Mayan Calendar Converter

The Mayan calendar is not a single linear timeline, but rather a complex interlocking system of cycles. The most prominent component for historical tracking is the Long Count, which measures absolute time elapsed from a mythical creation date. The Long Count is structured in a vigesimal (base-20) modified system consisting of five primary units: Baktun (approx. 394 years), Katun (approx. 19.7 years), Tun (360 days), Uinal (20 days), and Kin (1 day). The standard conversion algorithm maps the total number of days elapsed since the Mayan epoch (August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar) and divides them down through these units to yield a standard notation format written as Baktun.Katun.Tun.Uinal.Kin.

Let us walk through converting a specific date, such as January 1, 2024, in the Gregorian calendar into the Mayan Long Count format. First, the calculator determines the Julian Day Number (JDN) for the target date and subtracts the JDN of the Mayan zero date (August 11, 3114 BCE), yielding the total number of elapsed days. For January 1, 2024, this total is approximately 1,868,541 days. Next, this total is divided by the Baktun size (144,000 days), resulting in 12 Baktuns with a remainder. Successive divisions by Katuns (7,200 days), Tuns (360 days), Uinals (20 days), and Kins (1 day) produce the final complete Long Count notation of 13.0.11.3.1.

When using historical calendar converters, always verify whether your input date falls under the Julian or Gregorian calendar system, as conversion offsets shift prior to 1582. Keep in mind that ancient Mesoamerican inscriptions often combined the Long Count with the sacred 260-day Tzolkin and the 365-day Haab' calendar rounds for absolute precision. Double-check your BCE or CE selections to prevent catastrophic baseline shifts in day-count calculations.