Uncompressed audio formula

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

Example: 44,100 Hz × 16-bit × 2 channels × 60 s / 8 = 10,584,000 bytes ≈ 10 MB/min

Compressed audio

Size (bytes) = Bitrate (bps) × Duration / 8

A 128 kbps MP3 uses about 1 MB per minute. Higher bitrates produce better quality but larger files.

Format	Type	Typical bitrate	4-minute song size	Notes
WAV (PCM 44.1 kHz / 16-bit)	Lossless uncompressed	1,411 kbps	≈42 MB	Studio standard; no quality loss
FLAC	Lossless compressed	~700–1,400 kbps	≈20–40 MB	Bit-perfect; ~50% smaller than WAV
MP3 (320 kbps)	Lossy	320 kbps	≈9.6 MB	High-quality lossy; near-transparent
MP3 (128 kbps)	Lossy	128 kbps	≈3.8 MB	Acceptable quality for casual listening
AAC (256 kbps)	Lossy	256 kbps	≈7.7 MB	iTunes / Apple Music default; better than MP3 at same bitrate
OGG Vorbis (q5)	Lossy	≈160 kbps	≈4.8 MB	Open-source; efficient; used in games
Opus (96 kbps)	Lossy	96 kbps	≈2.9 MB	Best lossy codec for low bitrates; used in WebRTC

Storage	MP3 128 kbps (~4 MB/song)	MP3 320 kbps (~10 MB/song)	FLAC (~25 MB/song)
1 GB	≈250 songs	≈100 songs	≈40 songs
32 GB	≈8,000 songs	≈3,200 songs	≈1,280 songs
128 GB	≈32,000 songs	≈12,800 songs	≈5,120 songs
1 TB	≈250,000 songs	≈100,000 songs	≈40,000 songs

Service / Quality tier	Bitrate	Data per hour
Spotify Normal	96 kbps	≈43 MB
Spotify High	160 kbps	≈72 MB
Spotify Very High	320 kbps	≈144 MB
Apple Music Lossless (AAC)	256 kbps	≈115 MB
Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless (ALAC)	up to 9,216 kbps	≈4 GB
Tidal HiFi (FLAC)	≈1,411 kbps	≈635 MB