Convert WAV to MP3 online
Convert a WAV file to MP3 directly in your browser — the file is never uploaded to a server.
or click to select it
Convert a WAV file — uncompressed PCM audio that can easily run 10MB or more per minute of stereo CD-quality sound — into MP3, a compressed format a fraction of the size, directly in your browser.
WAV stores audio as raw, uncompressed PCM samples with almost no processing beyond a basic file header, which is why quality is pristine but file sizes are huge. This tool encodes those samples into MP3's compressed format, cutting the file down by roughly 90% with a barely noticeable drop in quality at normal bitrates.
Use cases
- Shrink long WAV recordings from a podcast or interview session before uploading or emailing them.
- Convert raw WAV voice memos into a format you can share without hitting attachment size limits.
- Compress sample libraries or sound-effect packs exported as WAV for easier storage.
How it works
- 1
Upload your WAV file
Drop the file in or select it from your device.
- 2
Adjust the bitrate if you want
A high automatic quality is used by default; you can set a specific bitrate in the options.
- 3
Download the MP3
Once it's done, download the resulting file.
Technical details
Runs ffmpeg.wasm in your browser. A one-minute stereo WAV recording at CD quality (44.1kHz/16-bit) takes up around 10MB, while the same minute encoded as MP3 at 192kbps needs under 1.5MB — the encoder achieves that by discarding audio detail outside the range human hearing typically notices.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my WAV file so much bigger than an MP3 of the same recording?
WAV stores every audio sample uncompressed, while MP3 uses lossy compression that removes inaudible detail — that's why a WAV file can be 5-10 times larger than an MP3 of the same length.
Will I lose audio quality converting WAV to MP3?
Some data is discarded during MP3 encoding, but at 192kbps or higher the difference is very hard to hear for most listeners. If you need bit-perfect quality, keep the original WAV.