The wavelet transform method was used to compress experimental infrared spectra. The methodology utilized was based upon the fast wavelet transform method coupled with the multiresolution signal decomposition, as well as the optimal bit allocation quantization and Huffman coding techniques. The proposed algorithm was applied to reduce the storage space of infrared spectra of several chemicals. The results obtained were compared with those from the fast Fourier transform and the wavelet-based thresholding methods. It was found that the proposed method outperforms the other two.