Quick guide
How to use this calculator
- Choose the real storage, transfer, media, backup, or archive task first, then enter only the measurements and assumptions that belong to that workflow.
- Keep bits and bytes, decimal SI and binary IEC prefixes, rates, durations, counts, reserves, efficiency, overhead, compression, and retention conventions explicit.
- Use the companion outputs to reconcile the scenario. Where actual system behavior is unknown, enter measured values or retain the stated limitation instead of treating a plan as a guarantee.
Calculation method
How the audio file size calculator works
Keep technically different uncompressed and compressed audio models in one clear interaction while exposing bitrate and storage per hour.
PCM bitrate = sample rate × bit depth × channels. Compressed mode uses the entered encoded bitrate. Total size = selected bitrate × duration × file count ÷ 8.
Worked example
Audio File Size example
One hour of 48 kHz, 24-bit stereo PCM contains 8,294,400,000 bits and occupies 1.0368 GB before headers or metadata.
PCM bitrate = sample rate × bit depth × channels. Compressed mode uses the entered encoded bitrate. Total size = selected bitrate × duration × file count ÷ 8.
Supported inputs
Precision and limits
Digital-system boundary
PCM output excludes headers, metadata and padding. Encoded mode does not infer constant versus variable bitrate, codec efficiency, quality, tags, artwork, silence handling, or container overhead.
Units and precision
One byte is eight bits. Decimal kB, MB, GB and TB use powers of 1,000; binary KiB, MiB, GiB and TiB use powers of 1,024. Calculations retain working precision and round only for display.
Category ownership
This calculator handles neutral information quantity, transfer, storage, media-payload, compression, backup, RAID, or archive arithmetic. Live speed tests, IP addressing, packet engineering, current vendor pricing, security analysis, and physical display sizing belong to other tools.
Privacy
File names and contents are never requested. Entered quantities and results stay in this browser and are not sent to analytics or third parties.
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