diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3bc209203a9..9a97b3c67ad 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ## [`master`](https://github.com/elastic/eui/tree/master)
 
-No public interface changes since `6.3.1`.
+- Added custom date string formatting for series charts crosshair overlay ([#1429](https://github.com/elastic/eui/pull/1429))
 
 ## [`6.3.1`](https://github.com/elastic/eui/tree/v6.3.1)
 
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/format_crosshair_times.js b/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/format_crosshair_times.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..454cb1ef6f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/format_crosshair_times.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import {
+  EuiSeriesChart,
+  EuiHistogramSeries,
+  EuiSeriesChartUtils,
+} from '../../../../src/experimental';
+
+const { SCALE } = EuiSeriesChartUtils;
+let timeseriesX = Date.now();
+const HOUR = 1000 * 60 * 60;
+
+const histogramData = new Array(1000).fill(0).map(() => {
+  const x0 = timeseriesX;
+  timeseriesX += HOUR;
+  const x = timeseriesX;
+  const y = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100);
+  return { x0, x, y };
+});
+
+export const FormatCrosshairTimesExample = () => (
+  <div>
+    <EuiSeriesChart xCrosshairFormat="YYYY-MM-DD hh:mmZ" height={200} xType={SCALE.TIME}>
+      <EuiHistogramSeries yDomain={[0, 100]} name="Chart Name" data={histogramData} />
+    </EuiSeriesChart>
+  </div>
+);
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/histogram_example.js b/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/histogram_example.js
index eec51f283bb..212f7fd2b54 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/histogram_example.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/series_chart_histogram/histogram_example.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import StackedVerticalRectSeriesExample from './stacked_vertical_rect_series';
 import HorizontalRectSeriesExample from './horizontal_rect_series';
 import StackedHorizontalRectSeriesExample from './stacked_horizontal_rect_series';
 import TimeHistogramSeriesExample from './time_histogram_series';
+import { FormatCrosshairTimesExample } from './format_crosshair_times';
 
 import {
   EuiBadge,
@@ -177,6 +178,27 @@ export const XYChartHistogramExample = {
       ],
       demo: <StackedHorizontalRectSeriesExample />,
     },
+    {
+      title: 'Custom crosshair time format',
+      text: (
+        <div>
+          <p>
+            Specify a custom formatting string to change the locality or format of the time string on the x crosshair.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      ),
+      source: [
+        {
+          type: GuideSectionTypes.JS,
+          code: require('!!raw-loader!./format_crosshair_times'),
+        },
+        {
+          type: GuideSectionTypes.HTML,
+          code: 'This component can only be used from React',
+        },
+      ],
+      demo: <FormatCrosshairTimesExample />
+    },
     {
       title: 'Time Series Histogram version',
       text: (
diff --git a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.js b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.js
index 6423a136d88..35eec890f9a 100644
--- a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.js
+++ b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { AbstractSeries, Crosshair } from 'react-vis';
 import { SCALE } from '../utils/chart_utils';
+import moment from 'moment';
 /**
  * The Crosshair used by the XYChart as main tooltip mechanism along X axis (vertical).
  */
@@ -55,9 +56,9 @@ export class EuiCrosshairX extends AbstractSeries {
   }
 
