Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and dates
Timestamp → Date
Date → Timestamp
What a UNIX timestamp is
A UNIX timestamp expresses a moment as the number of seconds elapsed since 1 January 1970 00:00:00 UTC. Being a plain integer with no time zone or calendar formatting attached, it is the natural choice for log records, database columns and API responses. It is also unreadable to humans, which is why converting it back to a real date is such a routine task.
This tool converts in both directions. Give it a timestamp and you get local time, UTC and ISO 8601 side by side; give it a date and time and you get the timestamp. You can switch between seconds and milliseconds, so the 13-digit value returned by JavaScript's Date.now() works as-is. The current timestamp is always displayed, ready to copy when you need test data.
As a rule of thumb, a 10-digit value is in seconds and a 13-digit value is in milliseconds. If your log dates land somewhere in 1970, you are almost certainly reading a millisecond value as seconds — switch the unit and check. Everything is computed in your browser and no value is transmitted.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the UNIX epoch?
- 1 January 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. Timestamps count the seconds elapsed since that instant.
- What is the difference between 10 and 13 digits?
- Ten digits are seconds, thirteen are milliseconds. JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds, hence 13 digits.
- Does a timestamp carry a time zone?
- No. A timestamp is always seconds since the epoch in UTC. A time zone is applied only when it is rendered as local time.
- What is the year 2038 problem?
- Systems that store timestamps in a signed 32-bit integer overflow on 19 January 2038. Modern 64-bit implementations are unaffected.
