diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/template.py b/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
index ca2828c4402..07219942f98 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/template.py
@@ -1494,6 +1494,16 @@ def forgiving_as_timestamp(value, default=_SENTINEL):
         return default
 
 
+def as_datetime(value):
+    """Filter and to convert a time string or UNIX timestamp to datetime object."""
+    try:
+        # Check for a valid UNIX timestamp string, int or float
+        timestamp = float(value)
+        return dt_util.utc_from_timestamp(timestamp)
+    except ValueError:
+        return dt_util.parse_datetime(value)
+
+
 def strptime(string, fmt, default=_SENTINEL):
     """Parse a time string to datetime."""
     try:
@@ -1789,7 +1799,7 @@ class TemplateEnvironment(ImmutableSandboxedEnvironment):
         self.filters["atan"] = arc_tangent
         self.filters["atan2"] = arc_tangent2
         self.filters["sqrt"] = square_root
-        self.filters["as_datetime"] = dt_util.parse_datetime
+        self.filters["as_datetime"] = as_datetime
         self.filters["as_timestamp"] = forgiving_as_timestamp
         self.filters["today_at"] = today_at
         self.filters["as_local"] = dt_util.as_local
@@ -1830,7 +1840,7 @@ class TemplateEnvironment(ImmutableSandboxedEnvironment):
         self.globals["atan"] = arc_tangent
         self.globals["atan2"] = arc_tangent2
         self.globals["float"] = forgiving_float
-        self.globals["as_datetime"] = dt_util.parse_datetime
+        self.globals["as_datetime"] = as_datetime
         self.globals["as_local"] = dt_util.as_local
         self.globals["as_timestamp"] = forgiving_as_timestamp
         self.globals["today_at"] = today_at
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_template.py b/tests/helpers/test_template.py
index 1a8bf8e526b..d6649b058e2 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_template.py
@@ -732,6 +732,36 @@ def test_as_datetime(hass, input):
     )
 
 
+def test_as_datetime_from_timestamp(hass):
+    """Test converting a UNIX timestamp to a date object."""
+    tests = [
+        (1469119144, "2016-07-21 16:39:04+00:00"),
+        (1469119144.0, "2016-07-21 16:39:04+00:00"),
+        (-1, "1969-12-31 23:59:59+00:00"),
+    ]
+    for input, output in tests:
+        # expected = dt_util.parse_datetime(input)
+        if output is not None:
+            output = str(output)
+
+        assert (
+            template.Template(f"{{{{ as_datetime({input}) }}}}", hass).async_render()
+            == output
+        )
+        assert (
+            template.Template(f"{{{{ {input} | as_datetime }}}}", hass).async_render()
+            == output
+        )
+        assert (
+            template.Template(f"{{{{ as_datetime('{input}') }}}}", hass).async_render()
+            == output
+        )
+        assert (
+            template.Template(f"{{{{ '{input}' | as_datetime }}}}", hass).async_render()
+            == output
+        )
+
+
 def test_as_local(hass):
     """Test converting time to local."""