Convert Time to Unix Time — Free Online Tool
Unix time (also called epoch time) counts the total number of seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC — a fixed reference point known as the Unix epoch. This format is widely used across computing because it provides a compact, timezone-independent representation of any point in time. Databases store event logs, API responses include creation timestamps, file systems record modification times, and distributed systems synchronize clocks — all using Unix time under the hood. Converting a human-readable date to a Unix timestamp lets you compare moments in time without worrying about daylight saving changes, locale differences, or calendar formats. Whether you are debugging a backend service, building a scheduling feature, or verifying data migrations, this free tool gives you the Unix seconds, milliseconds, and ISO 8601 equivalent instantly — no sign-up required.
Input
Result
Enter a date and time to see the Unix timestamp.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Unix time and epoch time?+
Unix time and epoch time are the same thing. Both terms refer to the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. The terms are used interchangeably in computing and programming.
Does Unix time account for leap seconds?+
No. Unix time does not count leap seconds. It assumes every day contains exactly 86,400 seconds (24 hours). This means that during a leap second event, two consecutive Unix timestamps may represent the same UTC second.
What is the difference between milliseconds and seconds in Unix time?+
A 10-digit Unix timestamp represents seconds since the epoch, while a 13-digit timestamp represents milliseconds. For example, 1700000000 is in seconds, whereas 1700000000000 is in milliseconds. Most databases and programming languages offer both formats.
What is the Year 2038 problem?+
The Year 2038 problem (Y2K38) occurs because many older systems store Unix time as a signed 32-bit integer, which overflows on January 19, 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC. Modern 64-bit systems are not affected, but legacy embedded systems may need updates.
How does timezone affect Unix time conversion?+
Unix time is always UTC-based and has no concept of timezones. When you convert a local date and time to Unix time, the tool first converts it to UTC, then calculates the seconds since the epoch. The timezone only affects how humans read the date — the resulting Unix timestamp is always the same absolute point in time.
Related Tools
Related Tools
Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and back, instantly.
Epoch Converter
Convert epoch timestamps to human-readable dates and times.
Unix Timestamp
Learn about Unix timestamps and get the current value live.
Timestamp to Date
Convert any Unix timestamp to a readable date and time.
Date to Timestamp
Convert dates and times into Unix timestamps.
Epoch Time
Explore epoch time history, standards, and real-world usage.
UTC Time Now
See the current UTC time live with a real-time clock.
Year 2038 Problem
Learn about the Y2K38 overflow and which systems are affected.
Seconds Since 1970
See how many seconds have elapsed since the Unix epoch.
Epoch Time to Date
Convert epoch time to a readable date with code examples in 6 languages.
Linux Timestamp to Date
Convert Linux/Unix timestamps to readable dates using command-line tools.
Unix Time to Date
Convert Unix time to a readable date with real-world examples and code.
Convert Unix Time to Time
Decode any Unix timestamp to ISO 8601, RFC 2822, and relative time instantly.
Unix Timestamp to Date
Convert any Unix timestamp to a readable date with code examples for Python, JS, SQL, and more.
Unix Time Format Converter
Convert between Unix time formats: seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds.