Loudness standards differ by platform. Apple Podcasts asks for -16 LKFS, Spotify normalises playback to -14 LUFS, EBU R 128 broadcast uses -23 LUFS, and ACX audiobooks use an RMS range of -23 to -18 dB. Sort and filter the chart below, then copy the settings for your export.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single number. Podcasts, streaming, ads, audiobooks and TV each publish their own target, and some use RMS or a limiter ceiling instead of LUFS.
- Podcasts: Apple asks for about -16 LKFS (±1 dB) with true peak at or below -1 dBFS.
- Streaming: Spotify normalises to -14 LUFS by default and recommends true peak at or below -1 dBTP.
- Broadcast: EBU R 128 targets -23 LUFS. US TV commercials must follow ATSC A/85 under the CALM Act.
- YouTube: we found no official figure, so treat -14 LUFS as a common creator target, not a rule.
The loudness chart: sort, filter and copy settings
Search for a platform, filter by type, or press a column heading to sort. “Copy settings” puts that platform’s numbers on your clipboard, ready to paste into a brief or your editor notes. Every row comes from the platform’s own page or the standard, retrieved 16 October 2026.
| Platform | Type | Target level | Peak limit | Tolerance and notes | Settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | Podcasts | -16 LKFS | True peak at or below -1 dBFS | ±1 dB, measured to ITU-R BS.1770-5. Feed audio: MP3 or AAC (AAC recommended), stereo 128–256 kbps at 44.1 or 48 kHz. | |
| Spotify (playback) | Streaming | -14 LUFS | True peak at or below -1 dBTP; at or below -2 dBTP if your master is louder than -14 LUFS | Default level. Premium listeners can choose Loud (-11 LUFS) or Quiet (-19 LUFS). This is Spotify's advice to artists on mastering. | |
| Spotify audio ads | Ads | -16 LUFS | Not stated | ±1.5 LUFS. MP3, WAV or OGG, stereo, 44.1 kHz, 192–320 kbps, up to 50 MB. | |
| Amazon Ads audio | Ads | RMS -14 dBFS | Peak -0.2 dBFS | An RMS level, not LUFS. 10–30 seconds, WAV, MP3 or OGG, up to 3 MB. | |
| SiriusXM audio spots | Ads | Limiter ceiling -5 dB | -8 dB for mono | A ceiling, not a loudness target. 30 or 60 seconds, MP3 or 16-bit WAV, 44.1 kHz, at least 320 kbps. | |
| ACX (Audible audiobooks) | Audiobooks | RMS -23 to -18 dB | Peaks no higher than -3 dB | An RMS range, not LUFS. Noise floor no higher than -60 dB RMS. MP3, 192 kbps or higher, CBR, 44.1 kHz. Files up to 120 minutes. | |
| EBU R 128 (European broadcast) | Broadcast | -23 LUFS | -1 dBTP | ±0.2 LU, or ±1 LU for live programmes. The peak figure is from the R 128 text as quoted by EBU sources; check the current edition. | |
| ATSC A/85 (US TV, CALM Act) | Broadcast | -24 LKFS | -2 dBTP | Default target of about ±2 dB for content with no metadata. The A/85 Annex M quick reference gives -2 dBTP as the maximum true peak. US TV stations must follow A/85 for commercials, effective 13 December 2012. Covers TV, not streaming audio. | |
| Clearcast (UK TV ads) | Ads | -23 LUFS | -1 dBTP | Clearcast's audio QC follows EBU R 128. Measure with a meter that meets ITU-R BS.1770 and EBU Tech 3341, and confirm the full delivery spec with your broadcaster. | |
| US streaming services (ATSC guidance) | Streaming | One target from -23 to -27 LKFS | Set by each service | ATSC A/85 Annex M suggests each streaming service pick one target in this range. Ask the service for its delivery sheet. | |
| YouTube | Video | About -14 LUFS (unofficial) | Not stated | We found no official YouTube page that states a LUFS target. -14 LUFS is the figure creators commonly report, the same as Spotify's default. |
LUFS and LKFS are written differently by different bodies (Apple and ATSC say LKFS, EBU says LUFS), and both describe loudness measured as in ITU-R BS.1770. A dBFS or “RMS” figure is a different kind of measurement, so don’t compare it with a LUFS number directly.
Loudness gain calculator
Measure your mix with any BS.1770 loudness meter, then enter the readings. The calculator shows how much gain to apply and where your peaks will land.
