LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale. It's the measurement standard used by streaming platforms to measure how loud your song sounds on average. Spotify targets -14 LUFS, Apple Music -16 LUFS, YouTube -14 LUFS.

What LUFS should I master to for Spotify?

Spotify's loudness normalization target is -14 LUFS integrated. If your track is louder, Spotify turns it down. If it's quieter, it plays at full volume but with less perceived punch.

What is the difference between LUFS and dB?

dB measures instantaneous peak level — the loudest single moment in your audio. LUFS measures perceived loudness over time — how loud the song actually sounds to a listener. LUFS is a better measure for music because our ears don't respond to peaks the same way as sustained loudness.

What LUFS is too loud for Spotify?

If your integrated LUFS is louder than -14 LUFS, Spotify applies loudness normalization and turns your track down. Most producers target -14 LUFS for streaming. Hip hop and EDM sometimes push to -9 or -10 LUFS for maximum impact.

Loudness Guide

What Is LUFS? And Why Does It Matter?

You've heard that your song needs to be "-14 LUFS for Spotify." But what does that actually mean? And how do you hit that target without making your song sound squashed or lifeless?

LUFS is just a number. Here's everything you need to know about it — in plain English.

↑ Master to the Right LUFS Free Dhun handles LUFS targeting automatically · Free to try

The Simple Explanation

LUFS in Plain English

LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale. It's a way of measuring how loud your song sounds over time — not just the loudest peak, but the average perceived loudness from start to finish.

Streaming platforms use LUFS to make all songs play at roughly the same volume. If your song is too quiet, it plays at full volume but sounds thin. If it's too loud, Spotify turns it down to match everything else. The sweet spot is mastering to their target.

You don't need to understand the technical details. You just need to know: Spotify wants -14 LUFS. Dhun hits that target automatically.

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Average Loudness

LUFS measures how loud your whole song sounds on average — not just the loudest moment. A song that's loud throughout has a higher (less negative) LUFS value.

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Negative Numbers

LUFS values are always negative. -14 LUFS is louder than -18 LUFS. Closer to 0 means louder. -0 LUFS is the maximum possible digital level.

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Streaming Normalization

Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube all compare your LUFS to their target. They'll turn you down if you're too loud — which is why you should master to the right target, not just "as loud as possible."

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Genre Matters

Hip hop and EDM are often mastered louder (-9 to -10 LUFS). Classical and acoustic music is typically quieter (-16 to -18 LUFS). Genre expectations shape the right target.

Platform Targets

LUFS Targets for Every Streaming Platform

Platform	Target LUFS	What Happens If Louder
Spotify	-14 LUFS	Track is turned down to match
Apple Music	-16 LUFS	Track is turned down to match
YouTube	-14 LUFS	Track is turned down to match
Tidal	-14 LUFS	Track is turned down to match
JioSaavn	-14 LUFS	Track is turned down to match
SoundCloud	-14 LUFS	Track is turned down to match

Notice that all major platforms target -14 LUFS. Mastering to -14 LUFS means your track plays at full volume everywhere without being turned down.

How To Hit the Target

How To Get Your Track to the Right LUFS

Finish your mix with headroom

Your mix should peak around -6dBFS before mastering. Don't put a limiter on the master bus — that's mastering's job.

Upload to Dhun

Dhun measures your track's current LUFS, applies the right processing for your genre, and masters it to the optimal streaming target automatically.

Download and check

Your mastered track will be at the right LUFS. You can verify with a free LUFS meter like Youlean Loudness Meter — or just trust the result.

Free to try

Stop Guessing the Numbers. Let Dhun Handle It.

Dhun automatically targets the right LUFS for your genre and streaming platform. Upload your track — free.

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Questions

FAQ

Spotify's target is -14 LUFS integrated. If your track is louder than -14 LUFS, Spotify turns it down automatically. If it's quieter, it plays at full volume but may sound less competitive. Mastering to -14 LUFS hits the sweet spot.

dB (decibels) measures instantaneous peak level — the loudest single sample in your audio. LUFS measures perceived loudness over time — how loud the song actually sounds. For streaming and mastering, LUFS is the relevant measurement.

Many hip hop producers target -9 to -10 LUFS for maximum punch and impact on streaming. Since Spotify normalizes, going louder than -14 LUFS means your track gets turned down — but the dynamics can still feel more punchy depending on how the limiting was applied.

You can use free tools like Youlean Loudness Meter or the built-in LUFS meter in your DAW. Dhun also shows you your track's current loudness level when you upload for analysis.