How to Convert Unix Timestamps

Unix timestamps are how computers store and communicate time — a single number representing seconds since January 1, 1970. They appear in API responses, database records, log files, and JWT tokens. When you need to know what date 1711824000 actually is, you need a converter.

What a Unix timestamp looks like

The difference between seconds and milliseconds is three extra zeros. A 10-digit number is in seconds; 13 digits is milliseconds.

How to convert timestamps

1. Enter a timestamp or date — paste a Unix timestamp to convert to a readable date, or enter a date to get the timestamp.
2. Check the format — the converter auto-detects seconds vs milliseconds based on the number length.
3. Read the result — see the date in your local timezone, UTC, and ISO 8601 format.

Where you encounter timestamps

• API responses — most REST APIs return dates as Unix timestamps: "created_at": 1711824000
• JWT tokens — the iat (issued at) and exp (expiration) claims are Unix timestamps
• Database records — many databases store timestamps as integers for efficient sorting and comparison
• Log files — server logs often prefix entries with epoch timestamps
• Cron jobs — scheduling systems reference time in Unix format

Timestamps in code

Quick conversion in common languages:

JavaScript: new Date(1711824000 * 1000) (JS uses milliseconds)

Python: datetime.fromtimestamp(1711824000)

Current time: Date.now() (JS), time.time() (Python)

Tips

• Multiply by 1000 for JavaScript — JS Date expects milliseconds, but most APIs return seconds. Forgetting to multiply is the most common timestamp bug.
• Always specify UTC — when converting, be explicit about timezone. "March 31 at midnight" is a different timestamp depending on whether you mean UTC, EST, or PST.
• Use ISO 8601 for display — once converted, format dates as 2024-03-31T00:00:00Z for unambiguous communication across timezones.
• Bookmark the converter — if you work with APIs or databases, you will convert timestamps often enough to want it one click away.