What is the Unix Timestamp Converter?
A Unix timestamp — the number of seconds since 1 January 1970, UTC — is how computers, APIs, and databases store time behind the scenes. You'll meet these numbers in server logs, JWT tokens, database fields, and API responses. Reading 1760257615 as '9 October 2026' isn't something a human brain does on sight, which is where a converter becomes indispensable for debugging and data work.
This tool converts both ways: paste a timestamp to see the human-readable date, or pick a date and time to get its timestamp. It detects seconds versus milliseconds automatically, shows UTC and your local time side by side, and displays the current timestamp live. As with all BConvert tools, conversion happens entirely in your browser — your timestamps never leave your device.
How to use it
- Paste a timestamp — Enter the numeric timestamp into the input — the tool detects 10-digit seconds and 13-digit milliseconds automatically.
- Read the date result — See the timestamp rendered as a full date and time, shown in both UTC and your local timezone.
- Convert a date to a timestamp — Switch direction, pick a date and time from the picker, and get the exact Unix timestamp back.
- Copy the result — Use the copy button to grab either the formatted date or the numeric timestamp for your code or logs.
- Check the current time — A live readout shows the present timestamp updating every second — handy for generating fresh values.
Common use cases
- Decode the exp claim inside a JWT token to check when a session or API key actually expires.
- Translate server log timestamps into readable dates while debugging an incident timeline.
- Convert a future date into epoch seconds for a cron schedule, cache TTL, or scheduled database query.
- Verify that two systems agree on time by comparing their millisecond timestamps against the live current value.
Tips
- Count the digits: 10 means seconds, 13 means milliseconds — dividing milliseconds by 1000 gives the seconds value.
- Always confirm which timezone a timestamp is being interpreted in; UTC is the standard for APIs and databases.
- Timestamps past 2147483647 require 64-bit handling — the 2038 problem still breaks old 32-bit systems.
- Negative timestamps represent dates before 1970 and are valid in most modern conversion tools and libraries.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
It is the number of seconds that have passed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970, the Unix epoch. Computers use it to store time compactly.
Why is my timestamp 13 digits long?
Thirteen digits means milliseconds, which JavaScript's Date.now() produces. Divide by 1000 to get standard seconds.
Does this converter use my timezone?
Yes — results show both UTC and your browser's local time so you can compare the standard value with what you would see locally.
Can I convert a future date into a timestamp?
Yes. Enter any date and time and the tool returns the corresponding epoch timestamp, including millisecond precision if needed.