Why Use This Tool
Unix timestamps are the standard for storing dates in databases, APIs, and JWTs because they're timezone-independent, sortable, and compact. But humans can't read 1718380800 — you need a converter.
Unix Timestamp Converter
Free online Unix timestamp converter. Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice versa. Supports UTC and local time zones. — runs 100% in your browser, client-side only. No data is sent to any server. Free to use, no account required.
Free
Client-Side
No Login
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How to Use the Unix Timestamp Converter
- Enter a Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds) and convert to a readable date.
- Or pick a date/time and convert to a Unix timestamp.
Auto-detects seconds vs milliseconds. Shows UTC, ISO 8601, and local time.
What is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also called POSIX time or Epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix Epoch). It is the standard way to represent points in time in programming because it is timezone-independent, a single integer, and trivially comparable and sortable.
When to Use It
Use epoch conversion when debugging API timestamps, setting JWT expiry times, calculating time differences, converting database timestamp columns, or working with logs that use Unix time.
Common Uses
- Converting API response timestamps to readable dates for debugging
- Calculating time differences between two events
- Setting token expiry times (JWT exp claim is a Unix timestamp)
- Working with database timestamp columns in different timezones
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Unix timestamp in seconds vs milliseconds?
Unix timestamps are traditionally in seconds. JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds. A 10-digit number is seconds, a 13-digit number is milliseconds. Divide by 1000 to convert milliseconds to seconds.
What happens in 2038?
The "Year 2038 problem" affects 32-bit systems where Unix timestamps are stored as signed 32-bit integers. On January 19, 2038, the value overflows. Modern 64-bit systems are not affected.
What timezone does a Unix timestamp use?
Unix timestamps are always in UTC. They represent an absolute moment in time regardless of timezone. When displaying a timestamp to a user, convert it to their local timezone.