Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and convert dates back to timestamps. Supports seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds, and 60+ IANA timezones.
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The Timestamp Converter is a free, browser-based tool for converting Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice versa. It handles seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds, supports any IANA timezone, and shows a live ticker of the current Unix time. All conversions run entirely in your browser.
Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timestamp to date | Convert any Unix timestamp to UTC, ISO 8601, local, and human-readable formats |
| Date to timestamp | Convert any date and time in any timezone back to a Unix timestamp |
| Auto-detect unit | Automatically detects whether the input is seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, or nanoseconds |
| Multiple units | Explicitly select seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, or nanoseconds |
| Timezone support | Over 60 IANA timezone zones with local timezone pre-selected |
| Relative time | Shows how long ago or in the future a timestamp is |
| Live ticker | Continuously updated display of the current Unix time in seconds, milliseconds, UTC, and local time |
| Per-row copy | Copy any individual output value with one click |
| Now button | Fills the current timestamp or current date with a single click |
How to Use
Converting a Timestamp to a Date
- Select the Timestamp to Date tab.
- Enter a Unix timestamp in the input field. Decimals and negative values (dates before 1970) are accepted.
- Select the unit — use Auto-detect if unsure.
- Click Convert. The tool outputs the timestamp in multiple formats.
- Click Now to automatically fill and convert the current time.
Converting a Date to a Timestamp
- Select the Date to Timestamp tab.
- Enter the date and time in the date picker, or type directly in the field.
- Select the timezone the date and time are expressed in.
- Click Convert to see the resulting Unix timestamp in seconds and milliseconds, along with UTC and ISO representations.
- Click Now to fill in the current local date and time.
What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also called Unix time, POSIX time, or epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970, excluding leap seconds. It is the most widely used representation of time in computing.
- It is timezone-independent — the same number represents the same instant everywhere
- Negative values represent dates before the Unix epoch (1970-01-01)
- It is monotonically increasing, making it suitable for sorting and comparison
Units and Scale
| Unit | Example value (approx. 2024-03-15) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Seconds | 1710461234 |
Unix standard, most APIs, databases |
| Milliseconds | 1710461234000 |
JavaScript Date.now(), Java System.currentTimeMillis() |
| Microseconds | 1710461234000000 |
Python time.time_ns() / 1000, high-resolution timers |
| Nanoseconds | 1710461234000000000 |
Go time.Now().UnixNano(), systems programming |
When Auto-detect is selected, the tool uses the number of digits to infer the unit: values below 10 digits are treated as seconds, 10–12 as milliseconds, 13–15 as microseconds, and 16+ as nanoseconds.
Output Formats
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Unix (seconds) | 1710461234 |
| Unix (milliseconds) | 1710461234000 |
| ISO 8601 (UTC) | 2024-03-15T00:00:00.000Z |
| UTC | Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT |
| Local | 2024-03-15T02:00:00 (Europe/Istanbul) |
| Human readable | Friday, March 15, 2024 at 12:00:00 AM GMT+00:00 |
| Relative | 3 weeks ago |
Frequently Asked Questions
What timezone is a Unix timestamp in?
Unix timestamps have no timezone — they always represent seconds since the UTC epoch. Timezone only matters when formatting a timestamp as a human-readable date.
Why do JavaScript and PHP use different default precisions?
JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds, while PHP's time() and most Unix tools return seconds. This is a historical quirk. When in doubt, divide by 1000 or use the auto-detect option.
What happens with timestamps before 1970?
Negative Unix timestamps represent dates before January 1, 1970. This tool supports them — enter a negative number for a timestamp earlier than the epoch.
What is the maximum date a 32-bit Unix timestamp can represent?
A signed 32-bit integer can hold Unix timestamps up to 2147483647, which corresponds to 2038-01-19 03:14:07 UTC. This is the Year 2038 problem. Most modern systems use 64-bit integers, which extend the range to hundreds of billions of years.
What is the difference between UTC and GMT?
For practical purposes, UTC and GMT refer to the same timezone offset (+0). UTC is the modern standard maintained by atomic clocks, while GMT is its predecessor based on astronomical observation. They differ by at most a fraction of a second due to leap seconds.
Why does my converted date differ from what I expected?
The most common cause is a timezone mismatch. Unix timestamps always represent a single UTC moment — the same number displays as different local times depending on the viewer's timezone. Make sure you select the correct timezone in the Date to Timestamp panel.
How is the relative time calculated?
Relative time is computed by subtracting the timestamp from Date.now() in the browser. It refreshes each time you perform a conversion but is not a live counter.