How to use the unix timestamp converter
- 1See the current Unix timestamp at the top, updating every second.
- 2Paste a timestamp in seconds or milliseconds to see the date in your time zone, UTC and ISO format.
- 3Or pick a date and time to get its timestamp.
- 4Copy any value with one click.
What Unix time is
A Unix timestamp counts the seconds since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970, known as the Unix epoch. Because it is a single number with no time zone, it is the standard way to store and compare times in software.
Seconds or milliseconds?
Most systems use seconds, giving a 10-digit number today. JavaScript, Java and many APIs use milliseconds, giving 13 digits. The converter treats anything with more than 11 digits as milliseconds and tells you which it used.
Time zones
A timestamp is the same everywhere in the world. Only its display changes. The converter shows the date in your own time zone, in UTC, and in ISO 8601 format, which includes the zone offset and is the safest format to exchange between systems.
When converting a date to a timestamp, the date you pick is read in your local time zone, shown under the field.
The year 2038
Older systems store Unix time as a signed 32-bit number, which runs out on 19 January 2038. Modern systems use 64-bit values that last far beyond that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current Unix timestamp?
It is shown live at the top of this page, in both seconds and milliseconds.
Are Unix timestamps in UTC?
Yes. A timestamp always counts from the epoch in UTC. Converting it to local time only changes how it is displayed.
Why is my timestamp showing a date in 1970?
You may have entered milliseconds as seconds or the other way round, or a very small number. Check the number of digits.
Do negative timestamps work?
Yes. Negative values are dates before 1 January 1970.
Last updated