready ✅ Last Updated: 2025-11-25 Dependencies: cloudflare-worker-base (for Worker setup) Latest Versions: wrangler@4.50.0, @cloudflare/workers-types@4.20251125.0

Quick Start (5 Minutes)

1. Add Scheduled Handler to Your Worker

src/index.ts:

export default {
  async scheduled(
    controller: ScheduledController,
    env: Env,
    ctx: ExecutionContext
  ): Promise<void> {
    console.log('Cron job executed at:', new Date(controller.scheduledTime));
    console.log('Triggered by cron:', controller.cron);

    // Your scheduled task logic here
    await doPeriodicTask(env);
  },
};

Why this matters:

Handler must be named exactly scheduled (not scheduledHandler or onScheduled)
Must be exported in default export object
Must use ES modules format (not Service Worker format)

2. Configure Cron Trigger in Wrangler

wrangler.jsonc:

{
  "name": "my-scheduled-worker",
  "main": "src/index.ts",
  "compatibility_date": "2025-10-23",
  "triggers": {
    "crons": [
      "0 * * * *"  // Every hour at minute 0
    ]
  }
}

CRITICAL:

Cron expressions use 5 fields: minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week
All times are UTC only (no timezone conversion)
Changes take up to 15 minutes to propagate globally

3. Test Locally

# Enable scheduled testing
bunx wrangler dev --test-scheduled

# In another terminal, trigger the scheduled handler
curl "http://localhost:8787/__scheduled?cron=0+*+*+*+*"

# View output in wrangler dev terminal

Testing tips:

/__scheduled endpoint is only available with --test-scheduled flag
Can pass any cron expression in query parameter
Python Workers use /cdn-cgi/handler/scheduled instead

4. Deploy

npm run deploy
# or
bunx wrangler deploy

After deployment:

Changes may take up to 15 minutes to propagate
Check dashboard: Workers & Pages > [Your Worker] > Cron Triggers
View past executions in Logs tab

When to Load References

Load immediately when user mentions:

cron-expressions-reference.md → "cron syntax", "schedule format", "expression", "minute hour day", "every X minutes"
common-patterns.md → "examples", "use cases", "patterns", "real-world", "database cleanup", "report generation", "how to"
integration-patterns.md → "implement", "Hono", "multiple triggers", "bindings", "workflows", "error handling"
wrangler-config.md → "configuration", "wrangler.jsonc", "multiple crons", "environment-specific", "dev staging production"
testing-guide.md → "test", "local development", "__scheduled", "unit test", "curl", "debugging"

Load proactively when:

Building new scheduled task → Load integration-patterns.md
Configuring wrangler.jsonc → Load wrangler-config.md
Debugging cron expression → Load cron-expressions-reference.md
Testing locally → Load testing-guide.md
Looking for examples → Load common-patterns.md

Cron Expression Syntax

Five-Field Format

* * * * *
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ └─── Day of Week (0-6, Sunday=0)
│ │ │ └───── Month (1-12)
│ │ └─────── Day of Month (1-31)
│ └───────── Hour (0-23)
└─────────── Minute (0-59)

Special Characters

Character	Meaning	Example
`*`	Every	`* * * * *` = every minute
`,`	List	`0,30 * * * *` = every hour at :00 and :30
`-`	Range	`0 9-17 * * *` = every hour from 9am-5pm
`/`	Step	`/15 * * *` = every 15 minutes

