Trim MP3 audio — free online tool

Trim any audio file and save the clip as MP3 at 96 to 320 kbps; learn how MP3 re-encoding and encoder padding affect a cut.

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What to know

Trim MP3 opens the trimmer with MP3 already chosen as the output format. The source does not have to be an MP3 either: any of MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC, OGG, Opus or WebM audio can be cut and written out as an MP3 in one step.

Because the cut is encoded again by the LAME encoder, trimming an existing MP3 is a second lossy generation. At 192 kbps the difference is hard to hear on speech, but for a music file you want to keep at full quality, raise Audio quality to 320 kbps, or cut from the original WAV or FLAC instead of from an MP3.

MP3 has a short built-in delay. Encoders add padding at the start of a file, typically around a few tens of milliseconds, so a very tight cut can show a hint of silence at the beginning. That is a property of the format and not an error, and it only matters for seamless loops.

Size is bitrate times length. A 45-second clip at 128 kbps is 45 s x 16,000 bytes, about 0.72 MB, and the same clip at 320 kbps is 1.8 MB. Choose 96 kbps with Mono when the clip is a single voice and size matters more than detail.

Use the selected-span line under the waveform to confirm the duration before exporting, for instance 0:10 to 0:55, which is 45 seconds.

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How to use Trim MP3 audio — free online tool
  1. Load song.flac or any audio file and let the waveform render.
  2. Drag the handles to 0:10 and 0:55, and confirm the 45-second span in the line below.
  3. Set Audio quality to 320 kbps for music, or 128 kbps for speech.
  4. Export and download song-trim-mp3.mp3.

Quick answers

Can I trim a WAV or FLAC and get an MP3?

Yes. Any supported audio input is cut and written as MP3 in one step on this entry.

Why is there a little silence at the start of my MP3 cut?

MP3 encoders add a short padding of a few tens of milliseconds at the start. It is part of how the format works.

How big is a 45-second clip at 320 kbps?

1.8 MB, from 40,000 bytes per second over 45 seconds.

Is trimming an MP3 lossless?

No. The clip is decoded and encoded again, so use a higher bitrate or cut from a lossless original to limit the loss.