How to convert WAV to MP3
- 1. Add WAV filesClick Choose WAV files, drag them in, or paste with Ctrl+V. Add a single take or a whole session's worth.
- 2. Choose a bitrate, then Convert192 kbps is the default. Pick 320 kbps for music you'll keep, or 128 kbps for speech. Click Convert to start.
- 3. Grab your MP3sEach finished row shows the size before and after. Download files one by one, or all together with Download all (.zip).
Why WAV files are so big
WAV, created by Microsoft and IBM in 1991, usually stores audio uncompressed: every sample, exactly as recorded. CD-quality stereo (16-bit, 44.1 kHz) needs about 1,411 kbps, or roughly 10 MB for every minute.
MP3 throws away sounds that people are unlikely to hear, using a psychoacoustic model. At 192 kbps that same minute takes about 1.4 MB. The arithmetic is simple: 192 kbps is about one seventh of 1,411 kbps, and 128 kbps is about one eleventh.
| WAV | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (usually raw PCM) | Lossy |
| Data rate, CD quality stereo | About 1,411 kbps | 128–320 kbps |
| Size of one minute | About 10 MB | About 1–2.4 MB |
| Quality | Exactly what was recorded | Very close at 192 kbps and above |
| Good for | Recording, editing, mastering | Listening, sharing, uploading |
| Plays on | Computers and most players | Practically every device |
Keep the WAV, share the MP3
Treat your WAV as the master copy. Edit and archive in WAV, then make MP3s for everything else: emailing a demo, posting a podcast episode, filling a phone or sending a voice recording that a form refuses because of its size.
Converting the other way doesn't bring quality back, so don't delete your WAVs if you might edit them again. If you only need to go back to WAV for software that insists on it, there's an MP3 to WAV converter too.
Bitrate cheat sheet
Sizes are for stereo audio and are close approximations: bitrate times length.
| Bitrate | Size per minute | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 128 kbps | About 0.96 MB | Speech, podcasts, voice notes |
| 192 kbps (default) | About 1.44 MB | Most music and general listening |
| 256 kbps | About 1.92 MB | Music on good headphones |
| 320 kbps | About 2.4 MB | The best MP3 can do; music you care about |
Honest notes
- MP3 is lossy. At 192 kbps and above most people can't tell it from the WAV on everyday speakers, but it isn't a bit-perfect copy.
- Very long or high-resolution WAV files need a lot of memory to convert. If one fails on a phone, try a computer.
- There are no file-count or daily limits. Several files convert in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert WAV to MP3 at 320 kbps?
Add your WAV files, set Quality to 320 kbps and click Convert. 320 kbps is the highest bitrate the MP3 format allows.
How can I compress a WAV file?
Converting to MP3 is the simplest way. A CD-quality WAV shrinks to roughly one seventh of its size at 192 kbps, or about one eleventh at 128 kbps. If you need a lossless copy that's still smaller, FLAC is the usual choice, but far fewer apps and sites accept it.
Are my recordings uploaded?
No. Your WAV files are converted on your device and never uploaded. The page loads its code, ads and cookieless analytics from the internet like any website, but your audio never leaves your browser. How it works.
Will WAV to MP3 lower the quality?
Slightly, because MP3 is lossy. At 192 kbps or more the difference is very hard to hear for most listening. Keep the original WAV if you'll edit or remaster later.
Is WAVE the same as WAV?
Yes. WAV is short for Waveform Audio File Format, and files can end in .wav or .wave. Both are accepted.
Can I convert many WAV files at once?
Yes. Add them all, click Convert once, then use Download all (.zip) to save every MP3 in one go.
Are WAV tags kept in the MP3?
Yes, by default. Title, artist, album, year, track, genre and comment from the WAV's INFO or ID3 tags are copied into the MP3's ID3 tag. Set Metadata to Remove for an MP3 without tags.