WAV to FLAC Converter

Converting WAV to FLAC compresses the audio losslessly to roughly 50–60% of its size: no quality loss, bit-perfect decode, every time. It's the standard archival format for anyone ripping CDs, preserving recordings, or building a home music server that values integrity over file size.

audio_file

Drag & drop audio files here, or browse

Drop your WAV files here

What changes when you convert WAV to FLAC

The only real cost is CPU time at encode and decode. FLAC adds tagging, cue sheets, MD5 verification of the audio stream, and ReplayGain support that raw WAV cannot carry. WAV's only advantage is that some legacy editing tools cannot read FLAC directly.

When to use this conversion

  • Archiving CD rips with EAC or dBpoweramp for a Plex, Roon, or Jellyfin library
  • Delivering masters to streaming distributors like DistroKid that accept FLAC but reject WAV for size reasons
  • Storing field recordings long-term without eating storage the way raw WAV does
  • Sharing audio with collaborators over the internet where the WAV would be unreasonably large

Where the output plays

FLAC plays on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, modern iOS (since 11), and every serious music player. Older hardware and some consumer products still skip FLAC; if you're feeding a hardware device, check first.

About these formats

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)

WAV is Microsoft and IBM's uncompressed PCM container. A stereo CD-quality recording takes about 10 MB per minute. Because nothing is thrown away and nothing is compressed, WAV is the universal working format for recording, editing, and mastering in every major DAW.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

FLAC is a lossless compressor: it shrinks PCM audio to roughly 50–60% of its original size and decodes back to a bit-perfect copy. It supports tags, cue sheets, and up to 32-bit / 655 kHz, which makes it the de facto format for CD rips and audiophile music libraries.

How It Works

  1. Add your WAV files Drag WAV files onto the page, or click to pick them from your file browser. Batch uploads are fine.
  2. Choose FLAC settings Pick bitrate or quality level for the FLAC output. Defaults match common target use cases.
  3. Convert in your browser FFmpeg runs locally via WebAssembly. Nothing uploads. Progress shows per file so you know exactly what's happening.
  4. Download FLAC files Grab each converted file individually, or download the whole batch as a single ZIP.

Features

Supported Formats

FAQ

How much smaller is FLAC compared to WAV?

Typically 50–60% of the original WAV size. A 40 MB WAV usually compresses to 20–25 MB as FLAC. Compression ratio depends on the audio; dense full-band music compresses less than sparse recordings.

Is there any quality difference between WAV and FLAC?

None. FLAC decodes to exactly the same PCM samples the WAV contains. The FLAC spec even includes an MD5 of the decoded audio so you can verify bit-perfect preservation.

What is WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)?

WAV is Microsoft and IBM's uncompressed PCM container. A stereo CD-quality recording takes about 10 MB per minute. Because nothing is thrown away and nothing is compressed, WAV is the universal working format for recording, editing, and mastering in every major DAW.

What is FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)?

FLAC is a lossless compressor: it shrinks PCM audio to roughly 50–60% of its original size and decodes back to a bit-perfect copy. It supports tags, cue sheets, and up to 32-bit / 655 kHz, which makes it the de facto format for CD rips and audiophile music libraries.

Are my files private?

Yes. The converter runs entirely in your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your audio files are never uploaded, never sent to a server, and never leave your device.

Is there a file size limit?

There's no hard limit, but because everything runs in your browser you're bounded by available memory. Files over about 2 GB total can get slow or hit browser memory limits. Process in smaller batches if you run into issues.