Live Timestamp
Get the current Unix timestamp, updating every second, in both seconds and milliseconds. Perfect for quick reference.
Timestamp Converter
Easily convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates (and back). Get the current timestamp in seconds and milliseconds. Free, private, and works in your browser.
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Convert timestamps without uploading your data
Two-way Unix timestamp conversion with timezone awareness and live updates — right in your browser. No uploads, no sign-up, no limits.
100% private
Instant conversion
Free forever
How to use
- 1
Enter Timestamp
Paste your Unix timestamp (seconds or ms) into the input field. The tool auto-detects whether it's in seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits).
- 2
View Result
The tool instantly shows the date in your local timezone, UTC, and ISO 8601 format. The live timestamp at the top updates every second.
- 3
Convert Date to Timestamp
Use the 'Date to Timestamp' section to pick a date/time and get the numeric Unix timestamp in both seconds and milliseconds.
Your Go-To Tool for Time Conversion
Two-way conversion, live timestamp, and timezone-aware results.
Two-Way Conversion
Seamlessly convert from a numeric timestamp to a date, or from a specific date back to a timestamp.
Timezone Aware
Results are shown in both your local timezone and UTC, so you always know the exact moment regardless of where you are.
ISO 8601 Output
The converted date is displayed in ISO 8601 format, the standard used by JSON APIs and modern databases.
Auto-Detect Format
Automatically detects whether your timestamp is in seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits). No manual switching needed.
100% Private
All conversion happens locally in your browser. Your timestamps are never uploaded, stored, or logged.
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Understanding Unix Timestamps
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also called Unix time, POSIX time, or epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix epoch). This single, timezone-agnostic number is used by operating systems, databases, and programming languages to represent points in time. For example, the timestamp 1735689600 represents January 1, 2025, 00:00:00 UTC.
Unix timestamps are widely used because they are simple to store, compare, and compute with. Unlike human-readable dates, timestamps don't require parsing, don't have timezone ambiguity, and can be sorted numerically. However, they are not human-readable, which is why a timestamp converter is essential for debugging and log analysis.
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Seconds vs. milliseconds
The original Unix timestamp counts seconds since the epoch, which produces 10-digit numbers for dates between 2001 and 2286. JavaScript's Date object, however, uses milliseconds since the epoch, producing 13-digit numbers. This inconsistency is a common source of bugs: if you pass a 10-digit (seconds) timestamp to JavaScript's `new Date()` without multiplying by 1000, you'll get a date in January 1970.
Other languages and systems use different units: Java uses milliseconds (like JavaScript), Python uses seconds (as a float, so fractional seconds are possible), and MongoDB uses milliseconds. Our tool auto-detects the unit based on the number of digits: 10 digits = seconds, 13 digits = milliseconds. Always check your system's documentation to confirm which unit it uses.
The Year 2038 problem
Systems that store Unix time as a signed 32-bit integer will overflow on January 19, 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC. This is because a 32-bit signed integer can only represent values up to 2,147,483,647. After this moment, the value will roll over to -2,147,483,648, which represents December 13, 1901. Most modern systems use 64-bit integers for time and are unaffected, but some embedded systems and legacy software may need updates.
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Common Use Cases
Real-world scenarios where a timestamp converter is essential.
JWT Token Debugging
Convert the `exp`, `iat`, and `nbf` claims in a JWT to human-readable dates to check token validity.
Database Queries
Convert human-readable dates to Unix timestamps for database queries that filter by time range.
API Development
Quickly convert between timestamp formats when building or debugging API endpoints that use Unix time.
Log Analysis
Convert timestamps in server logs to local time for easier debugging and correlation with user reports.
How does this compare to other timestamp converters?
A side-by-side comparison of popular timestamp conversion tools.
| Feature | NovaTools | EpochConverter.com | UnixTimestamp.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy (no upload) | 100% local | Uploads to server | Uploads to server |
| Two-way conversion | |||
| Live timestamp | Updates every second | ||
| Auto-detect seconds/ms | Manual | Manual | |
| ISO 8601 output | |||
| Timezone display | Local + UTC | Limited | |
| Works offline | After page load |
EpochConverter.com and UnixTimestamp.com process conversions on their server. Our tool does everything locally — your timestamps never leave your browser.
Unix Timestamp Quick Reference
Key facts about Unix timestamps and common conversions.
Timestamp Formats
| Symbol / Code | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
10 digits | Seconds since epoch. Standard Unix time. | 1735689600 → 2025-01-01 00:00 UTC |
13 digits | Milliseconds since epoch. Used by JavaScript, Java, MongoDB. | 1735689600000 → 2025-01-01 00:00 UTC |
Negative | Dates before January 1, 1970. | -1 → 1969-12-31 23:59:59 UTC |
10 digitsSeconds since epoch. Standard Unix time.
Example:
1735689600 → 2025-01-01 00:00 UTC13 digitsMilliseconds since epoch. Used by JavaScript, Java, MongoDB.
Example:
1735689600000 → 2025-01-01 00:00 UTCNegativeDates before January 1, 1970.
Example:
-1 → 1969-12-31 23:59:59 UTCCommon Timestamps
| Symbol / Code | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
0 | The Unix epoch. | 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC |
1000000000 | 1 billion seconds after epoch. | 2001-09-09 01:46:40 UTC |
2147483647 | Max 32-bit signed integer. Y2038 problem boundary. | 2038-01-19 03:14:07 UTC |
0The Unix epoch.