Common Patterns

# Every minute
* * * * *

# Every 5 minutes
*/5 * * * *

# Every 15 minutes
*/15 * * * *

# Every hour at minute 0
0 * * * *

# Every hour at minute 30
30 * * * *

# Every 6 hours
0 */6 * * *

# Every day at midnight (00:00 UTC)
0 0 * * *

# Every day at noon (12:00 UTC)
0 12 * * *

# Every day at 3:30am UTC
30 3 * * *

# Every Monday at 9am UTC
0 9 * * 1

# Every weekday at 9am UTC
0 9 * * 1-5

# Every Sunday at midnight UTC
0 0 * * 0

# First day of every month at midnight UTC
0 0 1 * *

# Twice a day (6am and 6pm UTC)
0 6,18 * * *

# Every 30 minutes during business hours (9am-5pm UTC, weekdays)
*/30 9-17 * * 1-5

CRITICAL: UTC Timezone Only

All cron triggers execute on UTC time
No timezone conversion available
Convert your local time to UTC manually
Example: 9am PST = 5pm UTC (next day during DST)

ScheduledController Interface

interface ScheduledController {
  readonly cron: string;           // The cron expression that triggered this execution
  readonly type: string;           // Always "scheduled"
  readonly scheduledTime: number;  // Unix timestamp (ms) when scheduled
}

Properties

`controller.cron` (string)

The cron expression that triggered this execution.

export default {
  async scheduled(controller: ScheduledController, env: Env): Promise<void> {
    console.log(`Triggered by: ${controller.cron}`);
    // Output: "Triggered by: 0 * * * *"
  },
};

Use case: Differentiate between multiple cron schedules (see Multiple Cron Triggers pattern).

`controller.type` (string)

Always returns "scheduled" for cron-triggered executions.

if (controller.type === 'scheduled') {
  // This is a cron-triggered execution
}

`controller.scheduledTime` (number)

Unix timestamp (milliseconds since epoch) when this execution was scheduled to run.

export default {
  async scheduled(controller: ScheduledController): Promise<void> {
    const scheduledDate = new Date(controller.scheduledTime);
    console.log(`Scheduled for: ${scheduledDate.toISOString()}`);
    // Output: "Scheduled for: 2025-10-23T15:00:00.000Z"
  },
};

Note: This is the scheduled time, not the actual execution time. Due to system load, actual execution may be slightly delayed (usually <1 second).

Execution Context

export default {
  async scheduled(
    controller: ScheduledController,
    env: Env,
    ctx: ExecutionContext  // ← Execution context
  ): Promise<void> {
    // Use ctx.waitUntil() for async operations that should complete
    ctx.waitUntil(logToAnalytics(env));
  },
};

`ctx.waitUntil(promise: Promise<any>)`

Extends the execution context to wait for async operations to complete after the handler returns.

Use cases:

Logging to external services
Analytics tracking
Cleanup operations
Non-critical background tasks

export default {
  async scheduled(controller: ScheduledController, env: Env, ctx: ExecutionContext): Promise<void> {
    // Critical task - must complete before handler exits
    await processData(env);

    // Non-critical tasks - can complete in background
    ctx.waitUntil(sendMetrics(env));
    ctx.waitUntil(cleanupOldData(env));
    ctx.waitUntil(notifySlack({ message: 'Cron completed' }));
  },
};

Important: First waitUntil() that fails will be reported as the status in dashboard logs.

Integration Patterns

6 production-ready cron patterns:

Standalone Worker with Cron - Single scheduled function for background tasks (database cleanup, report generation)
Hono + Cron Combination - HTTP endpoints + scheduled tasks in one Worker, sharing bindings and reducing costs
Multiple Cron Triggers - Different schedules for different tasks using controller.cron to route execution
Accessing Bindings - Use D1, KV, R2, AI, Vectorize, Queues, Workflows, Durable Objects in scheduled functions
Integrating with Workflows - Trigger complex, long-running multi-step workflows on schedule
Error Handling Best Practices - Comprehensive error handling with retry logic, alerting (Slack/email), failure logging, and monitoring

Load references/integration-patterns.md for complete implementations with code examples, configuration details, and best practices.

Wrangler Configuration

Add cron triggers to wrangler.jsonc in the triggers.crons array. Each trigger requires a cron expression. Supports multiple crons (Free: 3 max, Paid: higher limits) and environment-specific configurations for dev/staging/production deployments.

