LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is the standard measurement for perceptual loudness. Unlike peak levels, it reflects how loud your track actually sounds to human ears. Streaming platforms measure the integrated LUFS of your track and adjust its playback volume to match their target. True Peak is the maximum sample level — keep it at or below the platform limit to avoid distortion after encoding. LRA (Loudness Range) measures dynamic variation — a high LRA means more variation between quiet and loud sections.
Loudness Scale — Common Targets
−24 LUFS−18−14−11−9−6 LUFS
Platform Targets
Mastering Tips
Master for Spotify first
At −14 LUFS, Spotify is the most common target. If it sounds great there, it will translate well everywhere else with only minor compromise.
True Peak matters
Keep true peak at −1 dBTP or lower. MP3 and AAC encoding can cause inter-sample peaks that clip the output even if your WAV was fine.
Louder is not always better
Platforms normalise everything to the same perceived volume. A heavily limited, loud master sounds worse than a dynamic one when played at the same level.
Dynamic range is your friend
Music with more LRA (dynamic variation) tends to feel more emotional and engaging. Excessive limiting destroys this. Aim for LRA 6–10 for most genres.
Check in mono
Many phones and smart speakers are mono. If your mix sounds thin or loses elements in mono, address it before mastering.
Use a LUFS meter
Free options include Youlean Loudness Meter and the built-in meters in most modern DAWs. Measure the integrated LUFS of the full track before export.