Unix Timestamp Converter

How to use the unix timestamp converter

1. Paste a timestamp to see the date, or pick a date to get the timestamp.
2. Check the local and UTC lines — they differ by your offset.
3. Copy the ISO 8601 string if you need a portable format.

About this tool

A Unix timestamp counts the seconds since 1 January 1970 UTC. Because it is a single number with no timezone attached, it is unambiguous — which is exactly why databases, logs and APIs store time that way and leave the formatting to the display layer.

The common trap is units. JavaScript works in milliseconds while most backends use seconds, so a timestamp interpreted with the wrong scale lands in 1970 or in the year 55000. This converter detects the likely unit from the digit count and shows both readings when it is ambiguous.

Common uses

• Reading the exp claim from a token or a log line.
• Working out what time an event actually happened in your timezone.
• Generating a timestamp for a test fixture.

Frequently asked questions

Seconds or milliseconds?

Ten digits is seconds; thirteen is milliseconds. This page detects which you pasted and tells you what it assumed.

Does a Unix timestamp have a timezone?

No. It is always an instant in UTC. The timezone only appears when it is formatted for display.

What is the 2038 problem?

Systems storing the timestamp as a signed 32-bit integer overflow in January 2038. Modern systems use 64-bit values and are unaffected.