$ Convert Unix timestamps
Switch between Unix time and readable date values for APIs, logs, and databases.
Conversion mode
Convert Unix timestamps to ISO dates, or dates back to Unix time.
Conversion output
Output appears here.
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Why this tool exists
Timestamp Converter helps you switch between Unix epoch values and human-readable date formats.
It is useful when inspecting logs, API payloads, database rows, and scheduled event times.
Date bugs are often not logic bugs at all. They are format bugs, unit bugs, or timezone misunderstandings that only become visible when one system stores epoch milliseconds, another expects seconds, and a human is reading local time in yet another offset.
A timestamp converter is valuable because it turns those abstract numbers back into dates you can reason about, then lets you move the other direction when you need to build payloads, test fixtures, or scheduling inputs.
Common use cases
Example input / output
Unix to ISO
Date to Unix
Spot seconds vs milliseconds confusion
Common errors
cause:Input includes non-numeric characters or impossible value.
fix:Use only numeric Unix timestamp values.
cause:Date string format cannot be parsed by browser Date parser.
fix:Use ISO format like 2026-05-04T20:00:00Z.
cause:The timestamp may be correct in UTC while the reader is expecting local time, or the source system may have mixed local and UTC assumptions.
fix:Check whether the source field is defined in UTC, local time, or with an explicit offset. Timestamp conversion answers the instant; interpretation still depends on timezone context.
cause:Seconds and milliseconds are being confused, which is one of the most common API and JavaScript date bugs.
fix:Count the digits and verify the expected unit before debugging anything else. A 10-digit value is usually seconds; a 13-digit value is usually milliseconds.
How developers use it in practice
A wildly wrong year is usually a seconds-vs-milliseconds problem. A shift of a few hours is usually a timezone or offset problem. That order saves time.
When humans need to read a date, ISO 8601 with an explicit Z or offset removes much of the ambiguity that raw timestamps create in tickets and reviews.
One system may store the right instant but display it in local time while another shows UTC. Converting both views makes it easier to see whether the bug is data storage or presentation.
When not to use this tool
Limits and implementation notes
The converter can tell you the exact moment a timestamp points to, but it cannot tell you whether that moment was supposed to mean midnight local time, billing cutoff, or a cron schedule boundary.
UTC conversion is objective, but product behavior may depend on user locale, tenant timezone, or server display rules that exist outside the timestamp itself.
ISO 8601 inputs are the safest. Looser date strings can be parsed inconsistently or unexpectedly across environments.
Related guides
Standards & references
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Does this support both seconds and milliseconds?
Yes. Unix input is auto-detected as seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits) based on magnitude.
Which date format is returned?
Unix-to-date conversion outputs ISO 8601 UTC timestamps (e.g. 2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z) for clarity and cross-system compatibility.
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds (or milliseconds) elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. It is the standard time representation for APIs, databases, and log files.
How do I convert a date string to a Unix timestamp?
Paste your date string in ISO 8601 format or a common locale format into the date field and the tool will output the corresponding Unix seconds and milliseconds.
What is the Unix timestamp for year 2038?
The year 2038 problem affects 32-bit systems where Unix timestamps overflow at 2147483647 (January 19, 2038). Modern 64-bit systems are not affected.