date-fns vs luxon

utility

date-fns

luxon

date-fns and Luxon are two modern JavaScript date manipulation libraries designed to replace the legacy Moment.js. date-fns operates as a collection of pure, functional utilities that work directly with native JavaScript Date objects, offering a modular approach where you import only what you need. Luxon, created by a Moment.js core contributor, wraps dates in immutable DateTime objects and leverages the native Intl API for internationalization and timezone support.

This comparison matters because choosing between them significantly impacts your application's bundle size, performance characteristics, and developer experience. date-fns appeals to developers who prioritize performance, minimal dependencies, and functional programming patterns, while Luxon targets teams building internationalized applications requiring robust timezone handling and prefer an object-oriented, chainable API similar to Moment.js.

Head-to-Head

Performance→ date-fns wins

date-fns

Significantly faster for common operations like date arithmetic, parsing, and comparison because it operates directly on native Date objects without wrapper overhead. Benchmarks show date-fns outperforms Luxon in calculations like add/subtract and before/after checks.

luxon

Introduces minor performance overhead due to DateTime wrapper objects, but excels specifically in formatting operations. The reliance on native Intl API means formatting performance is good, though general date manipulation is slower than date-fns.

Bundle Size & Tree-Shaking→ date-fns wins

date-fns

Exceptional tree-shaking support allows importing individual functions, resulting in minimal bundle impact. Even including all 75 locales adds only 80kb gzipped. The modular architecture means you only pay for what you use.

luxon

Historically shipped only CommonJS output which limited tree-shaking effectiveness, maintaining a relatively static bundle size. However, leverages native Intl for locale data, avoiding the need to bundle locale files, which keeps the core library lean.

Timezone Handling→ luxon wins

date-fns

Requires the separate date-fns-tz extension library for timezone support. This keeps the core lightweight but adds complexity when timezone manipulation is needed. Not as seamless or comprehensive as Luxon's built-in approach.

luxon

Built-in, first-class timezone support using native Intl APIs. Handles timezone conversions, DST transitions, and zone-aware operations elegantly without additional packages. This is Luxon's strongest differentiator.

API Design & Developer Experience→ luxon wins

date-fns

Functional, immutable API with standalone functions like addDays(date, 1). Predictable and testable, avoiding mutation issues. Appeals to functional programming enthusiasts but can be verbose for complex operations requiring multiple transformations.

luxon

Chainable, object-oriented API with immutable DateTime objects. Syntax like DateTime.local().setZone('America/New_York').minus({weeks: 1}) feels modern and intuitive for complex operations. More discoverable through autocomplete and familiar to Moment.js users.

Internationalization & Locale Support→ luxon wins

date-fns

Supports 75+ locales through importable modules. Each locale must be explicitly imported and registered, giving control but requiring more setup. Locale data is bundled with the library, increasing size when multiple locales are needed.

luxon

Leverages browser's native Intl API, supporting any locale the browser supports with zero additional bundle size. Formatting in 50 different locales requires no extra code. This architectural advantage makes Luxon ideal for heavily internationalized applications.

Feature Set & Capabilities→ luxon wins

date-fns

Comprehensive date manipulation functions covering calculations, comparisons, formatting, and parsing. Focuses on core date operations. Duration and Interval support is more limited, requiring additional functions rather than dedicated types.

luxon

Rich feature set including first-class Duration and Interval objects, sophisticated timezone operations, and comprehensive parsing options. Better suited for complex temporal logic involving time ranges, durations, and cross-timezone calculations.

Verdict

Choose date-fns when performance and minimal bundle size are priorities, especially for applications with straightforward date manipulation needs without heavy timezone requirements. Its functional API and superior tree-shaking make it ideal for most web applications where speed matters and you're comfortable with native Date objects. The modular architecture gives you precise control over what ships to production.

Choose Luxon when building globally distributed applications requiring robust timezone handling, or when your team values a modern, chainable API with first-class Duration and Interval support. If your application serves international users across multiple timezones or needs extensive localization without bundle bloat, Luxon's native Intl integration and built-in timezone capabilities justify the minor performance trade-off. The object-oriented approach also eases migration for teams coming from Moment.js.

When to Use Each

If you are building a task management app with date sorting and simple relative times → use date-fns because you need fast calculations with minimal overhead and don't require timezone complexity.

If you are building a global scheduling platform coordinating meetings across timezones → use Luxon because its built-in timezone support and DST handling prevent the bugs that plague timezone-naive implementations.

If you are building a static website with occasional date formatting → use date-fns because tree-shaking will keep your bundle tiny, importing only the 2-3 functions you actually need.

If you are building a multi-tenant SaaS application serving 30+ countries → use Luxon because native Intl support provides unlimited locale formatting with zero bundle size penalty, and Duration objects simplify billing calculations.

Learn More

date-fns →luxon →

Head-to-Head

Performance→ date-fns wins

date-fns

luxon

Bundle Size & Tree-Shaking→ date-fns wins

date-fns

luxon

Timezone Handling→ luxon wins

date-fns

luxon

API Design & Developer Experience→ luxon wins

date-fns

luxon

Internationalization & Locale Support→ luxon wins

date-fns

luxon

Feature Set & Capabilities→ luxon wins

date-fns

luxon

Verdict

When to Use Each

If you are building a task management app with date sorting and simple relative times → use date-fns because you need fast calculations with minimal overhead and don't require timezone complexity.

If you are building a static website with occasional date formatting → use date-fns because tree-shaking will keep your bundle tiny, importing only the 2-3 functions you actually need.