Learn — By WATMM Desk —
What is LUFS?
LUFS is the unit loudness meters use to say how loud a whole track or programme sounds, measured with the ITU-R BS.1770 algorithm. Broadcasters aim at -23 LUFS under EBU R128; Spotify turns playback to -14 dB LUFS.
Key facts
- LUFS readings come from ITU-R BS.1770, the ITU algorithm for measuring programme loudness and true-peak level.
- EBU R128 recommends an average programme loudness of -23 LUFS, with a +/- 0.5 LU tolerance since version 3.0 (2014).
- Spotify says it adjusts tracks to -14 dB LUFS during playback, using the ITU 1770 standard.
LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is the unit a loudness meter uses to report how loud audio sounds over time, rather than how high its peaks go. A reading of -14 LUFS is louder than -23 LUFS; one LU is a step of one unit on that scale.
Where the number comes from
LUFS meters implement ITU-R BS.1770, the ITU recommendation titled "Algorithms to measure audio programme loudness and true-peak audio level". Because every compliant meter runs the same algorithm, a reading in one plug-in should match a reading in another, which a peak meter or an RMS meter with its own settings does not promise.
The targets you will meet
- Broadcast: EBU R128 recommends an average programme loudness of -23 LUFS, alongside Loudness Range and Maximum True Peak Level descriptors. Version 3.0 (2014) tightened the tolerance on that target to +/- 0.5 LU.
- Streaming: Spotify says it adjusts tracks to -14 dB LUFS "according to the ITU 1770 standard", turning louder masters down and softer ones up during playback. It also says it leaves 1 dB of headroom on lossy encodings, so a quiet track with high peaks may not be lifted all the way (checked 26 Oct 2026).
What we think
LUFS is a measuring stick, not a mastering target. The number tells you what a platform will do to your track, not how good it will sound. Since Spotify turns loud masters down to the same playback level, pushing a master well past -14 LUFS mostly buys you lost dynamics that nobody hears as extra loudness. Measure integrated LUFS on the whole song, note the platform you care about, and then make the call by ear.
For the detail on each service, see our guide to streaming loudness targets.
Sources
- BS.1770: Algorithms to measure audio programme loudness and true-peak audio level, ITU-R (primary source). Accessed 26 Oct 2026.
- R 128: Loudness normalisation and permitted maximum level of audio signals, EBU (primary source). Accessed 26 Oct 2026.
- Loudness normalization, Spotify (primary source). Accessed 26 Oct 2026.
Researched with AI assistance, written and checked by WATMM Desk.