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Guide
About the Unix Timestamp Converter
A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970, not counting leap seconds. It's the way most programming languages, databases, APIs, and log files store points in time, because a single integer is compact, timezone-independent, and easy to compare and sort.
This converter translates a timestamp into a readable date — in UTC, ISO 8601, and your local time — and converts a date back into an epoch value. It automatically detects whether your input is in seconds or milliseconds, and shows a live clock so you can grab the current timestamp instantly.
Seconds vs. milliseconds
Unix time is classically measured in seconds (a 10-digit number today). But JavaScript, Java, and many APIs use milliseconds(13 digits). Mixing them up is a classic bug — a millisecond value read as seconds lands roughly 50,000 years in the future. This tool auto-detects the magnitude, but it's worth knowing which your system expects.
Why UTC matters
A timestamp itself has no timezone — it's an absolute instant. The timezone only comes in when you displayit. That's why this tool shows both UTC (the unambiguous reference) and your local time. Storing and transmitting times as UTC epochs, and converting to local time only for display, avoids a whole category of daylight-saving and timezone bugs.
How to use it
- 1Paste a Unix timestamp to see it as UTC, ISO 8601, and local time.
- 2Or enter a date to get the corresponding epoch value.
- 3Watch the live clock for the current timestamp, and copy it in one click.
- 4Switch between seconds and milliseconds as your system requires.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Unix epoch?
It is the reference point for Unix time: midnight UTC on 1 January 1970. A Unix timestamp counts the seconds elapsed since that moment.
Why does my 13-digit number convert differently from a 10-digit one?
A 10-digit value is seconds; a 13-digit value is milliseconds. This tool detects the difference automatically, but your code must use whichever unit its platform expects.
What is the year 2038 problem?
Systems that store Unix time in a signed 32-bit integer overflow on 19 January 2038. Modern systems use 64-bit integers, which push the limit hundreds of billions of years out.
Does a Unix timestamp include a timezone?
No. It is an absolute instant in UTC. Timezones only apply when you format the timestamp for display, which is why we show both UTC and your local time.
Is ISO 8601 the same as a Unix timestamp?
No. ISO 8601 is a human-readable text format like 2026-07-07T12:00:00Z, while a Unix timestamp is a single number. This tool shows both so you can copy whichever you need.