Loudness (LUFS) Calculator

Loudness targets

How the gain is calculated

Gain (dB) = target LUFS − your measured LUFS. A positive number means turn the whole mix up; a negative number means turn it down. If you also give a measured true peak, we add the same gain to it and warn you if the result would go over the target's maximum true peak — in that case, use a limiter instead of a plain gain change so the loudest peaks don't clip.

Notes on each target

• Spotify has three listener-selectable modes; most listeners stay on Normal (−14 LUFS). Spotify's own mastering guidance is to target −14 LUFS integrated and keep true peak under −1 dBTP (or −2 dBTP if your master is louder than −14).
• Apple Podcasts asks for −16 LUFS ±1 dB, true peak no higher than −1 dBTP.
• EBU R128 is the European broadcast standard (also used by many TV and video platforms): −23 LUFS ±0.5, true peak capped at −1 dBTP.
• YouTube is not officially published anywhere by YouTube. −14 LUFS is what creators and audio engineers consistently measure (for example with YouTube's own "Stats for nerds" volume readout), so we list it as an unofficial, observed value, not a documented rule.
• Twitch publishes no loudness target at all, so it isn't in the list above. Many streamers simply match the YouTube/podcast norm (around −14 to −16 LUFS) since there's no official number to aim for.

Sources

• Spotify for Artists — Loudness normalization (checked 2026-09-25).
• Apple Podcasts for Creators — Audio requirements (checked 2026-09-25).
• EBU R128 — Loudness normalisation (broadcast standard) (checked 2026-09-25).
• YouTube's ≈−14 LUFS figure has no official YouTube documentation we could find; it is reported consistently by creators and audio engineers who measure it directly, not a published rule.

Last checked: 2026-09-25.

FAQ

What LUFS should I master my podcast to?

Apple Podcasts asks for −16 LUFS (±1 dB). Many podcast hosts and directories follow the same number even though not all publish it themselves.

What LUFS does Spotify use?

Spotify's default listening mode normalizes to −14 LUFS. Its own mastering guidance also recommends targeting −14 LUFS integrated with true peak under −1 dBTP.

Is there an official YouTube LUFS target?

Not published by YouTube. Around −14 LUFS is the value creators consistently measure, so treat it as a strong convention rather than a documented rule.

What is EBU R128?

A European broadcast loudness standard targeting −23 LUFS. It's mainly used for TV and some video platforms, not music streaming or podcasts.

My predicted true peak clips — what do I do?

Use a limiter instead of a flat gain increase. A limiter raises the average loudness while keeping the loudest peaks under your true-peak ceiling.