About the WAV to MP3 Converter
A WAV file stores audio without compression: about 10 MB per minute at CD quality. MP3 at 320 kbps uses 2.4 MB per minute and at 128 kbps less than 1 MB, which makes it practical for email, messaging and websites.
SoundBench encodes WAV to MP3 with the LAME encoder directly in your browser, so recordings stay private and the conversion starts instantly.
How to use the WAV to MP3 Converter
- Drop one or more WAV files onto the converter.
- Choose a bitrate: 320 kbps for music, 128 kbps for speech.
- Click Convert to download the MP3 files.
WAV vs MP3 file size per minute
| Format | Per minute | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| WAV 24-bit / 48 kHz | ≈ 17.3 MB | ≈ 1.04 GB |
| WAV 16-bit / 44.1 kHz | ≈ 10.6 MB | ≈ 635 MB |
| MP3 320 kbps | 2.4 MB | 144 MB |
| MP3 128 kbps | 0.96 MB | 58 MB |
Frequently asked questions
Will WAV to MP3 lose quality?
MP3 is a lossy format, so some data is removed. At 256–320 kbps the difference is very hard to hear on music. Keep the WAV if you plan to edit the audio later.
What is the best MP3 bitrate for voice recordings?
96 to 128 kbps is plenty for speech. For the smallest files, use Reduce File Size and pick the Voice preset, which also converts to mono.
Can I convert 32-bit float WAV files?
Yes. 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit float WAV files are all supported.