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How to Use Discord Timestamps

A complete guide to using dynamic time formats in Discord

What are Discord Timestamps?

Discord timestamps are special text formats that display dates and times that automatically adjust to each user's local timezone. This means that if you're planning an event or setting a deadline, everyone will see the time in their own timezone, avoiding confusion.

Pro Tip: Using timestamps ensures that all your server members see the correct time, regardless of where they're located around the world.

Basic Timestamp Format

The basic format for a Discord timestamp is:

<t:TIMESTAMP:FORMAT>

Where:

  • TIMESTAMP is a Unix timestamp (seconds since January 1, 1970)
  • FORMAT is an optional format specifier (like t, T, d, D, f, F, or R)

How to Get a Unix Timestamp

You can convert any date and time to a Unix timestamp using our tool on the homepage. Simply select your date and time, and copy the generated timestamp code.

Available Format Types

Discord offers several different formatting options for timestamps:

Short Time (t)

<t:1693526400:t>

Displays as: 16:20

Shows just the time in 24-hour format.

Long Time (T)

<t:1693526400:T>

Displays as: 16:20:00

Shows the time with seconds.

Short Date (d)

<t:1693526400:d>

Displays as: 01/09/2023

Shows just the date in a compact format.

Long Date (D)

<t:1693526400:D>

Displays as: September 1, 2023

Shows the full date with month name.

Short Date/Time (f)

<t:1693526400:f>

Displays as: September 1, 2023 16:20

Shows date and time together.

Long Date/Time (F)

<t:1693526400:F>

Displays as: Friday, September 1, 2023 16:20

Shows full date with day of week and time.

Relative Time (R)

<t:1693526400:R>

Displays as: in 3 hours OR 2 days ago

Shows time relative to current time (dynamically updates).

Practical Examples

Planning a Server Event

When announcing an event in your Discord server:

🎮 Join our gaming session <t:1693526400:F>! Be sure to sign up in the #registration channel before <t:1693526400:R>.

This will show the full date and time, plus a countdown that automatically updates.

Setting Deadlines

For submission deadlines:

Please submit your competition entries by <t:1693526400:f> (<t:1693526400:R>).

Server Maintenance Announcement

For server downtime:

⚠️ Our bot will be down for maintenance <t:1693526400:R> for approximately 2 hours.

Advanced Tips

  • Combine formats: You can use multiple timestamp formats in the same message to provide complete information. For example, show both the full date/time and a countdown.
  • Create recurring reminders: Use a bot that can send timestamp messages for recurring events, updating the Unix timestamp each time.
  • Pin important timestamps: For long-term events or deadlines, pin messages with timestamps in relevant channels.
  • Use our Holiday Timestamps: Check out our US Holidays for 2025 with ready-to-copy Discord timestamps.

Try It Yourself

Ready to use Discord timestamps in your server? Head back to our timestamp generator to create your own custom timestamps!

Generate Timestamps Now

Check out our other guides: Discord Timestamp Formatting Tips | Using Timestamps for Discord Events