Convert Unix Timestamps in Sheets
Formula
Unix Timestamp Converter provides bidirectional conversion between epoch timestamps and human-readable dates with detailed date components including ISO 8601 and RFC 2822 formats.
=VERVE("unixtimestamp", A2)=VERVE.CALL("unixtimestamp", A2)A2 holds the timestamp you're looking up. Drag the formula down and each row resolves on its own.
With literal values
Nothing has to come from a cell — typed values work the same way.
=VERVE("unixtimestamp", 1609459200)Inputs
Required inputs are positional, in the order below. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after them — the same shape as SUMIFS.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
timestampRequired | string | argument 2 | Unix timestamp to convert (e.g. 1609459200) |
format | string | "format", value | Timestamp format (e.g. seconds) |
Passing an option
=VERVE("unixtimestamp", A2, "format", "seconds")What lands in your sheet
With no "field" pair the formula spills the whole response as two columns — field name on the left, value on the right — starting at the cell you typed in. Make sure the cells below and to the right are empty.
Pulling one value
Add a "field" pair to get a single cell back instead of a table. The field name is the dot-path from the table below.
=VERVE("unixtimestamp", A2, "field", "timestamp_format")=VERVE.CALL("unixtimestamp", A2, "field", "timestamp_format")Available fields
#PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.| Use as "field" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
timestamp | number | 1609459200 | Unix timestamp in requested format |
timestamp_format | string | seconds | Format of the timestamp value returned |
iso_8601 | string | 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z | Date formatted in ISO 8601 standard |
rfc_2822 | string | Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT | Date formatted in RFC 2822 standard |
date | string | 1/1/2021 | Date in simple M/D/YYYY format |
time | string | 12:00:00 AM | Time in HH:MM:SS AM/PM format |
unix_seconds | number | 1609459200 | Unix timestamp in seconds |
unix_millisecondsPremium | number | 1609459200000 | Unix timestamp in milliseconds |
year | number | 2021 | Year component extracted from timestamp |
month | number | 1 | Month component from 1 to 12 |
day | number | 1 | Day of month component |
hour | number | 0 | Hour component in 24-hour format |
minute | number | 0 | Minute component of the time |
second | number | 0 | Second component of the time |
day_of_weekPremium | string | Friday | Full name of the day of week |
timezone | string | UTC | Timezone of the returned date |
Filling a whole column
Hand the first argument a range instead of a cell and the add-in makes one batched call for the lot, then spills the answers down. That is faster than dragging the formula and costs the same credits — one per row looked up.
=VERVE("unixtimestamp", A2:A100, "field", "timestamp_format")=VERVE.CALL("unixtimestamp", A2:A100, "field", "timestamp_format")A2:A100 is the column of timestamp values. The result spills down alongside it, one row per input, blanks skipped.
When a cell doesn't fill
A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() won't catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead.
| Cell reads | What happened |
|---|---|
#ERR Not connected | No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account. |
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value | The preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in unixtimestamp | An option name that this source doesn't take. The message lists the ones it does. |
#ERR No data point "…" | The "field" path isn't in the response. Check the dot-path against the table above. |
#PREMIUM(field) | The field exists but your plan doesn't include it. |
#ERR Out of credits | The month's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date. |
Before the formula works
The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet doesn't leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.
- Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
- Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
- Type the formula above into any cell.
Other ways to use Convert Unix Timestamps in Sheets
Set up Convert Unix Timestamps in Sheets on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Convert Unix Timestamps in Sheets work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes — the same source, the same arguments. Sheets calls it =VERVE("unixtimestamp", …) and Excel calls it =VERVE.CALL("unixtimestamp", …); that function name is the only difference.
Do the cells recalculate on their own?
They recalculate when the sheet does — on edit, on open, or on a manual recalc. Each recalculation is a fresh call and spends credits, so for a large static column it's worth copying the results and pasting them as values.
How many credits does a filled column cost?
1 credit per row looked up, whether you drag the formula or pass a range. The range form is one HTTP call instead of many, but the credit count is the same.
Can I share the sheet without sharing my key?
Yes. The key is stored against your account, not in the file. Collaborators see the values already in the cells; formulas only recalculate for someone who has connected their own account.
Why is a cell showing #ERR instead of an error?
So you can read the reason. Excel can't display a custom message on a real spreadsheet error, so the add-in returns the explanation as text on both platforms instead.