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Convert your WAV to MP3
The file stays in this browser.
- Choose your WAV file
- Pick the MP3 quality
- Download your MP3
Audio conversion uses FFmpeg through the single-threaded @ffmpeg/core 0.12.10 build, licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later. FFmpeg. ffmpeg.wasm.
WAV files sound great but take a lot of space: one minute of CD-quality stereo is over 10 MB. This free WAV to MP3 converter shrinks them into MP3s you can email, upload to a website or keep on your phone. It is built for studio bounces, field recorder takes, interviews and CD rips. The WAV never leaves your computer, which matters for unreleased music and private recordings. For FLAC files, use FLAC to MP3.
How it works
How do I convert WAV to MP3?
- Click Browse files or drag the WAV onto the converter.
- Choose the Audio quality: 320 kbps for music, 128 kbps for speech.
- Click Convert to MP3.
- Check the size, rename the file if needed and click Download MP3.
How it works
How much smaller is an MP3 than a WAV?
Between about 4 and 11 times smaller, depending on the bitrate. We converted the same 60-second, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo WAV at each setting:
| File (60 seconds) | Measured size | Compared with the WAV |
|---|---|---|
| WAV, PCM 16-bit | 10,584,078 bytes (10.6 MB) | 1× |
| MP3 320 kbps | 2,402,263 bytes (2.4 MB) | 4.4× smaller |
| MP3 256 kbps | 1,921,819 bytes (1.9 MB) | 5.5× smaller |
| MP3 192 kbps | 1,441,375 bytes (1.4 MB) | 7.3× smaller |
| MP3 128 kbps | 960,931 bytes (0.96 MB) | 11× smaller |
Measured with FFmpeg 7.1 and the LAME encoder at a constant bitrate. The 128 kbps result matches the Library of Congress description of MP3 at 128 kbit/s as about one eleventh the size of CD-quality PCM audio.
Formats
Will converting WAV to MP3 reduce quality?
Technically yes, audibly rarely. WAV is uncompressed and MP3 is lossy, so some data is removed. At 256 or 320 kbps, most people cannot hear the difference on everyday speakers and headphones. Keep the WAV as your master copy and use the MP3 for sharing and listening.
| Your WAV is | Choose |
|---|---|
| A finished song or mix | 320 kbps |
| A rehearsal or demo | 192 or 256 kbps |
| An interview, lecture or voice-over | 128 kbps |
How it works
How long can a WAV be to fit in 150 MB?
About 14 minutes of CD-quality stereo (16-bit, 44.1 kHz), because each minute is about 10.6 MB. High-resolution WAV files fill the limit faster: a 24-bit, 96 kHz stereo WAV takes about 34.6 MB per minute, so roughly 4 minutes fit. For longer recordings, export a shorter section from your editor or split the file first.
High-resolution WAVs convert normally. The MP3 standard tops out at a 48 kHz sample rate, so a 96 kHz WAV comes out as a 48 kHz MP3; we checked this with FFmpeg.
Devices
Can I convert WAV to MP3 on a Mac?
Yes, in Safari, Chrome or Firefox: drag the WAV from Finder onto the page and download the MP3. On macOS you can also use the Music app's built-in MP3 encoder, but it adds the file to your library first and changes a global import setting. This page does one file without touching your library. On Windows, drag the WAV from File Explorer in the same way.
Good to know
When should I keep the WAV instead?
- When you will edit or remix the audio again. Every MP3 generation adds loss.
- When a mastering engineer, a label or a broadcaster asks for WAV.
- When you archive recordings. Storage is cheap; a lost original is not.
Limits
Limits of the WAV to MP3 page
This .wav to MP3 converter accepts WAV files only, up to 150 MB and one at a time. It does not batch-convert folders, and it has no editing or tag tools. For other formats, open the main MP3 converter.
More detail in our guides: Convert to MP3 on a Mac: Music App, QuickTime or Your Browser and Best MP4 to MP3 Converter: What Actually Matters.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about WAV to MP3
Is this WAV to MP3 converter free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and the WAV is converted in your browser.
What is the best bitrate to convert WAV to MP3?
320 kbps for finished music, 192 kbps as an all-round choice and 128 kbps for speech.
Does WAV to MP3 lose quality?
Some data is removed, but at 256 or 320 kbps the difference is very hard to hear for most listeners.
How big is a 3-minute song as MP3?
About 4.3 MB at 192 kbps and 7.2 MB at 320 kbps. The same song as a CD-quality WAV is about 31.8 MB.
Can I convert a 24-bit or 96 kHz WAV?
Yes. High-resolution WAVs convert normally; just keep the file under 150 MB.
What is the best WAV to MP3 converter?
One that offers 320 kbps, handles 24-bit and 96 kHz WAVs, states its size limit and does not upload your recording. For whole folders of WAVs, a desktop encoder is more practical. Our guide to choosing the best MP3 converter compares the options.
Is my WAV uploaded to a server?
No. The WAV stays on your device and the MP3 is created in your browser.
Get started
Convert your WAV to MP3
Choose the WAV, pick a bitrate and download a much smaller MP3.
Tools
Other audio to MP3 converters
- FLAC to MP3: lossless music files.
- M4A to MP3: iPhone voice memos and iTunes audio.
- OGG to MP3: Vorbis and Opus files.
- Audio to MP3 converter: every audio format in one place.