Discord Timestamp Generator

Discord renders timestamps in each user's local time zone using the syntax <t:UNIX:FORMAT>. Pick a date and time, copy the syntax, and paste it into any Discord message. Everyone sees it in their own timezone, so there is no confusion or mental math.

Unix1776373032
tShort Time8:57 PM
<t:1776373032:t>
TLong Time8:57:12 PM
<t:1776373032:T>
dShort Date04/16/2026
<t:1776373032:d>
DLong DateApril 16, 2026
<t:1776373032:D>
fShort Date/TimeApril 16, 2026 8:57 PM
<t:1776373032:f>
FLong Date/TimeThursday, April 16, 2026 8:57 PM
<t:1776373032:F>
RRelative1 seconds ago
<t:1776373032:R>

How Discord timestamps work

Discord uses Unix timestamps, the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 UTC. When you paste <t:1234567890:R> into a message, Discord renders it dynamically for each viewer. The R format shows relative time ("3 hours ago"),F shows a full date and time, and there are five other formats for different levels of detail.

This is the cleanest way to coordinate across time zones in Discord. No need to specify "3pm EST" and hope everyone converts correctly.

Format codes reference

:tShort timeShows the time only (e.g. 9:30 AM). Good for events where everyone already knows the date.
:TLong timeShows hours, minutes, and seconds (e.g. 9:30:00 AM). Useful when precision matters, like a stream starting on the exact second.
:dShort dateShows the date only in numeric form (e.g. 11/28/2023). Best when time is not relevant.
:DLong dateShows the full month name (e.g. November 28, 2023). Cleaner for announcements and pinned messages.
:fShort date/timeShows date and time together (e.g. November 28, 2023 9:30 AM). The most common choice for scheduled events.
:FLong date/timeIncludes the day of the week (e.g. Tuesday, November 28, 2023 9:30 AM). Use when the day of week matters, like a weekly recurring event.
:RRelativeShows time relative to now and updates live (e.g. "in 3 hours" or "2 days ago"). The best choice for countdowns and deadlines.

Common use cases

  • Server events and game nights. Post the start time once using :f and everyone in your server sees it converted to their local time. No more pinning a long list of timezone conversions.
  • Stream and content announcements. Pair :f and :R in the same message so viewers see both the exact time and a live countdown: "Going live November 28 at 9:30 PM (in 2 hours)."
  • Cross-timezone coordination. When your community spans multiple continents, absolute timestamps remove all the "what time is that for me?" back-and-forth. Discord handles the conversion silently for each reader.
  • Launch countdowns and deadlines. Use :R in a pinned message for a sale end time, a beta access cutoff, or a submission deadline. The countdown updates automatically as time passes.
  • Recurring weekly events. Because Unix timestamps respect DST changes automatically, a timestamp for your weekly Saturday stream will always show the correct local time even when clocks change.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Discord use Unix timestamps instead of a regular date format?

Unix timestamps represent a single absolute moment in time regardless of timezone. By storing seconds since January 1, 1970 UTC, Discord can convert the same number into each user's local time without any server-side knowledge of where they are.

Does this work on Discord mobile?

Yes. Timestamp codes render the same way on iOS, Android, and desktop. Any recent version of Discord will display the formatted time correctly.

What happens if I use an unrecognized format letter?

Discord falls back to showing the raw Unix number. If the entire syntax is malformed, it shows the literal text you typed. Make sure both angle brackets are present and the format letter is one of the seven listed above.

What is the difference between absolute and relative formats?

Absolute formats (:t :T :d :D :f :F) show a fixed date or time that looks the same no matter when someone reads the message. The relative format (:R) updates continuously -- it reads "in 3 hours" when you post it, then "2 hours ago" after the moment passes. Use relative for countdowns and absolute for scheduled times.

Can I use the Unix timestamp outside of Discord?

Yes. The Unix timestamp shown here works anywhere that accepts epoch seconds: spreadsheet date functions, webhooks, APIs, and most programming languages. JavaScript's new Date(unix * 1000) and Python's datetime.fromtimestamp(unix) both accept it directly.

Time Keep / time management tools