Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert units with the Unix Timestamp Converter — enter a value and get accurate converted results instantly using verified formulas.
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy
Unix Timestamp Converter Formula
Unix Timestamp = (Date - January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC) in seconds
A Unix timestamp is the total number of seconds elapsed since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC). To convert a timestamp to a date, add that many seconds to the epoch. To convert a date to a timestamp, calculate the difference in seconds between the date and the epoch. Millisecond timestamps multiply the seconds value by 1000 for sub-second precision.
Unix Timestamp Converter — Worked Examples
Example 1: Convert Timestamp to Date
Problem:Convert Unix timestamp 1735689600 to a human-readable date.
Solution:1735689600 seconds since Jan 1, 1970 UTC\n= 1,735,689,600 ÷ 86,400 = 20,088.5 days\n= 55 years + days\nResult: January 1, 2025 00:00:00 UTC
Result:January 1, 2025 00:00:00 UTC (Wednesday)
Example 2: Convert Date to Timestamp
Problem:What is the Unix timestamp for July 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC?
Solution:From Jan 1, 1970 to July 4, 2026 = 20,638 days\n20,638 × 86,400 = 1,783,123,200 seconds\nPlus 12 hours = 43,200 seconds\nTotal: 1,783,166,400
Result:1783166400 (seconds) | 1783166400000 (milliseconds)
Unix Timestamp Converter — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also called Unix epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC — known as the Unix epoch. It's a simple way to represent a point in time as a single number, making it easy to store, compare, and calculate time differences. For example, timestamp 1000000000 represents September 9, 2001 at 01:46:40 UTC. Unix timestamps are widely used in programming, databases, APIs, log files, and web development.
How do timezones affect Unix timestamps?
Unix timestamps are timezone-independent — they always represent a specific moment in UTC. The same timestamp displays as different local times depending on the timezone. For example, timestamp 1711036800 is March 22, 2024 00:00:00 UTC, but March 21, 2024 20:00:00 in New York (EDT, UTC-4). When converting a local date/time to a timestamp, the timezone must be considered. This converter shows the same timestamp in multiple timezones for easy comparison.
Can Unix timestamps represent dates before 1970?
Yes, dates before January 1, 1970 are represented by negative Unix timestamps. For example, December 31, 1969 23:59:59 UTC is timestamp -1, and January 1, 1900 00:00:00 UTC is approximately -2,208,988,800. JavaScript's Date object supports dates from April 20, 271821 BC to September 13, 275760 AD, well beyond what 32-bit systems allow. Negative timestamps are commonly used to represent historical dates in databases and scientific applications.