How big is a 5-minute stereo WAV file?

At CD quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo): approximately 50 MB. At 24-bit: about 76 MB. At 96 kHz, 24-bit: about 165 MB. These are uncompressed sizes — FLAC compression typically reduces this by 30-50%.

Why are WAV files so large?

WAV files store uncompressed PCM audio data — every single sample is stored at full precision. A CD-quality stereo file generates 44,100 samples × 2 bytes × 2 channels = 176,400 bytes per second, or about 10 MB per minute.

How much storage do I need for a recording session?

For a typical band recording at 48 kHz, 24-bit with 16 tracks: each track uses about 8.2 MB per minute. For a 4-hour session: 16 × 8.2 × 240 = approximately 31 GB. Always have at least 50% more storage available than calculated.

Does higher sample rate and bit depth always mean better quality?

For recording, 24-bit is strongly recommended over 16-bit for the extra headroom. Sample rates above 48 kHz offer diminishing returns for most applications. The final delivery format (CD, streaming, vinyl) will determine what you need, but recording at higher specs preserves options for mastering.

AudioCalcs

Audio File Size Calculator — WAV & Uncompressed Formats

Estimate file size for WAV, AIFF and other uncompressed audio formats.

Sample Rate

Bit Depth

Channels

Duration

How We Calculate This

File Size Formula

Size (bytes) = Sample Rate × (Bit Depth / 8) × Channels × Duration (seconds)

Bitrate

Bitrate (kbps) = Sample Rate × Bit Depth × Channels / 1000

CD quality stereo = 44,100 × 16 × 2 = 1,411 kbps. Compare this to MP3 at 320 kbps or AAC at 256 kbps to understand the compression ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.