Audio File Size Calculator
h
m
s
Uncompressed WAV
—
MP3 @ 128 kbps
—
MP3 @ 320 kbps
—
FLAC (~60% compression)
—
AAC @ 256 kbps
—
Show the math
Enter values to see the worked formula.
Recent
What Your Result Means
- WAV (uncompressed): The largest file, representing raw PCM audio data with no compression applied.
- MP3 128 kbps: Suitable for spoken word, podcasts, and casual listening; audibly compressed but efficient.
- MP3 320 kbps: High-quality MP3 used for music; compression is nearly imperceptible to most listeners.
- FLAC (~60% compression): Lossless compressed format; preserves full audio quality in a smaller file than WAV.
- AAC 256 kbps: Modern lossy codec offering better quality than MP3 at equivalent bitrates; used by Apple and streaming services.
How This Calculator Works
The calculator uses the fundamental PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) formula: Size = Sample Rate × (Bit Depth ÷ 8) × Channels × Duration. This yields the exact byte size for uncompressed audio. For lossy formats (MP3, AAC), file size depends only on bitrate and duration, not the source audio. FLAC compression typically achieves 50–70% of the original WAV size depending on audio content; this calculator uses a 60% average.
Quick Questions
- Why is my WAV file larger than expected? Higher sample rates, bit depths, and channel counts multiply file size quickly. 24-bit stereo at 96 kHz creates roughly 4× the data of 16-bit stereo at 44.1 kHz.
- Which format should I use for archiving? FLAC is ideal for archival because it is lossless, compresses well, and avoids proprietary codec lock-in like lossy MP3 or AAC.
- Can I convert MP3 back to WAV without losing quality? No; MP3 is lossy. Converting MP3 to WAV simply recreates the container—it does not recover lost audio data.