What Is Bitrate?
Updated October 2026
Bitrate is the amount of data an audio file uses each second, measured in kilobits per second. For a compressed file such as MP3, a higher bitrate keeps more of the original sound and makes the file larger.
The short version
- Bitrate is data per second, in kbps.
- A higher bitrate keeps more detail in a compressed file.
- For speech, a moderate high bitrate sounds very close to the original.
- Bitrate does not apply to uncompressed WAV, which has its own fixed size.
The short definition
Bitrate is how many kilobits of data are used for each second of sound. It is a property of compressed formats such as MP3 and AAC. The compression chooses which detail to keep at that rate.
What it means in practice
A low bitrate sounds thin or artifacted, especially on sibilance and breath. A high bitrate keeps the sound close to the original. For speech, the difference between a high bitrate and the original is hard to hear for most people.
Choosing one
Use the highest bitrate the platform accepts for your final MP3, and keep a WAV master. Check the platform guidance first.
Bitrate and WAV
WAV is uncompressed, so it has no bitrate choice; its size depends on the sample rate and bit depth. The format guide explains the trade-off.
Export at a sensible bitrate
Tunedzy exports MP3 from its master at a bitrate you choose, and checks the peak before export.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
What bitrate is good for speech?
A high bitrate is safe. Check the platform recommendation.
Does a higher bitrate always sound better?
Up to the point where the original is preserved, yes. Beyond that, the gain is small.
Is WAV a bitrate format?
WAV is uncompressed, so it does not have a bitrate choice.
Keep going
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