Example:
1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC10000000001 billion seconds after epoch.
Example:
2001-09-09 01:46:40 UTC2147483647Max 32-bit signed integer. Y2038 problem boundary.
Example:
2038-01-19 03:14:07 UTCLanguage Examples
| Symbol / Code | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
JavaScript | Date.now() returns ms. Multiply seconds by 1000. | Date.now() // 1735689600000 |
Python | time.time() returns seconds as a float. | time.time() // 1735689600.0 |
Java | System.currentTimeMillis() returns milliseconds. | System.currentTimeMillis() // 1735689600000 |
Go | time.Now().Unix() returns seconds. UnixNano() returns nanoseconds. | time.Now().Unix() // 1735689600 |
JavaScriptDate.now() returns ms. Multiply seconds by 1000.
Example:
Date.now() // 1735689600000Pythontime.time() returns seconds as a float.
Example:
time.time() // 1735689600.0JavaSystem.currentTimeMillis() returns milliseconds.
Example:
System.currentTimeMillis() // 1735689600000Gotime.Now().Unix() returns seconds. UnixNano() returns nanoseconds.
Example:
time.Now().Unix() // 1735689600FAQ
Why does my timestamp have 10 digits, while others have 13?
A 10-digit timestamp represents seconds since the Unix epoch (standard Unix time). A 13-digit timestamp represents milliseconds since the epoch (common in JavaScript, Java, and MongoDB). Our tool automatically detects the format based on the number of digits: 10 digits = seconds, 13 digits = milliseconds. If you enter a 10-digit timestamp, the tool treats it as seconds; if you enter a 13-digit timestamp, it treats it as milliseconds. You can also manually specify the unit.
What is the 'Year 2038 Problem'?
The Year 2038 problem (also known as Y2038 or the Unix Millennium Bug) affects systems that store Unix time as a signed 32-bit integer. On January 19, 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC, this integer will overflow, causing the date to roll back to December 13, 1901. Modern 64-bit systems are unaffected because a 64-bit integer can represent dates up to the year 292 billion. Most modern operating systems, databases, and programming languages have already transitioned to 64-bit time. However, some embedded systems and legacy software may still be affected.
What is the Unix epoch?
The Unix epoch is January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC. This is the starting point for Unix time (also called POSIX time or epoch time). A Unix timestamp of 0 represents this exact moment. Positive timestamps represent times after the epoch, and negative timestamps represent times before the epoch (down to about 1901 for 32-bit systems, or billions of years for 64-bit systems). The epoch was chosen because it was a round number that predated the creation of Unix.
How do I convert a timestamp in JavaScript?
In JavaScript, use `new Date(timestamp * 1000)` for a 10-digit (seconds) timestamp, or `new Date(timestamp)` for a 13-digit (milliseconds) timestamp. JavaScript's Date object internally uses milliseconds, which is why you need to multiply seconds by 1000. To get the current timestamp, use `Date.now()` (milliseconds) or `Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)` (seconds). Our tool handles this conversion automatically — just paste the timestamp and the tool displays the date.
How do I convert a timestamp in Python?
In Python, use `datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp)` for a 10-digit (seconds) timestamp. For a 13-digit (milliseconds) timestamp, divide by 1000 first: `datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp / 1000)`. To get the current timestamp, use `time.time()` (seconds, as a float) or `int(time.time())` (seconds, as an integer). Python's datetime module handles timezones using `datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp, tz=timezone.utc)` for UTC.
What timezone does the tool use?
The tool displays the converted date in both your local timezone (as detected by your browser) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This is important because the same timestamp represents a different local time depending on the timezone. For example, timestamp 1735689600 is January 1, 2025, 00:00:00 UTC, but December 31, 2024, 19:00:00 in New York (UTC-5) and January 1, 2025, 09:00:00 in Tokyo (UTC+9). Always store timestamps in UTC and convert to local time only for display.
Can I convert a date to a timestamp?
Yes. Use the 'Date to Timestamp' section to pick a date and time using the date picker. The tool will display the corresponding Unix timestamp in both seconds and milliseconds. This is useful for setting expiration times in JWT tokens, scheduling cron jobs, or creating database records with specific timestamps.
What is ISO 8601 format?
ISO 8601 is an international standard for representing dates and times. The format is 'YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.sssZ', where 'T' separates the date from the time, and 'Z' indicates UTC. For example, '2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z' represents January 1, 2025, midnight UTC. ISO 8601 is used by JSON, JavaScript's Date.toJSON(), and most modern APIs. Our tool displays the converted date in ISO 8601 format alongside the human-readable format.
Is this tool private?
Yes. All calculations are performed directly in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to our servers, no data is stored, and no data is logged. You can verify this by opening your browser's DevTools Network tab — no network requests are made when you convert a timestamp. This makes the tool safe for converting timestamps that contain sensitive information (like JWT exp claims).
Can I use this tool for commercial projects?
Yes. The tool is free for both personal and commercial use with no watermarks, no attribution required, and no usage limits. You retain full ownership of your data. There is no registration, no API key, and no subscription required.
100% Client-Side Processing
This tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript.
- We do not upload, store, or analyze your data.
- All timestamp conversion is performed locally — no network requests are made when you enter a timestamp or pick a date.
- This makes the tool safe for converting timestamps that contain sensitive information, such as JWT exp claims or database query parameters.
You can use it with complete confidence, even on air-gapped networks.
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