CONVERT WAV → FLAC (WAV to FLAC)
Compress WAV to FLAC for lossless storage at roughly half the file size.
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HOW TO CONVERT WAV → FLAC
Upload the WAV
Drop your WAV file into the uploader. We detect sample rate and bit depth.
Compress to FLAC
FFmpeg writes a FLAC file at compression level 5 (balanced default) — reversible to the byte.
Download the FLAC
Grab the output. Decoded FLAC samples match the source WAV exactly.
Converting WAV to FLAC compresses your lossless audio without sacrificing a single sample. FLAC cuts the file size of a WAV roughly in half while remaining bit-perfectly reversible — decoded FLAC audio is mathematically identical to the original WAV. It is the format serious audio archives use for exactly this reason.
Why convert WAV to FLAC
WAV is simple and universal but uncompressed. A three-minute WAV is ~30 MB; the same track as FLAC is 12-18 MB with zero quality loss. For libraries of hundreds or thousands of tracks, the storage savings are the difference between fitting on a drive and not.
WAV vs FLAC — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
WAV
- MIME type
- audio/wav
- Container
- RIFF
- Typical codec
- PCM (uncompressed)
- Bit depth
- 8, 16, 24, 32 bit integer or float
- Sample rate
- Up to 384 kHz
- Max size
- 4 GB (standard WAV), unlimited (RF64 / W64)
- MIME Type
- audio/wav
- Extension
- .wav
- Category
- Audio Files
- Full Name
- WAV Audio
- Conversion Engine
- FFMPEG
FLAC
- MIME type
- audio/flac
- MIME Type
- audio/flac
- Extension
- .flac
- Category
- Audio Files
- Full Name
- FLAC Audio
- Conversion Engine
- FFMPEG
- Standard
- Open-source reference implementation (Xiph.Org)
- Max bit depth
- 32 bits per sample
- Max sample rate
- 655 350 Hz
- Max channels
- 8
| Specification | WAV | FLAC |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | audio/wav | audio/flac |
| Container | RIFF | — |
| Typical codec | PCM (uncompressed) | — |
| Bit depth | 8, 16, 24, 32 bit integer or float | — |
| Sample rate | Up to 384 kHz | — |
| Max size | 4 GB (standard WAV), unlimited (RF64 / W64) | — |
| MIME Type | audio/wav | audio/flac |
| Extension | .wav | .flac |
| Category | Audio Files | Audio Files |
| Full Name | WAV Audio | FLAC Audio |
| Conversion Engine | FFMPEG | FFMPEG |
| Standard | — | Open-source reference implementation (Xiph.Org) |
| Max bit depth | — | 32 bits per sample |
| Max sample rate | — | 655 350 Hz |
| Max channels | — | 8 |
WAV vs FLAC — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
WAV Strengths
- Bit-perfect, uncompressed audio — the professional studio standard.
- Universally supported for playback, editing, and analysis.
- No re-encoding penalty — edit and save repeatedly with zero quality loss.
- Simple internal structure — easy to parse programmatically.
- Supports up to 32-bit float and 384 kHz sample rates.
Limitations
- Enormous file sizes — 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo.
- 4 GB size limit for standard WAV (RF64/W64 variants extend it but break compatibility).
- No native support for cover art or rich metadata.
FLAC Strengths
- Lossless — decoded audio is bit-exact identical to the source.
- 40-60% smaller than uncompressed WAV/AIFF.
- Free, patent-free, open-source reference implementation.
- Built-in error detection via MD5 checksums.
- Streaming-friendly — seek tables let you jump to any timestamp instantly.
Limitations
- File sizes still large compared to lossy codecs (5-10× bigger than AAC for same audio).
- Not suitable for low-bandwidth scenarios like streaming on mobile data.
- Older MP3 players and car stereos may not decode FLAC.
Quality & Compatibility
FLAC is mathematically lossless. The encoded file is 40-60% smaller than the WAV, and decoding reproduces the original samples bit-exact. Sample rate (44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz) and bit depth (16 / 24 / 32) are preserved.
Tips for Best Results
- Higher FLAC compression levels (up to 8) save a few more percent of file size but slow encoding; level 5 is the standard sweet spot.
- Preserve sample rate exactly — do not resample during conversion unless you have a specific playback target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lossy-to-lossy conversions (most combinations) re-compress the audio, which technically introduces some loss. At a 192 kbps or higher target it is inaudible on normal equipment. Lossy-to-lossless conversions freeze the existing quality but cannot improve it; lossless-to-lossy transcodes are only as good as the target bitrate you choose.
Yes, mathematically. FLAC is a lossless compression codec — every sample of the source WAV is perfectly reconstructible from the FLAC. You can verify this by re-converting FLAC back to WAV and comparing hashes.
For voice content (podcasts, audiobooks, lectures) 128 kbps is indistinguishable from higher bitrates. For music, 192-256 kbps covers most listening; 320 kbps is the ceiling for FLAC and the right choice for audio you plan to edit further. Above that, prefer a lossless target instead.
Typically 40-60% smaller than the source WAV. Highly dynamic recordings compress more; steady-state audio compresses less. A 60 MB WAV usually becomes a 25-35 MB FLAC.
Yes. Title, artist, album, year and cover art travel from the WAV container to the FLAC container automatically where both formats support them. If a tag field has no FLAC equivalent, it is dropped silently. Use any tag editor (Mp3tag, MusicBrainz Picard) to fine-tune afterwards.
All modern players do — VLC, Foobar2000, iTunes (macOS 10.13+), Windows Media Player 12+, Android default, most car stereos. Apple Music imports FLAC and transcodes to ALAC during sync to iOS.
WAV Audio
Source formatWAV is an uncompressed audio format that preserves full audio fidelity. Files are large but provide lossless, CD-quality sound. It is the standard working format in audio production and editing.
FLAC Audio
Target formatFLAC is an open-source lossless audio codec that compresses audio to roughly 50-60% of its original size without any quality loss. It is the preferred format for audiophiles and music archival.
Going the other way? Convert FLAC back to WAV with the same engine.
Common Use Cases
Lossless music archives
Store a classical or jazz library in FLAC — half the disk footprint of WAV with bit-exact fidelity.
Field recording backups
Field recorders often output WAV; FLAC backup copies preserve every sample at smaller size for offsite storage.
Hi-res audio distribution
Bandcamp, Tidal and audiophile distribution prefer FLAC because it embeds metadata WAV cannot.
WAV vs FLAC — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
- Song (4 min, CD quality) 40 MB
- Voice memo (1 min, 16-bit 44.1 kHz) 10 MB
- Studio master (1 min, 24-bit 96 kHz) 33 MB
- 3-min song (CD quality) 20-30 MB
- Full album (10 tracks, CD) 250-400 MB
- 3-min song (hi-res 24-bit/96 kHz) 80-120 MB
Lossless 24-bit Hi-Res Audio or Full Discographies?
Converting pristine FLAC/ALAC collections while preserving 192kHz master dynamics without exhausting mobile bandwidth? Dedicated multi-threaded workstation converters handle entire folders instantly.
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High-throughput enterprise pipeline for files up to 2,048 MB, 50-file batches, ISO PDF/A, and priority processing.
Lossless batch chain processing preserving full ID3v2 metadata tags and embedded artwork.
Multi-CPU discography conversion with AccurateRip CRC verification and DSP mastering.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
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