   _formatXValue = (x) => {
-    const { xType } = this.props;
+    const { xType, xCrosshairFormat } = this.props;
     if (xType === SCALE.TIME || xType === SCALE.TIME_UTC) {
-      return new Date(x).toISOString(); // TODO add a props for time formatting
+      return xCrosshairFormat ? moment(x).format(xCrosshairFormat) : new Date(x).toISOString();
     } else {
       return x;
     }
@@ -201,5 +202,6 @@ EuiCrosshairX.propTypes = {
    * The ordered array of series names
    */
   seriesNames: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.string).isRequired,
+  xCrosshairFormat: PropTypes.string,
 };
 EuiCrosshairX.defaultProps = {};
diff --git a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.test.js b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.test.js
index 7929853c489..998b05ee065 100644
--- a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.test.js
+++ b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_x.test.js
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { mount } from 'enzyme';
-
+import moment from 'moment';
 import { EuiSeriesChart } from '../series_chart';
 import { EuiVerticalBarSeries } from '../series/vertical_bar_series';
 import { EuiCrosshairX } from './';
 import { requiredProps } from '../../../test/required_props';
 import { Crosshair } from 'react-vis';
+import { EuiHistogramSeries } from '../series';
+import { EuiSeriesChartUtils } from '../utils';
+
+const { SCALE } = EuiSeriesChartUtils;
+
 describe('EuiCrosshairX', () => {
   test('render the X crosshair', () => {
     const data = [ { x: 0, y: 1.5 }, { x: 1, y: 2 }];
@@ -39,4 +44,50 @@ describe('EuiCrosshairX', () => {
     expect(crosshair.find('.rv-crosshair__inner__content .rv-crosshair__title__value').text()).toBe('1');
     expect(crosshair.find('.rv-crosshair__inner__content .rv-crosshair__item__value').text()).toBe('2');
   });
+
+  test('x crosshair formats ISO string by default', () => {
+    const openRange = 1074199386000;
+    const closeRange = 1074210186000;
+    const data = [ { x0: 1074188586000, x: openRange, y: 1.5 }, { x0: 1074199386000, x: closeRange, y: 2 }];
+    const startRangeString = new Date(openRange).toISOString();
+    const endRangeString = new Date(closeRange).toISOString();
+    const component = mount(
+      <EuiSeriesChart
+        width={600}
+        height={200}
+        {...requiredProps}
+        xType={SCALE.TIME}
+      >
+        <EuiHistogramSeries name="Test Series" data={data} />
+      </EuiSeriesChart>
+    );
+    component.find('rect').at(0).simulate('mousemove', { nativeEvent: { clientX: 351, clientY: 100 } });
+    const crosshair = component.find('.rv-crosshair');
+    expect(crosshair).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(crosshair.text()).toContain(`${startRangeString} to ${endRangeString}`);
+  });
+
+  test('x crosshair adheres to custom formatting', () => {
+    const openRange = 1074199386000;
+    const closeRange = 1074210186000;
+    const data = [ { x0: 1074188586000, x: openRange, y: 1.5 }, { x0: 1074199386000, x: closeRange, y: 2 }];
+    const momentFormat = 'YYYY-MM-DD hh:mmZ';
+    const startRangeString = moment(openRange).format(momentFormat);
+    const endRangeString = moment(closeRange).format(momentFormat);
+    const component = mount(
+      <EuiSeriesChart
+        width={600}
+        height={200}
+        {...requiredProps}
+        xType={SCALE.TIME}
+        xCrosshairFormat={momentFormat}
+      >
+        <EuiHistogramSeries name="Test Series" data={data} />
+      </EuiSeriesChart>
+    );
+    component.find('rect').at(0).simulate('mousemove', { nativeEvent: { clientX: 351, clientY: 100 } });
+    const crosshair = component.find('.rv-crosshair');
+    expect(crosshair).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(crosshair.text()).toContain(`${startRangeString} to ${endRangeString}`);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.js b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.js
index 108cd320751..aa4050cd94a 100644
--- a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.js
+++ b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import React, { PureComponent } from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { AbstractSeries, ScaleUtils } from 'react-vis';
 import { SCALE } from '../utils/chart_utils';
+import moment from 'moment';
 
