WAV to MP3
Free online converter
Drop a WAV file. Get a compact MP3 ten times smaller, near-identical sound for spoken word or casual listening. No watermark, no email.
Drop your .wav file
or click to browse
Max 25 MB · .wav only
How it works
Drop the WAV
Drag any WAV (16-bit, 24-bit, mono, stereo) into the box. Files up to 25 MB go through anonymously, 60 MB with signup.
We re-encode to MP3
ffmpeg server-side, 128 kbps constant bitrate, 44.1 kHz, stereo. A 25 MB WAV (about 2 minutes at 24-bit/96 kHz, or 5 minutes at 16-bit/44.1) finishes in a few seconds.
Download the MP3
Result is named after the original with .mp3 swapped in. Both upload and output are deleted from our servers within the hour.
Why convert WAV to MP3
WAV files are huge
A 5-minute 16-bit/44.1 kHz WAV is about 50 MB. The same audio as 128 kbps MP3 is 5 MB. For emailing, uploading to a podcast host, or sticking on a phone, MP3 is the format you want.
MP3 plays everywhere
WAV is fine on desktop but flaky on older car stereos, some Bluetooth speakers, and a lot of web players. MP3 just works.
Quality loss at 128 kbps is inaudible for most listening
You will not hear the difference between a 128 kbps MP3 and the original WAV unless you are mastering music on studio monitors. For voice, podcast, or casual listening it is the obvious tradeoff.
No watermark, no popups
The MP3 is just your audio re-encoded. We do not add an intro saying "Converted by..." and we do not show a fake popup that you need to wait 30 seconds.
Privacy by default
WAVs from a field recording can be sensitive. The file lands on Vercel Blob storage, gets converted, and is wiped. We do not look at it, we do not keep it.
When you would convert WAV to MP3
Field recording → email-ready clip
A Zoom H1n or similar recorder usually saves to WAV by default. Convert to MP3 before sharing with a producer, journalist, or transcriber.
Studio export → phone-friendly listen
Audacity, Reaper, Logic — they all default to WAV. Export the rough mix as MP3 to share with collaborators or listen on the move.
Podcast prep
Most podcast hosts (Anchor, Buzzsprout, Transistor) accept WAV but recommend MP3 because the upload is faster and the bandwidth charges are lower.
Voice memo cleanup
If your phone or recorder saved to WAV, convert to MP3 before sticking it in your Notion or Notes archive — saves storage on the cheap.
Audio cleanup pipeline
You recorded in WAV for editing, did your edits, and now want the final to be a smaller MP3 for distribution. This is the last step.
Tips for clean WAV to MP3 conversion
- 1
24-bit WAV converts the same as 16-bit
MP3 does not preserve bit depth above what perceptual coding needs anyway. A 24-bit WAV gives you no audible advantage over 16-bit when re-encoded to 128 kbps MP3.
- 2
If the WAV is bigger than 25 MB, trim it first
Open in Audacity (free) or QuickTime, cut to the part you actually need, export as a smaller WAV, then convert. Or sign in for the 60 MB cap.
- 3
Mono in, mono out
If your source WAV is mono (typical for voice recordings), the resulting MP3 will be mono too. Mono MP3 at 128 kbps is overkill — but our converter standardises on 128 for simplicity.
- 4
For mastering or archival, do not use MP3
If you are keeping the file as a master copy for future re-mastering, stay in WAV (or FLAC). MP3 is a distribution format, not an archival one.
- 5
320 kbps or VBR? Open the MP3 in Audacity after
We export at constant 128 kbps. For a higher bitrate or VBR, take the MP3 to Audacity and re-export — the quality loss from one extra encode is small.
- 6
WAVs with weird headers fail silently
Some BWF (broadcast WAV) files have headers ffmpeg cannot read. Open them in Audacity, save as a standard WAV, and try again.
Frequently asked questions
Is WAV to MP3 conversion really free?
Yes. No account needed up to 25 MB, no time limit, no watermark on the output. Display ads on the marketing pages pay for the server.
What is the maximum file size?
25 MB anonymously, 60 MB with a free account. A 25 MB WAV is about 5 minutes at 16-bit/44.1 kHz stereo, or about 2 minutes at 24-bit/96 kHz.
How long does it take?
Seconds. The conversion itself is far faster than realtime — a 25 MB WAV finishes in 3-8 seconds. Upload speed is the bottleneck.
What MP3 quality do you output?
128 kbps constant bitrate, 44.1 kHz, matches the source channel count (mono in → mono out, stereo in → stereo out). This is the universal "good enough for everything" setting.
Do you keep my files?
No. Upload is deleted right after conversion. Result is purged within the hour by our cleanup cron. Save it locally.
Will the MP3 sound different from the WAV?
On most playback systems and most source material, no. Mastering on studio monitors with fresh ears, maybe — but at that point you would not be using a web converter.
Can I get a higher bitrate (256 or 320 kbps)?
Not directly here. Take our 128 kbps MP3 to Audacity and re-export at the bitrate you want. The double encode adds negligible audible loss.
What about FLAC instead of MP3?
FLAC is lossless compression — half the WAV size, no quality loss. For archival use it is the better choice. We do not output FLAC from this converter, but our /flac-to-mp3 page handles the other direction.
My WAV is 32-bit float. Will it convert?
Yes. ffmpeg handles 32-bit float WAV without issue. The MP3 output is the same regardless of input bit depth.
Why is mono audio getting a stereo MP3?
We keep the source channel layout. A mono WAV → mono MP3. A stereo WAV → stereo MP3. We do not upmix or downmix.
Does this work for music or just voice?
Both. 128 kbps MP3 is a slight perceptual compromise for music — fine for car listening, headphones in noisy environments, casual playback. For critical music listening keep the WAV or use FLAC.
Can I batch convert?
Not yet. One file at a time on the free tier. Batch is planned for a future Pro plan.
Ready to transcribe?
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