What LUFS should I master to for Spotify?

Spotify normalises to -14 LUFS integrated by default. Mastering louder than -14 LUFS means Spotify will turn your track down, reducing perceived dynamics. Mastering at -14 LUFS preserves your intended dynamics while maximising loudness on the platform. (Values verified June 2026 — streaming targets are platform-controlled and can change.)

Do streaming platforms turn quiet tracks up?

Only some. Spotify (Normal mode) and Apple Music (Sound Check) boost a quiet master up to their target. YouTube, Amazon Music and Tidal are attenuation-only — they turn loud tracks down but leave a quiet master at its actual mastered level, so it plays quieter than louder competing masters. If you are mastering for an attenuation-only platform, get close to the target rather than relying on a boost that never comes.

What true peak should I use for Amazon Music?

Amazon Music targets -14 LUFS integrated with a -2 dBTP true peak ceiling — slightly stricter than the -1 dBTP used by Spotify, YouTube and Tidal. The extra headroom guards against inter-sample peaks introduced during Amazon’s lossy transcoding. A master at -14 LUFS / -2 dBTP is safe across every -14 LUFS platform.

What is the UK broadcast loudness standard?

UK broadcasters follow the EBU R128 standard, which targets -23 LUFS with a true peak maximum of -1 dBTP. For UK television this is required by the DPP unified delivery specification (a broadcaster contractual requirement based on EBU R128) — Ofcom’s loudness remit mainly covers TV advertising via BCAP guidance. Loudness range (LRA) should typically be between 5 and 20 LU. R128 is a delivery standard: you must deliver at -23 LUFS — broadcasters do not boost a quiet file for you.

Does mastering louder make my track sound better on streaming?

No. Streaming platforms normalise loudness, so a track mastered at -8 LUFS will be turned down to match one at -14 LUFS. The louder master will actually sound worse because the heavy limiting reduces dynamic range. Master to the platform target for the best result.

Loudness Target Calculator — Platform LUFS Levels

How We Calculate This

Loudness Normalisation

Streaming platforms measure your track loudness in LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) and adjust playback volume to match their target level.

Gain Change

Gain change = Platform target LUFS − Your current LUFS

A negative gain change means the platform will turn your track down. Check that your true peak remains below the platform limit after this adjustment.

Boost vs attenuation

Not every platform raises quiet masters. Spotify (Normal) and Apple Music (Sound Check) boost a quiet track up to target; YouTube, Amazon Music and Tidal only attenuate loud tracks, leaving a quiet master at its mastered level. A positive gain change therefore only translates to a real volume increase on the boosting platforms.

Targets drift over time

Streaming loudness targets are platform-controlled settings, not physical constants — they can be revised by each service. The figures here (Spotify −14, Apple Music −16, YouTube/Amazon/Tidal −14, EBU R128 −23 LUFS) are verified current as of June 2026. Re-check the platform’s own delivery guidance before a critical release.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: June 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.