About the WAV to MP3
WAV to MP3 turns large, uncompressed WAV recordings into compact MP3 files. Drop in a WAV from a voice recorder, a music program or a phone call recorder, choose a quality between 96 and 320 kbps and keep stereo or switch to mono. The page estimates the MP3 size before converting, plays the result and lets you download it. A WAV that takes 50 MB can shrink to about 5 MB at 128 kbps. The conversion runs in your browser, so your recordings stay on your device.
Updated October 2026
How to use the WAV to MP3
- 1Select your WAV file.
- 2Choose a quality: 128 kbps for voice, 192 or 256 kbps for music.
- 3Choose stereo or mono.
- 4Press Convert to MP3 and wait for it to finish.
- 5Check the preview and download the MP3.
WAV versus MP3
WAV stores sound without compression, so it is exact but large: about 10 MB for every minute of CD quality stereo. MP3 removes parts of the sound that are hard to hear and stores the rest efficiently. That is why an MP3 is a good format for sharing, emailing and phones, while WAV is better for editing and archives.
Pick the right bitrate
Think about how the file will be used. A voice memo or lecture sounds fine at 96 to 128 kbps. Music for everyday listening is good at 192 kbps. If you plan to keep the MP3 as your only copy of a recording, use 256 or 320 kbps.
- Voice: 96 to 128 kbps, mono
- Music: 192 kbps
- Best quality MP3: 320 kbps
Prepare the recording
Trim silence and mistakes first with the Audio Trimmer, and join takes with the Audio Joiner. A quiet recording can be made louder before converting by checking it with the Audio Loudness Checker. Fixing problems in the WAV, which has all the detail, gives better results than fixing the MP3.
Going back the other way
An MP3 cannot be turned back into the exact original, but if a program needs a WAV file, the Audio to WAV Converter makes one. The result is larger and sounds the same as the MP3, not better than it.
Keep your originals
Store the WAV originals of important recordings and use the MP3 copies for sharing. Storage is cheap, and you can always make a new MP3 at another quality.
Features
- Reads WAV files, including 16-bit and 24-bit
- Quality from 96 to 320 kbps
- Estimated size before converting
- Stereo or mono
- Odd sample rates adjusted for MP3 automatically
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my file be?
About a tenth at 128 kbps and about a fifth at 256 kbps. A three-minute stereo WAV is around 30 MB, while the same song at 192 kbps is roughly 4 MB.
Will I lose quality?
Yes, MP3 is lossy. At 192 kbps and above it is hard to hear the difference on normal equipment. Keep your WAV originals if you may edit the audio again, since each save as MP3 loses a little more.
What if my WAV has a high sample rate such as 96 kHz?
MP3 supports sample rates up to 48 kHz. The converter lowers 88.2 and 96 kHz files to 44.1 or 48 kHz automatically.
Can it convert a WAV with more than two channels?
It makes a stereo or mono MP3 from the first channels. Surround files are not mixed down in full.
Which bitrate is best for voice?
96 to 128 kbps, and mono, give small files for lectures and interviews. Music benefits from 192 kbps or more.
Does it keep metadata?
No. The MP3 has only the sound. Add title and artist tags afterwards in a tag editor.
Why does a long WAV take time?
The sound is decoded and encoded again. A modern computer is faster than real time; a long file on an old phone takes longer.
Is my WAV uploaded?
No. It is converted on your device and nothing is sent anywhere.