Wave File Size Calculators
Estimate storage requirements for uncompressed WAV files and understand when 16-bit vs 24-bit depth makes sense.
Wave file size calculator
Estimates assume uncompressed PCM WAV with a 44-byte header. Compressed formats or metadata-heavy headers will differ.
16-bit vs 24-bit audio (and gain staging)
24-bit audio provides more headroom and a lower noise floor, which is helpful during recording and processing. It reduces the risk of clipping and keeps quantization noise low when the signal is quieter or heavily processed.
16-bit audio is still common for storage and delivery. With careful gain staging, the signal can sit close to full scale and the quantization noise remains well below real-world acoustic noise. This is why 16-bit is often used when file size matters and the workflow allows you to keep levels healthy, using gain to save storage without obvious quality loss.
- 24-bit: more headroom, better for capture and post-processing, larger files.
- 16-bit: smaller files, good for distribution when levels are well controlled.
- Use dithering when reducing from 24-bit to 16-bit to avoid low-level distortion.
FAQ
Is 16-bit enough for measurements?
Often yes, if gain is set so peaks are close to full scale and you avoid heavy processing. For capture and post-processing, 24-bit gives more headroom and keeps quantization noise lower.
How do I estimate WAV file size quickly?
Multiply duration (seconds) by sample rate, channels, and bit depth, then divide by 8 to get bytes. Add 44 bytes for the WAV header. This assumes uncompressed PCM.