WAV to MP3 converter
Turn WAV files into MP3 in seconds, inside this tab. Nothing is uploaded.
- Runs on your device
- No upload
- No sign-up
- Free
Drop WAV files here (any other format works too)
Stays on this device: nothing is uploaded. You can also drag a file here or paste it.
MP3: sharing, podcasts, car stereos, anything that must just play.
How to convert WAV to MP3
- Choose your .wav files or drop them on the box above. You can add several.
- MP3 is already selected. Leave the bitrate at 320 kbps or change it.
- Conversion starts straight away. Press Download next to each finished file, or Download all.
WAV vs MP3
| WAV | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waveform Audio File Format | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | lossless | lossy |
| Codec | Uncompressed PCM | MP3 (LAME encoder) |
| Size | 10.1 MB at 16-bit / 44.1 kHz stereo | 0.96 MB at 128 kbps, 2.4 MB at 320 kbps |
| Plays on | Every desktop OS, most phones and all audio software | Everywhere: every phone, browser, car and media player made in the last 25 years |
WAV. WAV stores raw PCM samples with no compression at all. What you save is exactly what the editor sees, which is why studios and editors use it.
MP3. MP3 throws away sound the ear is unlikely to notice, using a psychoacoustic model, so a song shrinks to roughly a tenth of its CD size.
What happens to quality
WAV is lossless and MP3 is lossy, so the conversion discards some detail. At the default bitrate most listeners can’t hear the difference, and the file becomes far smaller. Hear the difference between lossless and MP3 yourself.
Related converters
Questions people ask
How do I convert WAV to MP3 without uploading?
Choose or drop your .wav file above. AudioKit converts it to MP3 inside your browser with ffmpeg.wasm and gives you a download. The file is never sent to a server, and you can convert several at once.
Will I lose quality converting WAV to MP3?
WAV is lossless and MP3 is lossy, so the conversion discards some detail. At the default bitrate most listeners can’t hear the difference, and the file becomes far smaller.
What bitrate should I choose for MP3?
320 kbps is a good default. Your WAV is lossless, so a high bitrate like 256–320 kbps preserves the most. For voice recordings, 96–128 kbps is plenty.
Where does WAV play and where does MP3?
WAV: Every desktop OS, most phones and all audio software. MP3: Everywhere: every phone, browser, car and media player made in the last 25 years.
Is this WAV to MP3 converter safe?
It’s about as private as a converter can be: nothing is uploaded, there is no account and no installer. The page needs a modern browser with WebAssembly (any current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari).