Calculating your file size (uncompressed) is straightforward once you know the Audio File Size formula and what each input means. This guide explains the method in plain language, walks through a manual calculation, and gives worked examples you can follow — then you can do it instantly with the Audio File Size Calculator.
What is Audio File Size?
The Audio File Size calculation tells you your file size (uncompressed) from a few simple inputs. The figure you are solving for here is the file size (uncompressed).
The Audio File Size formula
The core formula is:
File size (uncompressed) = Duration × Sample rate × Bit depth × Channels ÷ 8 ÷ 1000000Here is what each input means:
- Duration — a value measured in seconds. Example: 60 seconds.
- Sample rate — a value measured in Hz. Example: 44,100 Hz.
- Bit depth — a value measured in bits. Example: 16 bits.
- Channels — a number. Example: 2.
How to calculate it step by step
- Write down the duration (for example, 60 seconds).
- Write down the sample rate (for example, 44,100 Hz).
- Write down the bit depth (for example, 16 bits).
- Write down the channels (for example, 2).
- Apply the formula above to get your file size (uncompressed).
- Double-check the result with the Audio File Size Calculator.
Worked examples
Example 1
| Input / Output | Value |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 seconds |
| Sample rate | 44,100 Hz |
| Bit depth | 16 bits |
| Channels | 2 |
| File size (uncompressed) | 10.58 |
With duration of 60 seconds, sample rate of 44,100 Hz, bit depth of 16 bits and channels of 2, the file size (uncompressed) works out to 10.58.
Example 2
With duration of 120 seconds, sample rate of 44,100 Hz, bit depth of 16 bits and channels of 2, the file size (uncompressed) works out to 21.17.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| File size (uncompressed) | 21.17 |
Example 3
With duration of 30 seconds, sample rate of 44,100 Hz, bit depth of 16 bits and channels of 2, the file size (uncompressed) works out to 5.29.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| File size (uncompressed) | 5.29 |
Tips for an accurate result
- Keep your units consistent — mixing, say, months with years or grams with kilograms is the most common source of error.
- Round only at the very end. Rounding inputs early can shift the final answer noticeably.
- Re-run the numbers whenever an input changes, rather than estimating from an old result.
Prefer not to do the maths by hand? — the Audio File Size Calculator does it instantly, for free, with the formula and a worked example built in.
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Continue exploring music calculators with these tools: Set List Duration Calculator, BPM Delay Calculator, Note Frequency Calculator, Decibel Distance Calculator, Beat Duration Calculator.