Epoch Converter
Runs locallyInstantly convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice-versa. No uploads, processed locally.
An epoch (or Unix) timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970 — the Unix epoch. This free online epoch converter turns a Unix timestamp into a human-readable date and back again, in both seconds and milliseconds. Everything runs locally in your browser, so your data never leaves your machine.
How to convert an epoch timestamp to a date
- 1Paste a Unix timestamp (e.g. 1700000000) into the timestamp field, or pick a date to go the other way.
- 2The converter auto-detects seconds vs. milliseconds and shows the result instantly — no button to press.
- 3Read off the local time and UTC date, then copy whichever format you need.
Seconds vs. milliseconds
Unix timestamps come in two common precisions. Standard Unix time counts whole seconds since the epoch (10 digits for current dates), while JavaScript's Date.now() and many APIs use milliseconds (13 digits). This converter handles both — paste either and it normalises automatically, so you don't have to multiply or divide by 1000 yourself.
Why the Unix epoch matters
Storing time as a single integer of seconds since the epoch makes dates trivial to compare, sort, and do arithmetic on, independent of time zones and calendar quirks. It's the default in Linux, databases, log files, and most APIs — which is why developers constantly need to convert epoch time to a date to make sense of a value at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Unix epoch?
- The Unix epoch is 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970. A Unix or epoch timestamp is the number of seconds that have passed since that moment, which makes it a compact, time-zone-independent way to represent a point in time.
- How do I convert an epoch timestamp to a date?
- Paste the timestamp into the converter above. It detects whether the value is in seconds or milliseconds and immediately shows the equivalent local and UTC date — no installation or sign-up required.
- What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?
- Seconds-based Unix timestamps are typically 10 digits for current dates; millisecond timestamps (used by JavaScript and many APIs) are 13 digits. This tool accepts both and converts automatically.
- Does this epoch converter work offline and keep my data private?
- Yes. All conversion happens locally in your browser with JavaScript. No timestamps or dates are uploaded to a server, so it works even with the network disconnected.
- How do I convert a Linux timestamp to a date?
- Linux uses the same Unix epoch (seconds since 1 January 1970 UTC). Paste the value from `date +%s` or a log file into the converter and it will show the corresponding human-readable date.