How do I convert WAV to MP3 for free?
Open this page, drop the WAV file, choose a bitrate and download the MP3. The conversion runs in your browser, so there is no sign-up, no upload and no limit on the number of files.
Convert WAV to MP3
Turn large WAV recordings into small MP3 files, with a bitrate you choose.
Your files never leave this device.
Drop your WAV audio here, keep MP3 selected, choose a bitrate and download the result. WAV stores sound uncompressed, so the files are large, while an MP3 of the same recording is many times smaller and plays everywhere. The conversion runs in your browser, so your recordings are never uploaded.
How to use
- Drop one or more WAV files onto the page.
- Keep MP3 selected and choose a bitrate from 96 to 320 kbps.
- Tick mono if the recording is a single voice, and set start and end seconds to trim.
- Download the MP3 files, or all of them as a ZIP.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is an MP3 than a WAV?
A lot. CD-quality stereo WAV uses about 10 MB per minute, while an MP3 at 192 kbps uses about 1.4 MB per minute, which is roughly seven times smaller.
Which bitrate is best for WAV to MP3?
192 kbps is a good default for music. Use 320 kbps if you want the closest result to the WAV and file size does not matter, and 128 kbps for speech, podcasts or when you need the smallest file.
Does converting WAV to MP3 lose quality?
Yes, a little, because MP3 is lossy and discards detail most ears do not notice. At 256 or 320 kbps the difference is very hard to hear. Keep the WAV if you will edit the sound again.
Can I turn an MP3 back into a WAV?
You can save an MP3 as WAV with the main converter, but the lost detail does not come back. The WAV is larger and sounds exactly like the MP3. It helps only when a program needs WAV input.
Why does the sample rate change?
Because the sound is converted to 44.1 kHz, the standard rate for music CDs and MP3 players. For most recordings this changes nothing you can hear. If you need another rate, this tool is not the right one.
Is there a length limit for a WAV file?
Yes, up to 2 hours of audio per file, and long recordings also use your device's memory. On a phone, a very long WAV may fail, so trim it or convert on a computer.
When is a WAV worth turning into an MP3?
A WAV is the right file while you are recording and editing, because nothing is thrown away. It is the wrong file for sharing, since a ten-minute song can be over 100 MB. Convert when the recording is finished: before you email it, put it on a phone, upload it to a site with a size limit or send it to a client for approval.
Keep the WAV as your master copy. You can always make a new MP3 from it, but you cannot rebuild a WAV from an MP3.
How do I choose the bitrate?
The bitrate is the amount of data used for each second of sound. For a voice recording, such as an interview or a podcast, 128 kbps is clear and small; adding mono halves the file again. For music, 192 kbps is a sensible middle. Choose 256 or 320 kbps for tracks you want to keep, or for music with fine detail, such as acoustic instruments.
A higher number always means a bigger file, but not always better sound. If you can no longer hear a difference between two versions, pick the smaller one.
What about WAV files that came from a video?
If your sound started life as a video, skip the extra step and use the main video to MP3 converter directly, which accepts MP4 and MOV as well as WAV. Pages like MP4 to MP3 explain the video case, while M4A to MP3 covers Apple audio files.
What mistakes should I avoid?
The most common mistake is deleting the WAV right after converting. Listen to the MP3 first, and keep the original if the recording matters. Another is choosing the highest bitrate for a recording that was poor to begin with; the MP3 will be large and still sound the same.
Finally, remember that trimming changes the result. Check the start and end seconds before you press convert, then play the first and last seconds of the output.
How it compares
| This tool | Upload-based services | |
|---|---|---|
| Do files leave your device? | No | Yes |
| Account required | No | Often |
| Daily limit | None | Often |
| Watermark | None | Sometimes |
Limits and privacy
- The output sample rate is always 44.1 kHz.
- MP3 is lossy; keep the WAV if you will edit the sound again.
- Files up to 2 hours of audio; long recordings can fail on phones with little memory.
- It does not edit sound beyond trimming and mono; there is no noise removal or volume change.