Online WAV Compressor
Reduce WAV file size without converting to a lossy format
WAV (Waveform Audio) files store uncompressed PCM audio data, resulting in pristine quality but massive file sizes — a single minute of CD-quality WAV audio takes about 10 MB. Our free WAV compressor lets you reduce file size by adjusting bit depth, sample rate, and channel configuration while keeping the WAV format intact. For maximum compression, try ADPCM encoding which can shrink files by up to 75% while remaining a standard .wav file.
Features
- Reduce WAV file size by 50–90% without format conversion
- Bit depth adjustment: 32-bit float → 24-bit → 16-bit → 8-bit
- Sample rate conversion: 96 kHz down to 8 kHz
- ADPCM encoding for maximum compression in WAV format
- Stereo to mono conversion halves file size instantly
- Browser-based processing — your files never leave your device
How to Compress a WAV File
- Upload your WAV file by dragging it to the upload area or clicking browse
- Choose encoding mode: PCM for standard quality reduction, or ADPCM for maximum compression
- Adjust bit depth and sample rate to find the right balance between size and quality
- Click Compress and download your smaller WAV file
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes WAV files so large?
WAV files store uncompressed PCM audio data. Every sound sample is recorded at full precision, typically at 44,100 samples per second with 16 bits per sample for each stereo channel. This means one minute of CD-quality WAV audio is about 10 MB.
What is ADPCM encoding?
ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse-Code Modulation) is a compression method that stores differences between samples rather than absolute values. It can reduce WAV file size by ~75% while keeping the .wav extension. Most audio software can still open ADPCM WAV files.
Will reducing bit depth affect audio quality?
Going from 32-bit float to 24-bit is practically imperceptible. Reducing from 24-bit to 16-bit (CD quality) is fine for most use cases. 8-bit audio has a noticeably retro, lo-fi character and is best for speech or sound effects.
Can I compress a WAV file for email?
Yes! Most email services have a 25 MB limit. A typical 5-minute WAV file at CD quality is ~50 MB. By reducing to 16-bit mono at 22 kHz, you can get it down to ~6.5 MB — well within email limits.
Is it better to convert WAV to MP3 instead?
It depends on your needs. Converting to MP3 gives much smaller files but loses audio quality permanently. Our WAV compressor keeps your files in WAV format, which is important for editing, mixing, and archival purposes where lossless quality matters.
