Abstract This study quantifies the mixing that results from a pulsed jet in cross-flow in the near jet region. By large eddy simulation computations, it also helps to understand the physical phenomena involved in the formation of the pulsed jet in cross-flow. The boundary conditions of the jet inlet are implemented via a Navier–Stokes characteristic boundary condition coupled with a Fourier series development. The signals used to pulse the jet inlet are a square or a sine wave. A new way of characterizing the mixing is introduced with the goal of easily interpreting and quantifying the complicated mixing process involved in a pulsed jet in cross-flow flow fields. Different flow configurations, pulsed and non-pulsed, are computed and compared, keeping the root mean square value of the signal constant. This comparison not only allows the characterization of the mixing but also illustrates some of the properties of the mixing characterization.