Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert a Unix timestamp (epoch) to a date, or a date to a Unix timestamp. Live epoch counter, automatic seconds/milliseconds detection, and local time and UTC display, all in one place.
What Is a Unix Timestamp and How Do You Use It?
A Unix timestamp (epoch time) is a single, timezone-independent number representing the number of seconds that have passed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC. Servers, databases and APIs commonly store dates this way because a single number is far simpler to compare and store than a human-readable date string. Some systems use milliseconds instead of seconds (like JavaScript's Date.now()); this tool automatically detects which one you entered based on the number of digits and computes the correct date.
Example Timestamps
| Timestamp (s) | UTC Date |
|---|---|
| 0 | Jan 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC |
| 1700000000 | Nov 14, 2023 22:13:20 UTC |
| 2147483647 | Jan 19, 2038 03:14:07 UTC (32-bit limit, the "Year 2038 problem") |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds that have passed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix Epoch). Servers and databases often store dates as this single number.
What is the difference between a timestamp in seconds and in milliseconds?
A timestamp in seconds has 10 digits (e.g. 1700000000), while one in milliseconds has 13 digits (e.g. 1700000000000). This tool automatically detects which one you entered based on digit length.
How does timezone affect the displayed date?
A Unix timestamp itself carries no timezone; it is always relative to UTC. The same timestamp is shown as a different local time depending on your browser's timezone, which is why this tool shows both the local time and the UTC time.