Audio File Size Calculator
Estimate file size for any audio format, bitrate, and duration. Compare sizes across MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG, and AIFF.
Estimated File Size
3.20 MB
MP3 • 210s • Stereo
Format Comparison
How to Calculate Audio File Size
- Select your audio format (MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.)
- Set the bitrate (for compressed formats) or sample rate and bit depth (for uncompressed)
- Choose mono or stereo
- Enter the duration and see the estimated file size
Audio Format Comparison
MP3 at 128 kbps produces roughly 1 MB per minute of audio — great for podcasts and general use. WAV at CD quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) uses about 10 MB per minute. FLAC offers lossless quality at roughly 60% of WAV size. Choose your format based on the balance between quality and file size that your project requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is audio file size calculated?
For compressed formats (MP3, AAC, OGG), file size = bitrate × duration ÷ 8. For uncompressed formats (WAV, AIFF), file size = sample rate × bit depth × channels × duration ÷ 8. FLAC is approximately 60% of the equivalent WAV size.
What bitrate should I use for MP3?
128 kbps is standard for general listening. 192 kbps offers noticeably better quality. 320 kbps is the highest MP3 quality and is recommended for music. For speech/podcasts, 96-128 kbps is usually sufficient.
Why is WAV so much larger than MP3?
WAV is uncompressed audio — it stores every sample at full resolution. MP3 uses psychoacoustic compression to remove sounds humans can't easily perceive, achieving roughly 10:1 compression at 128 kbps.
What's the difference between sample rate and bitrate?
Sample rate (e.g., 44.1 kHz) is how many times per second the audio is sampled — it affects frequency range. Bitrate (e.g., 128 kbps) is the amount of data used per second in compressed formats — it affects quality and file size.
What sample rate should I use?
44.1 kHz is CD quality and sufficient for most purposes. 48 kHz is standard for video production. 96 kHz is used for high-resolution audio production. For speech/podcasts, 44.1 kHz is ideal.
Does mono vs stereo affect file size?
Yes. Stereo files are exactly twice the size of mono files at the same settings, because they contain two channels of audio data instead of one. For speech and podcasts, mono is usually sufficient and saves storage.
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