Convert.FAST

Convert WAV to MP3 Online — Compress for Easy Sharing

Reduce file sizes by 90% while maintaining transparent audio quality.

Drop up to 50 files at once — no install, no sign-up required.

Drop WAV Files Here

50 MB or 2 hours per file Up to 50 files 3 parallel conversions 1 credit per 5 minutes

Encrypted EU Servers Auto-delete 1h

Median WAV → MP3 time (last 10k jobs): 1.6s per minute

How it works

  1. 1 · Drop your files

    Drag & drop or choose WAV files. No account required on Free—paid plans unlock bigger batches, higher limits, and priority queues.

  2. 2 · We convert securely

    Processed on our dedicated servers. Encrypted in transit & at rest. We never store filenames—only file types & sizes for accounting.

  3. 3 · Download & auto-delete

    Grab your MP3s in seconds. Files delete automatically after 1 hour. Delete anytime after downloading with one click.

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991. It stores raw PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audio data, preserving every sample from the original recording without any quality loss. WAV supports 16/24/32-bit depth, sample rates from 8 kHz to 192 kHz (commonly 44.1/48 kHz), and up to 65,535 channels. It's the standard working format for audio professionals in recording studios, broadcast facilities, and sound design workflows worldwide.

Learn more: WAV on Wikipedia

The main tradeoff is file size: a 3-minute stereo track at CD quality (44.1kHz, 16-bit) is approximately 30 MB. While this makes WAV impractical for streaming or portable devices, it remains essential for editing, archiving, and any workflow where audio quality is paramount. Converting to MP3 reduces file size by 90% or more while maintaining perceptually transparent quality for most listeners.

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) revolutionized digital audio when it was standardized in 1993 by the Fraunhofer Society. Using psychoacoustic compression, MP3 removes audio frequencies that humans typically cannot perceive, achieving 10:1 compression or better while maintaining excellent subjective quality. MP3 supports sample rates from 8-48 kHz and 16-bit audio. At 256 kbps, most listeners cannot distinguish MP3 from the original source in blind tests.

Learn more: MP3 on Wikipedia

MP3 remains the most universally compatible audio format, supported by every music player, smartphone, computer, and web browser. While newer codecs like AAC and Opus offer marginally better compression efficiency, MP3's ubiquitous support makes it the safest choice for sharing audio. The format's patents expired in 2017, making it completely free to use without licensing concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between WAV and MP3?

WAV stores uncompressed audio—full quality but large files. MP3 uses lossy compression to shrink files by ~90% with minimal audible difference. MP3 plays everywhere; WAV is for editing and archival.

Will converting WAV to MP3 reduce audio quality?

Technically yes, but usually imperceptible. We use 320 kbps encoding (maximum quality)—at this bitrate, even trained listeners struggle to distinguish from the original in blind tests. If you need pristine, lossless quality, keep your original WAV files.

What bitrate do you use for MP3 encoding?

We encode at 320 kbps CBR (constant bitrate) using the LAME encoder—the gold standard for MP3 encoding. This is the maximum standard MP3 bitrate, ensuring the best possible quality for the format. Lower bitrates (128-192 kbps) produce smaller files but may show artifacts on complex music.

How much smaller will my MP3 files be?

MP3 files are typically 10-12x smaller than WAV files. A 50MB WAV file (about 5 minutes of CD-quality audio) converts to approximately 4-5MB as an MP3. This makes MP3 ideal for streaming, portable devices, and sharing.

Can I convert MP3 back to WAV?

Technically yes, but it won't restore quality. Converting MP3 to WAV creates an uncompressed file, but the audio data removed during MP3 compression is gone permanently. The WAV file will be larger but won't sound better. Try our MP3 to WAV converter if you need uncompressed audio for editing. For archival quality, always keep your original WAV files.

What happens to metadata in my audio files?

Audio properties transfer. WAV files typically don't contain metadata (no standard tagging system), so there's nothing to copy. After conversion, add ID3 tags using free tools like MP3Tag or Kid3.

How long can my audio files be?

Duration limits depend on your plan: Guest/Free: 120 minutes, Pro: 600 minutes (10 hours), Business: 3000 minutes (50 hours). This accommodates everything from short clips to full audiobook chapters and podcasts.

Which devices and platforms support MP3?

Virtually everything. MP3 is the most universally supported audio format—every smartphone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker, and media player supports it. If compatibility is your concern, MP3 is the safest choice.

What are the limits for this converter?

TierMax File SizeMax Files/BatchParallel Processing
Free50 MB50 files3 at once
Pro500 MB200 files6 at once
Business2048 MB1000 files10 at once

Note: File size limits are specific to this converter. Batch and parallel processing limits apply to all images converters site-wide. See all converter limits →

How are credits calculated for this conversion?

Cost: 1 credit per 5 minutes

How it works:

  • Files up to 5 minutes: 1 credit (minimum)
  • 6-10 minutes: 2 credits
  • 11-15 minutes: 3 credits
  • 16-20 minutes: 4 credits

Example: A 10-minute file = 1 credit. A 180-minute (3h) audiobook = 36 credits.

Why per-minute? Audio conversion time scales with content duration, not file size. Longer audio requires proportionally more processing.

What are my daily and monthly credit limits?

Credit allocations vary by account tier:

TierDaily LimitMonthly Limit
Free50 credits/day
Pro10,000 credits/month
Business30,000 credits/month

Daily credits (Free tier, including guests) reset every day at midnight UTC. Monthly credits (Pro & Business) reset on your billing cycle date.

Note: With 1 credit per 5 minutes, audio files under 5 MB cost 1 credit each. Pro users can convert 10,000 audio files per month.

Choose Your Plan

Limits shown for WAV to MP3 conversion. One subscription unlocks the entire Tools.FAST Network. Plans cover Convert.FAST, Compress.FAST, PDF.FAST (soon), and all future tools.

Monthly Annual 4 Months Free

Free

$0

For occasional personal use

  • 50 MB per file
  • 50 files per batch
  • 3 parallel conversions
  • 50 credits/day
  • Standard priority
  • Email support
Sign Up Free

No sign-up required. Create an account for your own credit pool.

Popular

Pro

$9 /month

For independent work

  • 500 MB per file
  • 200 files per batch
  • 6 parallel conversions
  • 10,000 credits/month across Tools.FAST
  • High priority
  • Email & chat support
  • One subscription for the entire Tools.FAST network

Business

$19 /month

1 seat

For production scale

  • 2 GB per file
  • 1000 files per batch
  • 10 parallel conversions
  • 30,000 credits/month across Tools.FAST
  • Add seats to invite team members
  • Highest priority
  • Priority email & chat support
  • One subscription for the entire Tools.FAST network

How Credits Work

  • Usually 1 credit per conversion. Exact cost shown before you start.
  • Credits refresh monthly on your billing cycle.
  • Unused credits roll over, capped at your plan's monthly amount.
  • One subscription, all sites. Works across Convert.FAST, Compress.FAST, and future tools.

What's New in WAV to MP3

Latest improvements to this converter

Last updated December 15, 2025
Dec 15, 2025

Initial release of WAV to MP3 converter for high-quality audio conversion.