JavaScript Date setUTCMinutes() Method

Beginner
5 min read
Updated: Nov 2026
3 examples
Date
Decorative image with the word SETUTCMINUTES

Definition

Date.prototype.setUTCMinutes() changes the minutes (and optionally seconds and milliseconds) of a Date in UTC. It mutates the date in place and returns the new epoch timestamp.

Remember
date.setUTCMinutes(minutesValue)
date.setUTCMinutes(min, sec, ms)

minutesValue → 0–59 (UTC)
overflow     → rolls into the next UTC hour
returns      → epoch milliseconds (or NaN)

setUTCMinutes() → UTC wall clock
setMinutes()    → local wall clock

Syntax

Call date.setUTCMinutes. Start with this line.

JavaScript
date.setUTCMinutes(m[, sec[, ms]])
CallWhat it does
date.setUTCMinutes(m[, sec[, ms]])Primary signature.
date.setUTCMinutes(...)Call with the arguments your case needs.

Built into JavaScript. Call setUTCMinutes(...) on a Date instance — no import required.

Library declarations
JavaScript
date.setUTCMinutes(m[, sec[, ms]])

Parameters

ParameterDescription
minutesValueRequired. UTC minutes (0–59; overflow allowed)
secondsValueOptional. UTC seconds (0–59)
msValueOptional. UTC ms — requires seconds too

Return Value

Return ValueDescription
*The value returned by date.setUTCMinutes().

JavaScript Examples

Example 1 — Set the UTC Minute Only

Move the UTC minute to 10 while keeping seconds.

JavaScript
const date = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 2, 1, 12, 30, 45));
date.setUTCMinutes(10);

console.log(date.getUTCMinutes()); // 10
console.log(date.getUTCSeconds()); // 45
console.log(date.toISOString());   // "2026-03-01T12:10:45.000Z"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Build a UTC date. Date.UTC(2026, 2, 1, 12, 30, 45) is March 1, 2026 at 12:30:45 UTC.
  2. Change only the minute. setUTCMinutes(10) writes minute 10 and leaves seconds alone.
  3. Read it back. getUTCMinutes() → 10, getUTCSeconds() → 45.
  4. Confirm ISO. The trailing Z means UTC — 12:10:45.000Z.

Example 2 — Snap to :15:00.000 UTC

Use three arguments to set minutes, seconds, and milliseconds together.

JavaScript
const date = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 2, 1, 12, 30, 45, 500));
date.setUTCMinutes(15, 0, 0);

console.log(date.getUTCMinutes()); // 15
console.log(date.getUTCSeconds()); // 0
console.log(date.toISOString());   // "2026-03-01T12:15:00.000Z"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Start messy. The date begins at 12:30:45.500 UTC.
  2. Pass three args. Minute 15, then 0, 0 for seconds and ms.
  3. Clear leftovers. Sub-minute fields become zero — no leftover 45 seconds.
  4. Keep the hour. The UTC hour stays 12; only minutes and below change.

Example 3 — UTC Minute Overflow (setUTCMinutes(75))

Out-of-range minutes roll into the next UTC hour.

JavaScript
const date = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 2, 1, 12, 30, 45));
date.setUTCMinutes(75);

console.log(date.getUTCHours());   // 13
console.log(date.getUTCMinutes()); // 15
console.log(date.toISOString());   // "2026-03-01T13:15:45.000Z"
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Start at 12:30. The date is 12:30:45 UTC.
  2. Pass 75. 75 minutes = 1 full hour + 15 minutes.
  3. Normalize. Hour becomes 13, minute becomes 15; seconds stay 45.
  4. Use carefully. Overflow helps when adding minutes, but it will not reject bad input.
Compatibility

Browser & Runtime Support

Date.prototype.setUTCMinutes() has been in JavaScript since ES1. It is Baseline and works in every modern browser and Node.js — no polyfill needed.

✓ Baseline · ES1

Date.prototype.setUTCMinutes()

Supported everywhere Date exists: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Internet Explorer, and all Node.js versions.

99% Universal API
Google Chrome Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Mozilla Firefox Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Apple Safari Supported · macOS & iOS
Full support
Microsoft Edge Supported · Chromium
Full support
Internet Explorer No native support · Use a polyfill
Polyfill
Opera Supported · Modern versions
Full support
Samsung Internet Supported · Android
Full support
Bun Supported · JavaScript runtime
Supported
Deno Supported · JavaScript runtime
Supported
Node.js Supported · Server runtime
Supported
Android WebView Supported · Modern WebView
Full support
Date.setUTCMinutes() Excellent

Bottom line: Safe to use in any environment. Remember UTC vs local, mutation, and overflow into hours. See also the MDN setUTCMinutes() reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

It sets the minutes (0–59) of a Date according to universal time (UTC). Optional arguments can also set UTC seconds and milliseconds. The Date mutates in place and returns the new timestamp in milliseconds.
setMinutes() changes the local clock minute. setUTCMinutes() changes the UTC clock minute. Use the setter that matches your timezone rules—do not mix them with the opposite getters.
If you pass only the minutes, the current UTC seconds and milliseconds are kept (from getUTCSeconds and getUTCMilliseconds).
JavaScript normalizes overflow into the next UTC hour. setUTCMinutes(75) becomes +1 hour and 15 minutes (seconds unchanged unless you pass them).
No. It returns a number (epoch milliseconds), or NaN if the date becomes invalid. Call each setter on the same Date variable—do not chain on the return value.
Use it for ISO timestamps, server schedules, and global clocks that must follow UTC. Prefer setMinutes() for user-facing local clocks.

Next: setUTCMonth()

Learn how to set the UTC month (0–11) on a Date object.

setUTCMonth() tutorial →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

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