Unix Time Converter

Convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date, or a date back into a Unix timestamp.

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Direction

Unix timestamp (seconds)

Date

Time (UTC)

Result

Enter values to calculate.

Summary

Waiting for input

Detail

Waiting for input

Convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date, or a date back into a Unix timestamp.

How It Works

How Unix Time Converter Works

Unix time counts the number of seconds that have elapsed since midnight UTC on January 1, 1970 (the "Unix epoch") — converting to a date means adding that many seconds to the epoch, and converting from a date means measuring the gap back to it.

Real-World Use Cases

Who Uses Unix Time Converter and Why

Converting a Unix timestamp found in a log file, database record, or API response into a readable date and time.
Getting the Unix timestamp for a specific date and time to use in code, a database query, or an API parameter.
Debugging a system issue by translating a raw timestamp value into a human-readable moment.
Checking what real-world date a piece of software's timestamp output actually corresponds to.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming the entered date and time is treated as your local time zone — Unix time is always based on UTC, so converting to a timestamp treats your input as UTC regardless of where you are.
Forgetting to set the time field (not just the date) when converting a date to a timestamp — a missing or default time can shift the resulting timestamp by hours from what you intended.
Not adjusting for your local offset when comparing a converted date against your own local clock.

Pro Tips

Tips for Best Results

When converting a timestamp to a date, remember the result is in UTC — convert it to your local time zone separately if needed.
Double check both the date and time fields are set correctly before converting to a timestamp, since Unix time is precise to the second.

Troubleshooting

Fixing Common Problems

The converted date is several hours off from what I expected. — Unix time is always UTC-based — if you were expecting your local time zone, apply your local offset to the result manually.

Glossary

Terms Explained

Unix epoch: The reference starting point for Unix time: midnight UTC on January 1, 1970, from which all Unix timestamps are counted in seconds.

Unix timestamp: A single number representing the number of seconds elapsed since the Unix epoch, used widely in computing to store and compare moments in time.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does computing use this odd starting point?

It was chosen somewhat arbitrarily by early Unix developers, but it stuck because representing time as a single incrementing number is simple for computers to store, compare, and do arithmetic on, compared to parsing calendar dates.

Does the timestamp account for my local time zone?

No — Unix time is always based on UTC; converting to a timestamp always treats the entered date and time as UTC, so adjust for your local offset if needed.