Free Unix Timestamp Generator
Pick a date and time to generate a Unix timestamp, millisecond timestamp and ISO 8601 string.
How It Works
- Convert a date to timestamp: Enter any date and time using the date picker, then click Convert to get the Unix timestamp in seconds and milliseconds.
- Convert a timestamp to date: Paste a Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds) to convert it back to a human-readable date and time.
- Get the current timestamp: Click "Now" to instantly get the current Unix timestamp for the present moment.
Why Use Unix Timestamp Generator?
Unix timestamps are the universal language of time in computing — a single integer representing seconds since January 1, 1970 (UTC). They power databases, APIs, log files, authentication tokens, and event scheduling. Converting between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates manually involves complex timezone arithmetic that is easy to get wrong. This tool handles the conversion correctly in both directions, saving time and preventing timezone bugs.
Features
- Bidirectional conversion: Date/time → Unix timestamp and Unix timestamp → date/time.
- Seconds and milliseconds: Supports both Unix time in seconds (10 digits) and milliseconds (13 digits).
- Timezone awareness: Displays the time in your local timezone and in UTC for unambiguous comparison.
- Current time button: Instantly grab the timestamp for right now.
- Relative time display: Shows how long ago or how far in the future a timestamp is (e.g., "3 days ago").
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds elapsed since the Unix epoch — midnight UTC on January 1, 1970. It is a timezone-independent representation of a point in time, making it the preferred format for storing and comparing times in databases and APIs.
Why does JavaScript use milliseconds?
JavaScript's Date.now() and new Date().getTime() return milliseconds since the epoch (a 13-digit number), while Unix tools and most databases use seconds (a 10-digit number). Check whether your timestamp has 10 or 13 digits to determine which format you have.
How do I convert a timestamp to my local time?
Paste the timestamp and the tool automatically converts it to your browser's local timezone. The display shows both local time and UTC so you can work across timezones confidently.