MP3 to WAV Converter

Convert MP3 to WAV online for free. Get uncompressed audio for editing. No software needed.

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Drop your MP3 file hereTap to choose your MP3 file

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Also supports M4A, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA, AIFF, OPUS • Max 100 MB

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How to Convert MP3 to WAV

1

Upload

Drag and drop your MP3 file into the converter above, or click Choose MP3 File to browse your device.

2

Convert

Click Convert to WAV. Our server converts your file in seconds to uncompressed PCM audio.

3

Download

Click Download WAV to save the converted file. That's it — no registration, no email required.

What is MP3?

MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3) is the most widely supported lossy audio format in the world. It achieves small file sizes by using perceptual coding to discard audio data that human ears can't easily detect.

MP3 files are compact (typically 3–5 MB per song) and play on every device, but the lossy compression means some audio detail is permanently removed during encoding.

What is WAV?

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) stores uncompressed PCM audio — raw audio data with no compression or quality loss. It's the standard format for professional audio editing, CD mastering, and music production.

WAV files are much larger than MP3 (roughly 10x), but they're universally compatible with audio editing software and avoid any additional compression artifacts during processing.

MP3 vs WAV: Quick Comparison

FeatureMP3WAV
CompressionLossyNone (uncompressed PCM)
Audio qualityGood at high bitratesPerfect (lossless)
File size (4 min song)~4–5 MB~40 MB
Editing suitabilityPoor (re-encoding degrades quality)Excellent (no quality loss)
CD burningRequires conversionNative CD audio format
DAW compatibilitySupported but not idealUniversal standard
MetadataFull ID3 tagsLimited
Best forListening, sharing, streamingEditing, mastering, archival

Why Convert MP3 to WAV?

Audio editing

DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Audacity, Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, and FL Studio work best with uncompressed WAV. Editing MP3 directly causes quality degradation each time the file is re-encoded.

CD burning

Audio CDs use uncompressed PCM audio (the same format as WAV). Converting MP3 to WAV before burning ensures proper CD compatibility without your burning software having to decode on the fly.

Avoid re-encoding artifacts

If you need to convert audio to another format later, starting from WAV avoids the quality loss of transcoding between two lossy formats. WAV serves as a better intermediate format.

Hardware compatibility

Some professional audio equipment, broadcasting systems, and older hardware require WAV input. Converting your MP3 files ensures compatibility with these systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Converting MP3 to WAV does not restore audio data that was discarded during MP3 compression. The WAV file will be uncompressed and larger, but the audio content remains identical to the MP3 source. The benefit is compatibility with editing software, not improved quality.

The main reasons are: 1) Audio editing software works better with WAV — editing MP3 directly causes additional quality loss on each save. 2) CD burning requires WAV format. 3) Some professional equipment only accepts uncompressed audio. 4) WAV is a better intermediate format to avoid lossy-to-lossy transcoding.

Yes, significantly. WAV stores uncompressed audio, so file sizes are roughly 10x larger than MP3. A 5 MB MP3 song will become approximately 40–50 MB as WAV. This is normal and expected — it's the tradeoff for uncompressed, editing-friendly audio.

Convertio preserves the original sample rate from the MP3 source (typically 44.1 kHz for music or 48 kHz for video-sourced audio). The output uses 16-bit PCM WAV, which is the standard for CD-quality audio and compatible with all audio software.

Yes, Convertio's MP3 to WAV converter is completely free. No registration, no software to install, and no watermarks. Upload your MP3 file and download the WAV instantly.
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