SQL GETUTCDATE() Function: The Complete Guide

January 19, 2022

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The GETUTCDATE() function calculates this value from the operating system on which the SQL server is running.

SQL GETUTCDATE Function

SQL GETUTCDATE is a built-in function that returns the current database date and time in UTC format, i.e., in a ‘YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss.mmm’ format. The GETUTCDATE() function returns the current UTC. In addition, the GETUTCDATE() function returns the current database system UTC date and time, in a ‘YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss.mmm’ format.

Syntax

SELECT GETUTCDATE();

Parameters

GETUTCDATE: This function will only return the current database date and time.

NOTE:

The operating system settings determine the UTC date and time.
GETUTCDATE() can also be used to store the timestamp that is independent of Time Zones.

Example

SELECT GETUTCDATE();

Output

2019-11-10 06:51:26.703

For a better understanding, see this example.

See the following code.

DECLARE @local_time DATETIME;
DECLARE @gmt_time DATETIME;
SET @local_time = GETDATE();
SET @gmt_time = GETUTCDATE();
SELECT 'Server local time: '
   + CONVERT(VARCHAR(40),@local_time);
SELECT 'Server GMT time: '
   + CONVERT(VARCHAR(40),@gmt_time);
SELECT 'Server time zone: '
   + CONVERT(VARCHAR(40),
      DATEDIFF(hour,@gmt_time,@local_time));
GO

Output

Server local time: Nov 10 2019 10:06PM
Server GMT time: Nov 10 2019 4:21PM
Server time zone: 6

DIFFERENCE between getdate() and getutcdate():

The main Difference between getdate() and getutcdate() is the time zone number of the SQL SERVER MACHINE.

SQL Server GETUTCDATE()

The following example uses the GETDATE(), GETUTCDATE(), and DATEDIFF() functions to return the local time, UTC, and server time zone.

DECLARE 
    @local_time DATETIME,
    @utc_time DATETIME;

SET @local_time = GETDATE();
SET @utc_time = GETUTCDATE();

SELECT
  CONVERT(VARCHAR(40), @local_time) 
        AS 'Server local time';
SELECT
  CONVERT(VARCHAR(40), @utc_time) 
        AS 'Server UTC time'
SELECT
  CONVERT(VARCHAR(40), DATEDIFF(hour, @utc_time, @local_time)) 
        AS 'Server time zone';
GO