How to use the WAV to MP3 converter
- Choose your WAV file or drop it on the box.
- Pick an audio quality. 192 kbps is the usual choice; 320 kbps for music you care about.
- Click "Convert to MP3". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your MP3 and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert WAV to MP3?
WAV files are big: around 10 MB per minute. MP3 makes them about a tenth of the size, small enough to email, upload and play on any device.
- WAV: large files.
- MP3: plays on every device.
- MP3: small files.
For music, 256 or 320 kbps MP3 is very hard to tell apart from the WAV. For speech, 128 kbps is plenty.
WAV vs MP3
| WAV | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waveform Audio File Format | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Audio | Audio |
| Created by | Microsoft and IBM (1991) | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) |
| Compression | Uncompressed | Lossy |
| Codec | PCM | MP3 |
| Best for | Recording, editing, sound effects and mastering | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones |
| Plays on | Every computer and audio editor, most phones and browsers | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser |
Does converting WAV to MP3 lose quality?
WAV is uncompressed and MP3 is lossy, so some detail is removed to make the file smaller. At 256 kbps or higher, almost nobody can hear a difference.
How long does it take?
A few seconds for a song, and under a minute for an hour-long recording on most computers.
What is a WAV file?
WAV usually stores raw, uncompressed PCM audio, the same data as an audio CD. Quality is perfect but files are large: about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the WAV to MP3 converter cost?
Nothing. It is free with no registration, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert.
Do you keep a copy of my files?
We never receive them. All processing happens on your device, so there is nothing for us to store or delete.
Will the MP3 sound as good as the WAV?
WAV is uncompressed and MP3 is lossy, so some detail is removed to make the file smaller. At 256 kbps or higher, almost nobody can hear a difference.
Can I convert MP3 back to WAV?
Yes, use the MP3 to WAV converter. Keep in mind that detail removed by MP3 compression does not come back.
A WAV is too big to email. What should I do?
Convert it to MP3 or use the WAV Compressor.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser and choose a file. Phones have less memory than computers, so very large files are better converted on a laptop or desktop.