 /**
  * Format title by detault.
@@ -237,9 +238,9 @@ export class EuiCrosshairY extends AbstractSeries {
     });
   }
   _formatYValue = (y) => {
-    const { yType } = this.props;
+    const { yType, yCrosshairFormat } = this.props;
     if (yType === SCALE.TIME || yType === SCALE.TIME_UTC) {
-      return new Date(y).toISOString(); // TODO add a props for time formatting
+      return yCrosshairFormat ? moment(y).format(yCrosshairFormat) : new Date(y).toISOString();
     } else {
       return y;
     }
@@ -382,5 +383,6 @@ EuiCrosshairY.propTypes = {
    * The ordered array of series names
    */
   seriesNames: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.string).isRequired,
+  yCrosshairFormat: PropTypes.string,
 };
 EuiCrosshairY.defaultProps = {};
diff --git a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.test.js b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.test.js
index 1ea8ecdb57e..38384eca27b 100644
--- a/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.test.js
+++ b/src/components/series_chart/crosshairs/crosshair_y.test.js
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { mount } from 'enzyme';
-
+import moment from 'moment';
 import { EuiSeriesChart } from '../series_chart';
 import { EuiHorizontalBarSeries } from '../series/horizontal_bar_series';
 import { EuiCrosshairY } from './';
 import { CrosshairY } from './crosshair_y';
 import { requiredProps } from '../../../test/required_props';
+import { EuiHistogramSeries } from '../series';
+import { EuiSeriesChartUtils } from '../utils';
+
+const { SCALE } = EuiSeriesChartUtils;
 
 describe('EuiCrosshairY', () => {
   test('render the Y crosshair', () => {
@@ -40,4 +44,54 @@ describe('EuiCrosshairY', () => {
     expect(crosshair.find('.rv-crosshair__inner__content .rv-crosshair__title__value').text()).toBe('0');
     expect(crosshair.find('.rv-crosshair__inner__content .rv-crosshair__item__value').text()).toBe('1.5');
   });
+
+  test('y crosshair formats ISO string by default', () => {
+    const openRange = 1074188586000;
+    const closeRange = 1074199386000;
+    const data = [ { y0: openRange, y: 1074199386000, x: 1.5 }, { y0: closeRange, y: 1074210186000, x: 2 }];
+    const startRangeString = new Date(openRange).toISOString();
+    const endRangeString = new Date(closeRange).toISOString();
+    const component = mount(
+      <EuiSeriesChart
+        width={600}
+        height={200}
+        {...requiredProps}
+        stackBy="x"
+        yType={SCALE.TIME}
+        orientation={EuiSeriesChartUtils.ORIENTATION.HORIZONTAL}
+      >
+        <EuiHistogramSeries name="Test Series" data={data} />
+      </EuiSeriesChart>
+    );
+    component.find('rect').at(0).simulate('mousemove', { nativeEvent: { clientX: 351, clientY: 100 } });
+    const crosshair = component.find('.rv-crosshair');
+    expect(crosshair).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(crosshair.text()).toContain(`${startRangeString} to ${endRangeString}`);
+  });
+
+  test('y crosshair formats ISO string by default', () => {
+    const openRange = 1074188586000;
+    const closeRange = 1074199386000;
+    const data = [ { y0: openRange, y: 1074199386000, x: 1.5 }, { y0: closeRange, y: 1074210186000, x: 2 }];
+    const momentFormat = 'YYYY-MM-DD hh:mmZ';
+    const startRangeString = moment(openRange).format(momentFormat);
+    const endRangeString = moment(closeRange).format(momentFormat);
+    const component = mount(
+      <EuiSeriesChart
+        width={600}
+        height={200}
+        {...requiredProps}
+        stackBy="x"
+        yType={SCALE.TIME}
+        yCrosshairFormat={momentFormat}
+        orientation={EuiSeriesChartUtils.ORIENTATION.HORIZONTAL}
+      >
+        <EuiHistogramSeries name="Test Series" data={data} />
+      </EuiSeriesChart>
+    );
+    component.find('rect').at(0).simulate('mousemove', { nativeEvent: { clientX: 351, clientY: 100 } });
+    const crosshair = component.find('.rv-crosshair');
+    expect(crosshair).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(crosshair.text()).toContain(`${startRangeString} to ${endRangeString}`);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/series_chart/series_chart.js b/src/components/series_chart/series_chart.js
index fa44089c317..c34b6b8bdc8 100644
--- a/src/components/series_chart/series_chart.js
+++ b/src/components/series_chart/series_chart.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import React, { PureComponent } from 'react';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
-import { XYPlot, AbstractSeries  } from 'react-vis';
+import { AbstractSeries, XYPlot } from 'react-vis';
 import { makeFlexible } from './utils/flexible';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { EuiEmptyPrompt } from '../empty_prompt';
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const DEFAULT_MARGINS = {
   left: 40,
   right: 10,
   top: 10,
-  bottom: 40
+  bottom: 40,
 };
 
