Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates

Quick Reference

Unix Epoch: January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC
Max 32-bit timestamp: 2,147,483,647 (Jan 19, 2038)
1 day = 86,400 seconds
1 hour = 3,600 seconds

How to Use This Tool

1

Choose Conversion Mode

Select 'Timestamp → Date' to convert Unix timestamps, 'Date → Timestamp' for the reverse, or 'Difference' to calculate time between timestamps.

2

Enter Your Input

For timestamps, enter the numeric value. For dates, use the date picker or type any standard format.

3

Select Time Unit

Choose between seconds (standard Unix), milliseconds (JavaScript), or microseconds for precision.

4

View Results

See conversions in multiple formats including local time, UTC, ISO 8601, and relative time.

5

Copy Values

Click copy buttons to quickly grab converted values in the format you need.

Pro Tips

  • •Unix timestamps represent seconds since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix Epoch)
  • •JavaScript uses milliseconds, so multiply Unix timestamps by 1000 for JavaScript Date objects
  • •The current time display updates every second automatically
  • •Use 'Quick Dates' for common selections like today, yesterday, or start of year
  • •Timezone selection affects how dates are interpreted when converting to timestamps
  • •The 32-bit timestamp limit (Year 2038 problem) occurs at 2,147,483,647 seconds

What is a Unix Timestamp Converter?

A Unix timestamp converter transforms Unix time (also known as POSIX time or Epoch time) into human-readable dates and vice versa. Unix timestamps represent the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC, known as the Unix Epoch. This standardized time representation is crucial for programming, databases, and system operations as it provides a timezone-independent way to store and manipulate dates. Our converter supports multiple time units (seconds, milliseconds, microseconds) and handles timezone conversions, making it essential for developers working with different programming languages and systems.

Key Features

Real-time Unix timestamp display with automatic updates every second

Convert timestamps to dates in multiple formats (Local, UTC, ISO 8601)

Convert dates to timestamps with timezone support

Support for seconds (Unix), milliseconds (JavaScript), and microseconds

Calculate differences between two timestamps in various units

Quick date selections (Today, Yesterday, Start of Year, etc.)

Relative time display (e.g., '2 hours ago', 'in 3 days')

Copy converted values with one click

Common timezone selections for accurate conversions

32-bit timestamp limit (Year 2038 problem) awareness

Common Use Cases

API Development: Convert timestamps from API responses to readable dates for debugging, or generate timestamps for API requests that require time-based parameters.

Database Operations: Work with timestamp fields in databases, convert between different timestamp formats when migrating data, or debug time-related queries.

Log Analysis: Convert Unix timestamps in log files to human-readable dates for easier analysis, troubleshooting, and correlation of events across systems.

JavaScript Development: Convert between Unix seconds and JavaScript milliseconds when working with Date objects, setTimeout, or timestamp-based calculations.

Event Scheduling: Calculate future timestamps for scheduled tasks, cron jobs, or event triggers by converting specific dates and times to Unix format.

Cross-Platform Development: Handle timestamp conversions between different systems and programming languages that use different time units or epoch references.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Unix Epoch and why January 1, 1970?

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The Unix Epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC) was chosen as the reference point for Unix time when the system was being developed in the late 1960s. It provided a convenient, round date that was recent enough to be practical but far enough in the past to handle historical dates. This became the standard across most computing systems, making it a universal reference point for time calculations.

What's the difference between seconds, milliseconds, and microseconds?

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Unix timestamps traditionally use seconds since the epoch. JavaScript and many modern systems use milliseconds (1000x more precise) for finer granularity. Microseconds (1,000,000x more precise) are used in high-precision applications like performance monitoring. To convert: multiply seconds by 1000 for milliseconds, or by 1,000,000 for microseconds.

What is the Year 2038 problem?

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The Year 2038 problem occurs because many systems store Unix timestamps as signed 32-bit integers, which can only represent dates up to January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC (timestamp 2,147,483,647). After this, the value overflows and wraps around to negative numbers, potentially causing system failures. Modern 64-bit systems don't have this limitation.

How do timezones affect timestamp conversions?

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Unix timestamps are always in UTC and timezone-independent. When converting a date to a timestamp, the timezone determines how the date is interpreted. For example, '2024-01-01 12:00' will produce different timestamps when interpreted as New York time versus Tokyo time. When converting timestamps to dates, the timezone affects the displayed local time.

Why do some timestamps have 10 digits and others have 13?

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10-digit timestamps represent Unix time in seconds (standard format), while 13-digit timestamps represent milliseconds (JavaScript/Java format). 16-digit timestamps represent microseconds. Always check which unit your system uses - using the wrong unit will give dates thousands of years in the future or past.

How accurate are relative time displays?

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Relative time displays ('2 hours ago', 'in 3 days') are approximations designed for human readability. They round to the nearest sensible unit - seconds for very recent times, then minutes, hours, days, months, and years. For precise calculations, always use the exact timestamp values rather than relative displays.

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