Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and back. See local and UTC time. Live current epoch counter.
How to use this tool
- Open this page — it runs instantly in your browser, no signup or install.
- Allow any permission prompt if asked; everything stays on your device.
- Use the on-screen controls — results update live.
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and back. See local and UTC time. Live current epoch counter.
How it works
A Unix timestamp (also called an epoch timestamp) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970. This format is used widely in programming, databases, log files, and APIs because it is timezone-independent and trivial to compare or sort.
This tool converts in both directions. Paste a numeric Unix timestamp and it instantly shows you the equivalent date and time in both UTC and your local timezone. You can also pick a calendar date and time to generate the corresponding epoch number. A live counter shows the current Unix time ticking up every second.
Use it when debugging API responses, reading log files, working with database timestamps, or any time you need to translate between the machine-friendly number and a human-readable date. Millisecond timestamps (13 digits) are also supported; the tool auto-detects whether the input is in seconds or milliseconds.
Keep in mind that Unix timestamps are always in UTC. The local time shown is derived from your browser's timezone setting, so the same timestamp will display a different local time on a machine in a different region.
Worked examples
Decode a timestamp from an API response
- Copy the numeric timestamp from the API response, e.g. 1719360000.
- Paste it into the Unix Timestamp input field.
- The tool immediately shows: UTC — Mon, 25 Jun 2024 16:00:00 UTC.
- The local time panel shows the equivalent in your system timezone.
You can see at a glance that the event was recorded at 16:00 UTC on 25 June 2024.
Get the epoch number for a specific date
- Switch to the Date to Timestamp tab.
- Set the date to 2025-01-01 and the time to 00:00:00.
- Select UTC as the reference timezone.
- Read the resulting Unix timestamp: 1735689600.
Use 1735689600 in your code or database query to represent the start of 2025 in UTC.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a millisecond timestamp (13 digits) as seconds, which gives a date in the year 50000+.
- Forgetting that Unix timestamps are always UTC — converting without adjusting for your local offset.
- Assuming a negative timestamp is invalid; it simply represents a date before 1 January 1970.
Key terms
- Unix Epoch
- The reference point for Unix time: midnight UTC on 1 January 1970. All Unix timestamps count seconds (or milliseconds) from this moment.
- UTC
- Coordinated Universal Time — the global time standard from which all other timezones are offset. Unix timestamps are defined in UTC.
- Millisecond timestamp
- A variant of Unix time that counts milliseconds instead of seconds, giving a 13-digit number. Used in JavaScript Date.now() and many modern APIs.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Unix timestamp?
- A Unix timestamp (epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC. It is widely used in programming and databases.
- How do I convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date?
- Paste the timestamp in the top field and the converter shows you UTC and local date/time instantly.