Epoch Converter
A Unix timestamp converter converts between Unix epoch time (the total number of seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970) and human-readable calendar dates across UTC, GMT, and local time zones.
Paste any 10-digit (seconds) or 13-digit (milliseconds) Unix timestamp to view instant conversions in UTC and local time, or select a date/time to generate the exact Epoch timestamp with live current time tracking.
Introduction to Unix Timestamp & Epoch Time
Unix timestamp (also known as Epoch time or POSIX time) measures time as a single continuous integer representing seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970, ignoring leap seconds.
ScanSuite's free online timestamp converter allows developers, database administrators, and system engineers to convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable date formats in real time. Switch seamlessly between seconds and milliseconds precision with full support for local time zones, UTC, and ISO 8601 standards across past and future dates.
What is Unix epoch time
An epoch timestamp converter is a time-calculation utility that translates raw integer timestamps found in database records, API logs, and server header files into readable dates like `2026-07-29 15:00:00 UTC`.
Timestamps eliminate time zone ambiguities in distributed computing systems. Converting them quickly is essential when debugging expiring JWT tokens, auditing access logs, and writing SQL query date filters.
The converter supports both positive timestamps (dates after 1970) and negative values representing dates before the Unix epoch reference point.
The year 2038 problem
Signed 32-bit Unix time overflows at 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038, when the counter passes 2147483647. Systems that still store time as a 32-bit integer will wrap to December 1901 unless they move to a 64-bit time_t.
JavaScript Date and modern 64-bit kernels already use a wider counter, so this converter keeps working past 2038. The risk sits in older C libraries, embedded devices, and file formats that still use a 32-bit field.
Who Uses Timestamp Converters?
Backend developers use timestamp tools to verify token expiration dates, database timestamps, and scheduled background job timers.
Database administrators convert Epoch integers when executing raw SQL queries on PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB tables.
DevOps and SRE teams analyze Unix timestamps in server log entries during incident post-mortems.
Seconds vs milliseconds
Epoch time begins at 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z. Values under one trillion are treated as seconds. Twelve to fourteen digits are milliseconds, fifteen to seventeen digits are microseconds, and eighteen digits or more are nanoseconds.
The converter inspects digit length to auto-detect unit precision, applying JavaScript `Date` and `Intl.DateTimeFormat` constructors to output localized and UTC date representations.
Bidirectional mode converts calendar picker selections back into epoch integers for database inserts and API payload construction.
Get the current epoch in code
JavaScript: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
Python: import time; int(time.time())
SQL: SELECT EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM NOW());
Bash: date +%s
Go: time.Now().Unix()
PHP: time()
Time Representation Comparison
| Format | Example | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unix Timestamp (Seconds) | 1700000000 | Compact database columns, API tokens, CLI tools | |
| Unix Timestamp (Ms) | 1700000000000 | High-precision event logging, JavaScript Date API | |
| ISO 8601 String | 2023-11-15T22:13:20Z | Human-readable REST API payloads and JSON storage | |
| RFC 2822 String | Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:13:20 +0000 | HTTP header dates and email headers |
Why Does My Converted Date Show Year 1970?
If your timestamp evaluates to a date in January 1970, you are likely passing seconds into a function expecting milliseconds (e.g. dividing by 1000 accidentally). Multiply your 10-digit timestamp by 1000.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Unix epoch time?
It is shown live at the top of this page. It is the number of seconds since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970, not counting leap seconds.
How do I tell whether a timestamp is in seconds or milliseconds?
Current timestamps are 10 digits in seconds, 13 in milliseconds, 16 in microseconds and 19 in nanoseconds. The converter detects this automatically from the magnitude of the number.
How do I get the current epoch time in code?
JavaScript: `Math.floor(Date.now()/1000)`. Python: `int(time.time())`. Bash: `date +%s`. PostgreSQL: `SELECT extract(epoch FROM now());`.
What is the year 2038 problem?
Systems that store Unix time as a signed 32-bit integer overflow at 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038. Modern 64-bit systems are not affected.
Are my timestamps sent to ScanSuite servers when converting?
No. All conversion logic runs locally in your browser memory.
Does Unix time account for leap seconds?
No. Unix time ignores leap seconds, so total elapsed physical SI seconds differ slightly over multi-decade spans.
What is a Unix timestamp?
A 10-digit or 13-digit integer representing total seconds or milliseconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC.
What is the Unix Epoch?
The reference point defined as 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970.
How do I tell if a timestamp is in seconds or milliseconds?
10-digit numbers represent seconds; 13-digit numbers represent milliseconds.
What is the Year 2038 problem (Y2K38)?
On Jan 19, 2038, 32-bit signed integers will wrap around to negative numbers, resetting dates to 1901 unless updated to 64-bit.
How do I convert a Unix timestamp in JavaScript?
Use `new Date(timestamp * 1000).toUTCString()` for seconds or `new Date(timestamp)` for milliseconds.
How do I get current Epoch time in Linux CLI?
Run `date +%s` for seconds or `date +%s%3N` for milliseconds.
How do I convert Unix timestamps in SQL (PostgreSQL / MySQL)?
In PostgreSQL use `to_timestamp(epoch)`; in MySQL use `FROM_UNIXTIME(epoch)`.
What is ISO 8601 format?
An international date formatting standard formatted as `YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss.sssZ`.
Why is GMT and UTC practically the same for epoch conversion?
GMT is a time zone while UTC is a time standard, but both share the same reference time offset (+00:00).
Can I convert negative Unix timestamps for dates before 1970?
Yes, negative integer timestamps represent dates prior to January 1, 1970.
How do I convert Python timestamps?
Use `datetime.fromtimestamp(epoch, tz=timezone.utc)` in Python.
Is this timestamp converter free without usage limits?
Yes, ScanSuite provides free, unlimited browser-based timestamp conversions.
What precision does this tool support?
Supports both seconds (10-digit) and milliseconds (13-digit) precision.
Why does local time output differ depending on where I am?
Local time adjusts for your computer's configured system time zone and daylight saving rules.
How do I copy current Epoch time quickly?
Click the live ticker button at the top of the converter to copy current Epoch seconds or milliseconds.
What is epoch time in Excel or Google Sheets?
Excel uses 1900 as its reference epoch; convert Unix epoch in Excel using `=(epoch / 86400) + DATE(1970,1,1)`.
What is an epoch calculator?
An epoch calculator turns a Unix timestamp into a calendar date, or a date into epoch seconds. This page is that converter: the live number at the top is the current epoch, and a 10-digit value is seconds while a 13-digit value is milliseconds.
How do I convert the current epoch time to a date?
Read the live Unix epoch on this page, or paste a timestamp into the converter. The result is shown in UTC and in your local time zone. Unix time does not include leap seconds.
Summary
ScanSuite's free Unix timestamp converter converts between Epoch time and human dates across UTC, local time, and ISO-8601. With a live current ticker and auto precision detection, developers can debug timestamps effortlessly.