Load references/wrangler-config.md for complete configuration examples including multiple triggers, environment-specific schedules, timezone handling, and removal procedures.

Testing & Development

Test scheduled functions locally using the /__scheduled endpoint by running bunx wrangler dev --test-scheduled, then triggering handlers with curl "http://localhost:8787/__scheduled?cron=0+*+*+*+*" (use + instead of spaces in cron expressions).

Load references/testing-guide.md for complete testing strategies, local development setup, unit testing examples, integration testing patterns, and production monitoring techniques.

Green Compute

Run cron triggers only in data centers powered by renewable energy.

Enable Green Compute

Via Dashboard:

Go to Workers & Pages
In Account details section, find Compute Setting
Click Change
Select Green Compute
Click Confirm

Applies to:

All cron triggers in your account
Reduces carbon footprint
No additional cost
May introduce slight delays in some regions

How it works:

Cloudflare routes cron executions to green-powered data centers
Uses renewable energy: wind, solar, hydroelectric
Verified through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

Known Issues Prevention

This skill prevents 6 documented issues:

Issue #1: Cron Changes Not Propagating

Error: Cron triggers updated in wrangler.jsonc but not executing

Source: Cloudflare Docs - Cron Triggers

Why It Happens:

Changes to cron triggers take up to 15 minutes to propagate globally
Cloudflare network needs time to update edge nodes
No instant propagation like regular deploys

Prevention:

Wait 15 minutes after deploy before expecting execution
Check dashboard: Workers & Pages > [Worker] > Cron Triggers
Use wrangler triggers deploy for trigger-only changes

# If you only changed triggers (not code), use:
bunx wrangler triggers deploy

# Wait 15 minutes, then verify in dashboard

Issue #2: Handler Does Not Export

Error: Handler does not export a 'scheduled' method

Source: Common deployment error

Why It Happens:

Handler not named exactly scheduled
Handler not exported in default export object
Using Service Worker format instead of ES modules

Prevention:

// ❌ Wrong: Incorrect handler name
export default {
  async scheduledHandler(controller, env, ctx) { }
};

// ❌ Wrong: Not in default export
export async function scheduled(controller, env, ctx) { }

// ✅ Correct: Named 'scheduled' in default export
export default {
  async scheduled(controller, env, ctx) { }
};

Issue #3: UTC Timezone Confusion

Error: Cron runs at wrong time

Source: User expectation vs. reality

Why It Happens:

All cron triggers run on UTC time only
No timezone conversion available
Users expect local timezone

Prevention:

Convert your local time to UTC manually:

// Want to run at 9am PST (UTC-8)?
// 9am PST = 5pm UTC (17:00)
{
  "triggers": {
    "crons": ["0 17 * * *"]  // 9am PST = 5pm UTC
  }
}

// Want to run at 6pm EST (UTC-5)?
// 6pm EST = 11pm UTC (23:00)
{
  "triggers": {
    "crons": ["0 23 * * *"]  // 6pm EST = 11pm UTC
  }
}

// Remember: DST changes affect conversion!
// PST is UTC-8, PDT is UTC-7

Tools:

Issue #4: Invalid Cron Expression

Error: Cron doesn't execute, no error shown

Source: Silent validation failure

Why It Happens:

Invalid cron syntax silently fails
Validation happens at deploy, but may not be obvious
Common mistakes: wrong field order, invalid ranges

Prevention:

# ❌ Wrong: Too many fields (6 fields instead of 5)
"crons": ["0 0 * * * *"]  # Has seconds field - not supported

# ❌ Wrong: Invalid minute range
"crons": ["65 * * * *"]  # Minute must be 0-59

# ❌ Wrong: Invalid day of week
"crons": ["0 0 * * 7"]  # Day of week is 0-6 (use 0 for Sunday)

# ✅ Correct: 5 fields, valid ranges
"crons": ["0 0 * * 0"]  # Sunday at midnight UTC

Validation:

Use Crontab Guru to validate expressions
Check wrangler deploy output for errors
Test locally with --test-scheduled

Issue #5: Missing ES Modules Format

Error: Worker must use ES modules format

Source: Legacy Service Worker format

Why It Happens:

Scheduled handler requires ES modules format
Old Service Worker format not supported
Mixed format in codebase

Prevention:

// ❌ Wrong: Service Worker format
addEventListener('scheduled', (event) => {
  event.waitUntil(handleScheduled(event));
});

// ✅ Correct: ES modules format
export default {
  async scheduled(controller, env, ctx) {
    await handleScheduled(controller, env, ctx);
  },
};

Issue #6: CPU Time Limits Exceeded

Error: CPU time limit exceeded

Source: Long-running scheduled tasks

Why It Happens:

Default CPU limit: 30 seconds
Long-running tasks exceed limit
No automatic timeout extension

Prevention:

Option 1: Increase CPU limit in wrangler.jsonc

{
  "limits": {
    "cpu_ms": 300000  // 5 minutes (max for Standard plan)
  }
}

Option 2: Use Workflows for long-running tasks

// Instead of long task in cron:
export default {
  async scheduled(controller, env, ctx) {
    // Trigger Workflow that can run for hours
    await env.MY_WORKFLOW.create({
      params: { task: 'long-running-job' },
    });
  },
};

Option 3: Break into smaller chunks

export default {
  async scheduled(controller, env, ctx) {
    // Process in batches
    const batch = await getNextBatch(env.DB);

    for (const item of batch) {
      await processItem(item);
    }

    // If more work, send to Queue for next batch
    const hasMore = await hasMoreWork(env.DB);
    if (hasMore) {
      await env.MY_QUEUE.send({ type: 'continue-processing' });
    }
  },
};

Always Do ✅

Use exact handler name - Must be scheduled, not scheduledHandler or variants
Use ES modules format - Export in default object, not addEventListener
Convert to UTC - All cron times are UTC, convert from local timezone
Wait 15 minutes - Cron changes take up to 15 min to propagate
Test locally first - Use wrangler dev --test-scheduled
Validate cron syntax - Use Crontab Guru
Handle errors gracefully - Log, alert, and optionally re-throw
Use ctx.waitUntil() - For non-critical async operations
Consider Workflows - For tasks that need >30 seconds CPU time
Monitor executions - Check dashboard logs regularly

Never Do ❌

Never assume local timezone - All crons run on UTC
Never use 6-field cron expressions - Cloudflare uses 5-field format (no seconds)
Never rely on instant propagation - Changes take up to 15 minutes
Never use Service Worker format - Must use ES modules format
Never forget error handling - Uncaught errors fail silently
Never run CPU-intensive tasks without limit increase - Default 30s limit
Never use day-of-week 7 - Use 0 for Sunday (0-6 range only)
Never deploy without testing - Always test with --test-scheduled first
Never ignore execution logs - Dashboard shows past failures
Never hardcode schedules for testing - Use environment-specific configs

Common Use Cases

Load references/common-patterns.md for 10 real-world cron patterns including database cleanup, API data collection, daily reports generation, cache warming, monitoring & health checks, data synchronization, backup automation, sitemap generation, webhook processing, and scheduled notifications.

TypeScript Types

// Scheduled event controller
interface ScheduledController {
  readonly cron: string;
  readonly type: string;
  readonly scheduledTime: number;
}

// Execution context
interface ExecutionContext {
  waitUntil(promise: Promise<any>): void;
  passThroughOnException(): void;
}

// Scheduled handler
export default {
  async scheduled(
    controller: ScheduledController,
    env: Env,
    ctx: ExecutionContext
  ): Promise<void>;
}

Limits & Pricing

Limits

Feature	Free Plan	Paid Plan
Cron triggers per Worker	3	Higher (check docs)
CPU time per execution	10 ms (avg)	30 seconds (default), 5 min (max)
Wall clock time	30 seconds	15 minutes
Memory	128 MB	128 MB

