Mayan Calendar Converter
Convert Gregorian dates to Mayan Long Count calendar. The Mayan calendar uses a base-20 system with different periods.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter a Gregorian date using the date picker.
- The calculator displays the Mayan Long Count date.
- It shows all five periods: Baktun, Katun, Tun, Uinal, and Kin.
- Use this to convert modern dates to the ancient Mayan calendar system.
Mayan Long Count Conversion Formula
Mayan dates are calculated as days since the epoch (August 11, 3114 BCE):
Baktun = floor(Days / 144,000)
Remaining = Days % 144,000
Katun = floor(Remaining / 7,200)
Remaining = Remaining % 7,200
Tun = floor(Remaining / 360)
Remaining = Remaining % 360
Uinal = floor(Remaining / 20)
Kin = Remaining % 20
Example: December 21, 2012 = 13.0.0.0.0 (13 baktuns, end of cycle). Today\'s date converts to the current Long Count. The Mayan calendar is base-20 (except Tun = 18×20 = 360 days to approximate a year).
Full Description
The Mayan Long Count calendar is an ancient Mesoamerican calendar system that counts days from a fixed starting point (August 11, 3114 BCE). It uses a base-20 numbering system with five periods of increasing length: Kin (1 day), Uinal (20 days), Tun (360 days, 18×20), Katun (7,200 days, 20 tuns), and Baktun (144,000 days, 20 katuns). The Long Count provides a linear count of days, unlike cyclical calendars.
The Mayan calendar epoch (starting point) is August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar. This date represents 0.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count. All subsequent dates are calculated as days since this epoch. The famous date 13.0.0.0.0 (December 21, 2012) marked the end of a 13-baktun cycle (about 5,125 years), which some misinterpreted as the "end of the world," but it was simply the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.
This converter helps you convert modern Gregorian dates to the Mayan Long Count calendar. Enter a date, and it calculates the corresponding Long Count date with all five periods. Use it to explore Mayan history, understand ancient calendar systems, convert historical dates, or satisfy curiosity about the Mayan calendar. The Mayan Long Count is a fascinating example of ancient timekeeping!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mayan Long Count calendar?
The Mayan Long Count is a base-20 calendar system that counts days from a fixed starting point (August 11, 3114 BCE). It uses five periods: Baktun (144,000 days), Katun (7,200 days), Tun (360 days), Uinal (20 days), and Kin (1 day).
How do I read Mayan Long Count dates?
Long Count format: Baktun.Katun.Tun.Uinal.Kin. Example: 13.0.0.0.0 = 13 baktuns, 0 katuns, 0 tuns, 0 uinals, 0 kins. The famous "end of world" date was 13.0.0.0.0 (December 21, 2012), which was actually just the end of a baktun cycle, not the end of the world.
What is the Mayan calendar epoch?
The Mayan calendar epoch (starting point) is August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar. This is day 0.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count. All Mayan dates are calculated as days since this epoch.
Why did people think the world would end in 2012?
December 21, 2012 was 13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count—the end of a 13-baktun cycle (about 5,125 years). Some misinterpreted this as the "end of the world," but it was just the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. The Mayans didn't predict the end of the world.