 /**
@@ -32,18 +32,17 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
   colorIterator = 0;
   _xyPlotRef = React.createRef();
 
-
   /**
    * Checks if the plot is empty, looking at existing series and data props.
    */
   _isEmptyPlot(children) {
-    return React.Children
-      .toArray(children)
-      .filter(this._isAbstractSeries)
-      .filter(child => {
-        return child.props.data && child.props.data.length > 0;
-      })
-      .length === 0;
+    return (
+      React.Children.toArray(children)
+        .filter(this._isAbstractSeries)
+        .filter(child => {
+          return child.props.data && child.props.data.length > 0;
+        }).length === 0
+    );
   }
 
   /**
@@ -55,14 +54,13 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
     return prototype instanceof AbstractSeries;
   }
 
-
   /**
    * Render children adding a valid EUI visualization color if the color prop is not specified.
    */
   _renderChildren(children) {
     let colorIterator = 0;
 
-    return  React.Children.map(children, (child, i) => {
+    return React.Children.map(children, (child, i) => {
       // Avoid applying color props to non series children
       if (!this._isAbstractSeries(child)) {
         return child;
@@ -80,11 +78,11 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
       return React.cloneElement(child, props);
     });
   }
-  _getSeriesNames = (children) => {
-    return  React.Children.toArray(children)
+  _getSeriesNames = children => {
+    return React.Children.toArray(children)
       .filter(this._isAbstractSeries)
-      .map(({ props: { name } }) => (name));
-  }
+      .map(({ props: { name } }) => name);
+  };
 
   render() {
     const {
@@ -93,6 +91,8 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
       height,
       margins,
       xType,
+      xCrosshairFormat,
+      yCrosshairFormat,
       yType,
       stackBy,
       statusText,
@@ -119,9 +119,7 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
           className="euiSeriesChartContainer__emptyPrompt"
           iconType="visualizeApp"
           title={<span>Chart not available</span>}
-          body={
-            <p>{ statusText }</p>
-          }
+          body={<p>{statusText}</p>}
         />
       );
     }
@@ -130,10 +128,7 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
     const seriesNames = this._getSeriesNames(children);
     const classes = classNames(className, 'euiSeriesChartContainer');
     return (
-      <div
-        className={classes}
-        {...rest}
-      >
+      <div className={classes} {...rest}>
         <XYPlot
           ref={this._xyPlotRef}
           dontCheckIfEmpty
@@ -153,7 +148,13 @@ class XYChart extends PureComponent {
           {this._renderChildren(children)}
           {showDefaultAxis && <EuiDefaultAxis orientation={orientation} />}
           {showCrosshair && (
-            <Crosshair seriesNames={seriesNames} crosshairValue={crosshairValue} onCrosshairUpdate={onCrosshairUpdate} />
+            <Crosshair
+              seriesNames={seriesNames}
+              crosshairValue={crosshairValue}
+              onCrosshairUpdate={onCrosshairUpdate}
+              xCrosshairFormat={xCrosshairFormat}
+              yCrosshairFormat={yCrosshairFormat}
+            />
           )}
 
           {enableSelectionBrush && (
@@ -182,6 +183,10 @@ XYChart.propTypes = {
   stackBy: PropTypes.string,
   /** The main x axis scale type. See https://github.com/uber/react-vis/blob/master/docs/scales-and-data.md */
   xType: PropTypes.oneOf([LINEAR, ORDINAL, CATEGORY, TIME, TIME_UTC, LOG, LITERAL]),
+  /** The formatting string for the X-axis. */
+  xCrosshairFormat: PropTypes.string,
+  /** The formatting string for the Y-axis. */
+  yCrosshairFormat: PropTypes.string,
   /** The main y axis scale type. See https://github.com/uber/react-vis/blob/master/docs/scales-and-data.md*/
   yType: PropTypes.oneOf([LINEAR, ORDINAL, CATEGORY, TIME, TIME_UTC, LOG, LITERAL]),
   /** Manually specify the domain of x axis. */