Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates. View the current epoch time and explore common timestamps.
Current Unix Timestamp
Updates every second
Timestamp to Date
Date to Timestamp
What is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also known as epoch time, POSIX time, or Unix epoch) is a way of representing a point in time as a single number. It counts the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC — a moment known as the Unix epoch.
This system was chosen for the original Unix operating system and has since become the standard time representation in most programming languages, databases, and APIs. Because it is a simple integer, it is easy to store, compare, and transmit.
Unix timestamps are timezone-independent. The same timestamp represents the same instant everywhere in the world. When you convert a timestamp to a local date, the timezone offset is applied during conversion.
Where Unix Timestamps Are Used
API payloads and databases
timestamps travel well because they are single integers and avoid locale-specific date formats
Server logs and analytics
systems often store one UTC-based timestamp and convert it for human viewing later
Cross-time-zone comparisons
timestamps let you compare instants without worrying about DST or local clock names
Programming and automation
scheduling, expiry checks, token lifetimes, and rate limits often rely on epoch math
Why Developers Prefer Epoch Time
A Unix timestamp is easier for software to compare than a formatted date string. Two timestamps can be ordered numerically without caring whether the original human date was written as MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, or something else entirely.
It also reduces time-zone ambiguity. The timestamp itself is just one instant measured from the Unix epoch in UTC. Human-friendly local dates are produced afterward, which is why one timestamp can display as different clock times in New York, London, or Tokyo while still referring to the same real moment.
Common Timestamps
| Event | Timestamp | Date (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Unix Epoch | 0 | January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2000 | 946,684,800 | January 1, 2000 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2010 | 1,262,304,000 | January 1, 2010 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2020 | 1,577,836,800 | January 1, 2020 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2025 | 1,735,689,600 | January 1, 2025 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2026 | 1,767,225,600 | January 1, 2026 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2027 | 1,798,761,600 | January 1, 2027 00:00:00 UTC |
| Year 2028 | 1,830,297,600 | January 1, 2028 00:00:00 UTC |
| Y2K38 Problem | 2,147,483,647 | January 19, 2038 03:14:07 UTC |
Common Mistakes When Converting Timestamps
The most common mistake is mixing up seconds and milliseconds. Many browser APIs use milliseconds since 1970, while Unix timestamps are usually stored in seconds. A value with 13 digits is often milliseconds; a value with 10 digits is often seconds.
Another common mistake is forgetting whether the displayed output is local time or UTC. The timestamp itself is neutral, but the human-readable version depends on which zone you render it in. That is why this page shows both local and UTC outputs side by side.
Get Unix Timestamp in Code
JavaScript
Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)Python
import time
int(time.time())PHP
time()Frequently Asked Questions
A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix epoch). It is a widely used format for tracking time in computing because it is timezone-independent and easy to compare.
The Year 2038 problem (Y2K38) occurs because many systems store Unix timestamps as 32-bit signed integers, which can only represent values up to 2,147,483,647 — corresponding to January 19, 2038 03:14:07 UTC. After this moment, the value would overflow and wrap to a negative number. Modern 64-bit systems are not affected.
No. Unix timestamps always represent seconds since the epoch in UTC. When you convert a timestamp to a local date, the timezone offset is applied during the conversion, but the timestamp itself is timezone-neutral.