Pricing

Cron triggers use Standard Workers pricing:

Workers Paid Plan: $5/month required
Requests: $0.30 per million requests (after 10M free)
CPU Time: $0.02 per million CPU-ms (after 30M free)

Cron execution = 1 request

Example:

Cron runs every hour (24 times/day)
30 days × 24 executions = 720 executions/month
Average 50ms CPU time per execution

Cost:

Requests: 720 (well under 10M free)
CPU time: 720 × 50ms = 36,000ms (under 30M free)
Total: $5/month (just subscription)

High frequency example:

Cron runs every minute (1440 times/day)
30 days × 1440 = 43,200 executions/month
Still under free tier limits
Total: $5/month

Troubleshooting

Issue: Cron not executing

Possible causes:

Changes not propagated yet (wait 15 minutes)
Invalid cron expression
Handler not exported correctly
Worker not deployed

Solution:

# Re-deploy
bunx wrangler deploy

# Wait 15 minutes

# Check dashboard
# Workers & Pages > [Worker] > Cron Triggers

# Check logs
# Workers & Pages > [Worker] > Logs > Real-time Logs

Issue: Handler executes but fails

Possible causes:

Uncaught error in handler
CPU time limit exceeded
Missing environment bindings
Network timeout

Solution:

export default {
  async scheduled(controller, env, ctx) {
    try {
      await yourTask(env);
    } catch (error) {
      // Log detailed error
      console.error('Handler failed:', {
        error: error.message,
        stack: error.stack,
        cron: controller.cron,
        time: new Date(controller.scheduledTime),
      });

      // Send alert
      ctx.waitUntil(sendAlert(error));

      // Re-throw to mark as failed
      throw error;
    }
  },
};

Check logs in dashboard for error details.

Issue: Wrong execution time

Cause: UTC vs. local timezone confusion

Solution:

Convert your desired local time to UTC:

// Want 9am PST (UTC-8)?
// 9am PST = 5pm UTC (17:00)

{
  "triggers": {
    "crons": ["0 17 * * *"]
  }
}

Tools:

World Clock Converter
Remember DST changes (PST vs PDT)

Issue: Local testing not working

Possible causes:

Missing --test-scheduled flag
Wrong endpoint (should be /__scheduled)
Python Worker (use /cdn-cgi/handler/scheduled)

Solution:

# Correct: Start with flag
bunx wrangler dev --test-scheduled

# In another terminal
curl "http://localhost:8787/__scheduled?cron=0+*+*+*+*"

Production Checklist

Before deploying cron triggers to production:

Unnamed Skill

$ Instalar

Cloudflare Cron Triggers

Quick Start (5 Minutes)

1. Add Scheduled Handler to Your Worker

2. Configure Cron Trigger in Wrangler

3. Test Locally

4. Deploy

When to Load References

Cron Expression Syntax

Five-Field Format

Special Characters

Common Patterns

ScheduledController Interface

Properties

controller.cron (string)

controller.type (string)

controller.scheduledTime (number)

Execution Context

ctx.waitUntil(promise: Promise<any>)

Integration Patterns

Wrangler Configuration

Testing & Development

Green Compute

Enable Green Compute

Known Issues Prevention

Issue #1: Cron Changes Not Propagating

Issue #2: Handler Does Not Export

Issue #3: UTC Timezone Confusion

Issue #4: Invalid Cron Expression

Issue #5: Missing ES Modules Format

Issue #6: CPU Time Limits Exceeded

Always Do ✅

Never Do ❌

Common Use Cases

TypeScript Types

Limits & Pricing

Limits

Pricing

Troubleshooting

Issue: Cron not executing

Issue: Handler executes but fails

Issue: Wrong execution time

Issue: Local testing not working

Production Checklist

Related Documentation

Repository

Actions

Related Skills

`controller.cron` (string)

`controller.type` (string)

`controller.scheduledTime` (number)

`ctx.waitUntil(promise: Promise<any>)`