Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix epoch time and human-readable dates

Current Unix Timestamp:

Seconds since Jan 1, 1970 UTC — updates every second

Timestamp → Date


Date → Timestamp

How to use the Unix Timestamp Converter

To convert a Unix timestamp, paste the epoch number into the converter and read the human-readable date in your local time and UTC. To go the other way, pick a date and time and the tool shows its Unix timestamp in seconds and milliseconds. Everything runs in your browser with no signup.

  1. Paste a timestamp or pick a date Enter a Unix/epoch timestamp to decode it, or choose a date and time to encode it.
  2. Choose seconds or milliseconds Tell the converter whether your timestamp is in seconds or milliseconds so it reads the value correctly.
  3. Read the result See the date in local time, UTC, and ISO 8601, or the matching Unix timestamp.
  4. Copy what you need Click copy to grab the timestamp or date for your code or spreadsheet.

About Unix Timestamps

A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970, not counting leap seconds. It's a compact, timezone-independent way to represent a moment in time that computers can easily compare and store.

Because a raw timestamp is just a number, developers constantly need to convert it into a readable date — or turn a calendar date back into a timestamp. This tool does both directions instantly in your browser, showing the result in your local timezone, in UTC, and in the standard ISO 8601 format.

Timestamps commonly appear in seconds (10 digits for current dates) or milliseconds (13 digits), which is what JavaScript's Date.now() returns. Use the unit selector above to match your source data.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds elapsed since midnight UTC on January 1, 1970 (the "Unix epoch"). It's a simple integer that represents a precise point in time independent of any timezone, making it ideal for storing and comparing dates in software.

Unix timestamps are usually stored in seconds, which for current dates is a 10-digit number. Many programming languages — notably JavaScript — work in milliseconds (a 13-digit number). If your date converts to something in the far future or distant past, you probably have the wrong unit selected.

A timestamp represents the same instant everywhere, but that instant is displayed differently depending on your timezone. Local time uses your computer's timezone and daylight saving settings, while UTC is the global reference time with no offset. This tool shows both so you can pick whichever you need.

ISO 8601 is an international standard for representing dates and times, such as 2023-11-14T22:13:20.000Z. The trailing "Z" means the time is in UTC. It sorts correctly as text and is the preferred format for APIs, logs, and data interchange.

Systems that store Unix timestamps in a signed 32-bit integer will overflow on January 19, 2038, wrapping around to a negative number. Modern systems avoid this by using 64-bit integers, which can represent dates billions of years into the future.

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