How to convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date

Unix timestamps appear everywhere in software — database columns, API responses, log files, and JWT claims — but they are meaningless to humans at a glance. Converting 1716998400 to 'Wed, 29 May 2024 16:00:00 UTC' takes seconds with this tool. This guide shows how to convert any Unix timestamp to a readable date without writing code or installing software.

Step-by-step guide

1. Copy the timestamp: Copy the numeric timestamp from your database query result, API response JSON field, or log entry. It may be 10 digits (seconds) or 13 digits (milliseconds).
2. Paste and read the output: Paste the number into the converter. The tool auto-detects seconds vs milliseconds and immediately shows the ISO 8601 UTC string, a human-readable UTC date, and the relative time from now.
3. Copy the format you need: Copy the ISO 8601 string for API payloads or data exchange, or the UTC string for a human-readable display. Use the milliseconds value if you need to construct a JavaScript Date object.

Frequently asked questions

What if the date shown is off by several hours?

The output is always UTC. Your local time may differ by your timezone offset. For example, if you are in UTC+5:30, a timestamp showing 16:00 UTC is 21:30 in your local time. There is no error — apply your timezone offset to get your local time.

The timestamp in my database is a float, not an integer. Does that work?

Paste only the integer part (truncate or round the decimal). The fractional part represents sub-second precision, which the tool ignores. For millisecond precision, multiply by 1000 and use the integer result.