How to convert WAV to MP3
- Choose the WAV files, or drop them on the page.
- Check that Format is MP3 and Bitrate is 320 kb/s, or pick a lower bitrate.
- Select Convert to MP3.
- Download each MP3, or all of them as a ZIP.
Worked example
In the converter's automated test, a 1-second 48 kHz stereo WAV tone becomes tone.mp3, which ffprobe reads as MP3 at 48 kHz stereo and about 192 kb/s with that bitrate chosen. At 320 kb/s, 3 minutes of audio comes to about 7.2 MB.
Formats and limits
| Input | WAV |
|---|---|
| Output | MP3 |
| Limits | Up to 1 GB per file; 100 files per batch. |
| Engine | Mediabunny (WebCodecs) with MP3 and FLAC encoder extensions |
Limitations
- MP3 is lossy; converting it back to WAV does not restore what was removed.
- MP3 output here is stereo at most; files with more channels are mixed down.
- Up to 1 GB per file and 100 files per batch.
Questions
How much smaller is an MP3 than a WAV?
A CD-quality WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo) uses 1,411 kb/s, so a 320 kb/s MP3 is under a quarter of its size and a 128 kb/s MP3 is about a tenth.
Is WAV to MP3 lossless?
No. MP3 is a lossy format, so some detail is removed for good. Keep the WAV if you plan to edit the audio again.
What happens to 96 kHz or 24-bit WAV files?
MP3 supports sample rates up to 48 kHz, so higher rates are converted to 48 kHz and the result notes it. Bit depth does not apply to MP3.
Privacy
Runs on your device. Files and text are processed in this browser tab and are not uploaded.
This page opens the Audio format converter ready for this task. See the privacy policy for how toolsdocks handles data.