How to fix Datetime field overflow in PostgreSQL

Check your application logs to find the exact query causing the error. Note which column is referenced in the error message.

Example error:

ERROR: date/time field value out of range: "0000-00-00 00:00:00"

Examine the actual data being inserted or the SQL query. Look for:

- Zero dates: "0000-00-00 00:00:00"
- Invalid components: month > 12, day > 31
- February 29 on non-leap years
- Timestamps in milliseconds or nanoseconds

Example problem query:

INSERT INTO users (created_at) VALUES ('0000-00-00 00:00:00');

Replace "0000-00-00 00:00:00" with NULL for empty timestamp fields. PostgreSQL requires NULL for missing values.

Before:

INSERT INTO users (created_at) VALUES ('0000-00-00 00:00:00');

After:

INSERT INTO users (created_at) VALUES (NULL);

In your application code:

const createdAt = dateValue === '0000-00-00 00:00:00' ? null : dateValue;

If inserting Unix timestamps (seconds or milliseconds since epoch), convert them to PostgreSQL timestamp format first.

For Unix timestamp in seconds:

SELECT to_timestamp(1678513615);
-- Returns: 2023-03-11 09:06:55+00:00

For Unix timestamp in milliseconds, divide by 1000:

SELECT to_timestamp(1678513615000 / 1000.0);

In your ORM or application:

const timestamp = new Date(unixTimestampMs);
const pgFormat = timestamp.toISOString(); // '2023-03-11T09:06:55.000Z'

PostgreSQL uses YYYY-MM-DD format for dates. Validate before inserting:

- Year: any reasonable value (4713 BC to 5874897 AD)
- Month: 1-12
- Day: 1-31 (depending on month)
- Hour: 0-23
- Minute/Second: 0-59

Example validation in JavaScript:

const date = new Date('2024-02-30'); // Invalid
if (!Number.isNaN(date.getTime())) {
  // Date is valid
} else {
  // Handle invalid date
}

In SQL, check leap years for February 29:

SELECT '2024-02-29'::date; -- Valid (2024 is leap year)
SELECT '2023-02-29'::date; -- ERROR (2023 is not leap year)

PostgreSQL interprets ambiguous dates based on the datestyle setting. Check current setting:

SHOW datestyle;
-- Returns: ISO, MDY (or similar)

If dates are being misinterpreted, adjust the setting:

SET datestyle = 'ISO, MDY';
-- or
SET datestyle = 'ISO, DMY';

For permanent change, update postgresql.conf or use in connection string:

PostgreSQL://user:pass@host/db?options=-c%20datestyle%3DISO,MDY

Always use ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD) in applications to avoid ambiguity.