Turn big WAV files into MP3s that play anywhere
This WAV to MP3 converter compresses uncompressed WAV recordings into MP3 files a fraction of the size. A four-minute song shrinks from about 40 MB to under 10 MB at 320 kbps, or around 5.5 MB at 192 kbps, while staying hard to tell apart from the original. Encoding uses LAME, the open-source MP3 encoder found in most audio software, running in your browser — your recordings are never uploaded.
It suits anyone with WAVs to share: musicians sending mixes, podcasters exporting episodes, teachers distributing recordings, or anyone whose voice recorder, DAW or game capture produced files too big to email. Several files convert in one batch, and title and artist tags from the WAV’s INFO chunk are written to the MP3 as ID3 tags.
How to use the WAV to MP3 Converter
- Drop your WAV files onto the upload area, or click it to browse. 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit float WAVs at any sample rate are accepted.
- Pick a Bitrate (constant): 320 kbps for music masters, 192 kbps for everyday listening, 128 kbps for podcasts, 64 kbps for mono speech.
- Set Channels to Mono for voice recordings — the whole bitrate then goes to one channel — and leave Sample rate on Keep original unless asked otherwise.
- Press Convert to MP3. The estimate next to each file shows the expected size before you start.
- Listen to the result, then download it, or use Download all (ZIP) for a batch.
WAV to MP3 Converter features
LAME MP3 encoder
Constant-bitrate MP3 from 64 to 320 kbps, produced by LAME compiled to WebAssembly and run in a background worker.
Any WAV in
Integer PCM at 8, 16, 24 or 32 bits and 32-bit float, mono, stereo or multichannel; multichannel files are mixed down to stereo.
Sensible sample rates
MP3 supports up to 48 kHz, so 88.2 and 96 kHz recordings are resampled to 44.1 or 48 kHz automatically — no failed exports.
ID3 tags from INFO
Title, artist, album, genre and year stored in the WAV’s RIFF INFO chunk become ID3v2 tags in the MP3.
Batch with ZIP download
Convert a whole session folder at once; each file has its own progress and download button.
Which MP3 bitrate should you choose?
These sizes follow directly from the bitrate (bitrate × seconds ÷ 8), because the MP3 is constant bitrate — the WAV’s length is the only other factor. If an upload service lists requirements, follow them: the ACX audiobook platform, for instance, asks for constant-bitrate MP3 at 192 kbps or higher and 44.1 kHz.
| Bitrate | Per minute (stereo) | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 320 kbps | ≈ 2.3 MB | Final music masters, DJ sets, anything you might listen to critically |
| 256 kbps | ≈ 1.8 MB | Music where you want a margin above 192 kbps |
| 192 kbps | ≈ 1.4 MB | Everyday music listening |
| 128 kbps | ≈ 0.9 MB | Podcasts, lectures, audiobooks, demos |
| 64 kbps mono | ≈ 0.46 MB | Voice memos and spoken word |
Getting a clean MP3 from a WAV
- Leave headroom. MP3 encoding can push peaks slightly above the original level, so a WAV mastered right up to 0 dBFS may clip when the MP3 is decoded. Peaks of about −1 dBFS before converting avoid it.
- Use mono for speech. A mono MP3 spends the whole bitrate on one channel, so speech at 64–96 kbps sounds cleaner than in stereo at the same bitrate.
- Don’t lower the sample rate for music. 44.1 and 48 kHz keep the full audible range; 22.05 and 16 kHz roll off the treble and are meant for speech. Below 32 kHz MP3 allows 160 kbps at most, and the converter caps the bitrate for you.
- Keep the WAV. MP3 is a delivery format. If you might remaster or edit later, archive the WAV — or a FLAC copy about half its size — and make new MP3s from it.
CBR, VBR and why this tool uses CBR
LAME can make constant-bitrate (CBR) files, where every frame uses the same bitrate, or variable-bitrate (VBR) files that spend more bits on complex passages. VBR is slightly more efficient, but CBR has a predictable size, seeks precisely in every player and is what many upload forms and older devices require. The LAME build used here exposes CBR only, which is why every bitrate on this page is constant. To make an existing MP3 smaller instead, the MP3 compressor re-encodes it at a lower bitrate.
WAV to MP3 Converter FAQ
How do I convert WAV to MP3?
Drop the WAV here, choose a bitrate — 320 kbps is selected — and press Convert to MP3. The MP3 downloads as soon as it’s ready.
Will the MP3 sound worse than the WAV?
Technically yes, because MP3 is lossy, but at 256–320 kbps the difference is very hard to hear on most material. At 128 kbps careful listeners may notice softer cymbals and smeared reverb tails.
How much smaller is an MP3 than a WAV?
A CD-quality WAV uses 1,411 kbps, so a 320 kbps MP3 is about 4.4 times smaller and a 128 kbps MP3 about 11 times smaller.
Can I convert a 24-bit or 96 kHz WAV?
Yes. MP3 has no bit depth of its own, and rates above 48 kHz are resampled to 44.1 or 48 kHz, the highest MP3 supports.
Is it safe to convert private recordings here?
Yes. The WAV is read and encoded inside your browser; nothing is sent to a server, and the files disappear when you close the tab.
Why is there no VBR option?
The LAME encoder bundled for browsers produces constant bitrate only. CBR is also the most compatible choice for car stereos, upload forms and older players.