3 Ways To Convert Epoch Time To Date In Excel

Working with dates and times in Excel can be a bit tricky, especially when dealing with epoch time. Epoch time, also known as Unix time, is a system for describing times using the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. This format is widely used in programming and data analysis, but it's not very human-readable. Fortunately, Excel provides several ways to convert epoch time to a more readable date format.

In this article, we'll explore three methods to convert epoch time to date in Excel. Whether you're working with a large dataset or just need to convert a few values, these methods will help you get the job done efficiently.

Understanding Epoch Time

Before we dive into the conversion methods, let's quickly understand how epoch time works. Epoch time is calculated by counting the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. This means that the epoch time for January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC is 0, and it increases by 1 every second.

For example, the epoch time for January 1, 2022, at 00:00:00 UTC is 1640995200. This number represents the total number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC.

Method 1: Using the DATE Function

The first method to convert epoch time to date in Excel is by using the DATE function. This function takes three arguments: year, month, and day. We can use the INT function to extract the year, month, and day from the epoch time.

Assuming the epoch time is in cell A1, we can use the following formula:

=DATE(INT((A1/86400)/365.25),INT(MOD((A1/86400),365.25)/30.44),MOD(MOD((A1/86400),365.25),30.44))

This formula works by dividing the epoch time by 86400 (the number of seconds in a day) to get the number of days since January 1, 1970. It then uses the INT and MOD functions to extract the year, month, and day.

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Method 2: Using the POWER Function

The second method to convert epoch time to date in Excel is by using the POWER function. This function raises a number to a power, and we can use it to convert the epoch time to a date.

Assuming the epoch time is in cell A1, we can use the following formula:

=POWER(10,INT((A1+719163)/86400))+(A1-INT((A1+719163)/86400)*86400)

This formula works by adding 719163 to the epoch time to adjust for the difference between the epoch time and the Excel date system. It then uses the POWER function to raise 10 to the power of the number of days since January 1, 1970.

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Method 3: Using VBA

The third method to convert epoch time to date in Excel is by using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). We can create a custom function that takes the epoch time as an argument and returns the corresponding date.

Here's an example VBA function:

Function EpochToDate(epoch As Long) As Date
    EpochToDate = DateAdd("s", epoch, #1/1/1970#)
End Function

To use this function, simply call it from a cell, passing the epoch time as an argument:

=EpochToDate(A1)

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Gallery of Epoch Time Conversion

Epoch Time Conversion Image Gallery

Conclusion

Converting epoch time to date in Excel can be a bit tricky, but with the right methods, it's easy to get the job done. Whether you're using the DATE function, the POWER function, or VBA, there's a method that's right for you. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be able to convert epoch time to date in no time. So next time you're working with epoch time, don't be afraid to give one of these methods a try!