Skip to main content

How to Get a UTC/GMT Timestamp in JavaScript

When working with dates and times, especially for server communication, logging, or comparisons, it is a crucial best practice to use a universal time standard to avoid ambiguity. The global standard for this is UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), and the most reliable way to represent a moment in time is with a UTC timestamp.

This guide will explain the critical difference between a numerical timestamp and a formatted UTC string, and teach you the standard, built-in JavaScript methods for getting both.

The Core Concepts: Timestamp vs. Formatted String​

It's essential to understand the distinction between these two representations of time:

TypeDescriptionExampleUse Case
Timestamp (Number)The number of milliseconds since the Unix Epoch (Jan 1, 1970). This value is always UTC.1760809394097Storing, comparing, or performing date arithmetic.
Formatted StringA human-readable text representation of the date and time in UTC."2025-10-18T17:43:36.000Z"Displaying, logging, or sending to an API.

How to Get a UTC Timestamp (The Number)​

A JavaScript timestamp is, by definition, a UTC-based value. It represents the same moment in time for everyone in the world, regardless of their local time zone.

For example, you want a universal, numerical value representing the current moment.

The Date.now() static method is the most direct way to get the current timestamp. It is highly performant and clear in its intent.

const utcTimestamp = Date.now();

console.log(utcTimestamp);

Example of Output:

1760809394097

Alternative Solution: .getTime()​

If you already have a Date object, you can use the .getTime() method to get its timestamp.

const myDate = new Date();
const utcTimestamp = myDate.getTime();

console.log(utcTimestamp);
note

Both methods return the same value. Date.now() is slightly more performant as it doesn't create an intermediate Date object.

How to Get a UTC Formatted String​

If you need a string representation of a date in UTC, JavaScript provides two excellent built-in methods.

The Date.prototype.toISOString() method is the modern standard. It returns the date in the ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss.sssZ), which is universally recognized and perfect for machine-to-machine communication (like APIs). The Z at the end signifies "Zulu" time, which is UTC.

const now = new Date();
const isoString = now.toISOString();

console.log(isoString);

Example of Output:

2025-10-18T17:45:27.553Z

Human-Readable Alternative: toUTCString()​

If you need a more human-friendly format, you can use the toUTCString() method.

const now = new Date();
const utcString = now.toUTCString();

console.log(utcString);

Example of Output:

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:46:02 GMT

Getting Individual UTC Components​

If you need to build a custom-formatted UTC date string, you must use the specific getUTC* methods on the Date object. These are the UTC equivalents of the standard get* methods.

  • getUTCFullYear()
  • getUTCMonth() (0-11)
  • getUTCDate() (1-31)
  • getUTCHours() (0-23)

Solution:

function getCustomUtcTimestamp(date) {
  const pad = (num) => num.toString().padStart(2, '0');

  const year = date.getUTCFullYear();
  const month = pad(date.getUTCMonth() + 1); // getUTCMonth() is 0-based
  const day = pad(date.getUTCDate());
  const hours = pad(date.getUTCHours());
  const minutes = pad(date.getUTCMinutes());

  return `${year}-${month}-${day} ${hours}:${minutes}`;
}

const now = new Date();
console.log(getCustomUtcTimestamp(now));

Example of Output:

2025-10-18 17:47

Conclusion​

Getting a UTC/GMT-based time in JavaScript is straightforward if you use the correct methods for your goal.

  • To get a numerical timestamp, the best practice is to use Date.now().
  • To get a machine-readable UTC string, the recommended method is date.toISOString().
  • To get a human-readable UTC string, use date.toUTCString().
  • For custom formatting, use the specific getUTC* methods.

By consistently using UTC for data storage and transmission, you can avoid a wide range of time zone-related bugs.

Table of Contents