Compress WAV
WAV files cannot be zipped down much, but they can be re-saved far smaller. Choose lossless FLAC or a lossy format.
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, Opus, AIFF, WMA, AMR and the sound of most videos. Files stay on your device.
How it works
- Choose your WAV file.
- Pick lossless FLAC to keep every sample, or a lossy format for a bigger saving.
- Click Compress and compare sizes.
- Download the result.
Why WAV is big, and the ways to shrink it
WAV stores every sample uncompressed, about 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo. It cannot be compressed in place, so the savings come from saving the audio differently. The tool offers three routes.
- FLAC (the default here): lossless, usually about half the size, and every sample is identical when you decode it again.
- A lossy format (MP3, M4A, Opus or OGG): the smallest files, by far, at the cost of some detail. Use Quality, Bitrate or a target size.
- WAV with less data: a lower bit depth (24 to 16 bit saves a third), mono (half) or a lower sample rate.
Choosing
Keep it lossless if the file will be edited again, mastered or archived. Choose FLAC for that: most editors and players open it. Choose a lossy format for sharing, listening and anything with a size limit. Reducing 24 bits to 16 uses dither so the rounding does not become audible distortion.
Questions
Can a WAV be compressed without losing quality?
Yes, by converting it to FLAC. FLAC typically halves the size and restores the exact same samples when decoded.
How much smaller is MP3 than WAV?
About a tenth. A 3-minute stereo WAV is roughly 30 MB; the same song at 128 kbps MP3 is under 3 MB.
Is reducing to 16-bit audible?
Rarely. 16-bit has more dynamic range than most music uses. Dither is applied when going down from 24 bits.
Is my audio uploaded?
No. Compression runs in your browser on your device. The only downloads are the page itself and, the first time you use a format, a small encoder file from this site.