The maths is simple: gain = target - measured. A mix at -19.4 LUFS needs +3.4 dB to reach -16. Plain gain moves peaks by the same amount, so a -3.2 dBTP peak becomes +0.2 dBTP, which is over the limit. That’s when you add a true-peak limiter.
The “within target” check uses each platform’s published tolerance where one exists (Apple ±1 dB, Spotify ads ±1.5, the ACX range). Elsewhere it uses ±0.5 as a working margin. For ACX files outside the range, it aims for the middle, -20.5 dB RMS. The YouTube option uses -14 LUFS and -1 dBTP as a working export, not a YouTube rule.
Which loudness target should I use for my audio?
Pick what you are making. Each tab gives the number to aim for and a block you can copy into your editor notes or your brief.
Podcast loudness
Apple Podcasts asks for about -16 LKFS with a ±1 dB tolerance and true peak no higher than -1 dBFS. Its feed audio can be MP3 or AAC, and Apple strongly recommends AAC. Export at 44.1 or 48 kHz: 64-128 kbps for mono or 128-256 kbps for stereo. Measure before encoding.
Podcast export settings Brief
Planning a show? See how to start a podcast with AI voices.
Streaming loudness
Spotify normalises to -14 LUFS by default and advises mastering to that level with true peak at or below -1 dBTP. If your master is louder than -14 LUFS, keep true peak below -2 dBTP, because louder tracks are more prone to distortion when encoded.
Streaming export settings Brief
YouTube and video loudness
YouTube does not state a LUFS target on a page we could verify. Many creators aim for about -14 LUFS integrated and leave a little peak headroom. Treat that as a working target, not a rule, and listen on a phone before you publish.
YouTube’s Help Center says Stable volume is on by default and evens out quiet and loud parts, but not on YouTube Music or official music videos. So a viewer may hear your mix a little differently from your export.
Video export settings Brief
For the voice track itself, see AI voice for YouTube.
Audio ad loudness
Each ad platform states its level differently. Spotify asks for -16 LUFS (±1.5), Amazon for RMS -14 dBFS with peaks at -0.2 dBFS, and SiriusXM for a -5 dB limiter ceiling. Our audio ad specs page has lengths, file types and word counts too.
Audio ad export settings Brief
Audiobook loudness (ACX)
ACX does not use LUFS. Each file must sit between -23 dB and -18 dB RMS, with peaks no higher than -3 dB and a noise floor no higher than -60 dB RMS. Upload MP3 at 192 kbps or higher, constant bit rate, at 44.1 kHz.
Check ACX’s own rules on AI narration before you submit an AI-voiced book.
ACX export settings Brief
TV and radio loudness
In Europe, EBU R 128 normalises programmes to -23 LUFS (±0.2 LU, or ±1 LU live). UK TV ads go through Clearcast, whose audio QC asks for -23 LUFS and -1 dBTP. In the US, TV commercials must follow ATSC A/85, which defaults to -24 LKFS with a -2 dBTP maximum true peak. Radio stations set their own delivery specs, so ask the sales house before you master. For script lengths, see our radio ad script templates.
Broadcast export settings Brief
Levels set? Paste your script into Kveeky, pick a voice, adjust speed and volume, and download an MP3 to measure and master in your editor.
Voice your script freeHow do you measure and set loudness before you upload?
- Finish the mix first. Put the voice, music and effects together. Loudness targets apply to the finished file, not to the voice alone.
- Measure integrated loudness and true peak with a loudness meter in your editor. Read the whole file, not a few seconds.
- Adjust the gain by the difference between your reading and the target. The loudness gain calculator above does the maths. If you need more than a few dB of boost, add a limiter so peaks stay under the ceiling.
- Re-measure after export. Encoding to MP3 or AAC can nudge peaks, which is why Spotify advises extra headroom for louder masters.
- Listen on a phone and on headphones and compare with a show you like.
If you work in the command line, the FFmpeg loudnorm filter applies EBU R 128 style normalisation. Its integrated target I ranges from -70 to -5 (default -24), its loudness range LRA from 1 to 50 (default 7) and its true peak TP from -9 to 0 (default -2). Run it, then measure the result.
FFmpeg loudnorm example (podcast target) Command
Voices that rush or shout are hard to level. Our guide to pauses, emphasis and pacing helps you get an even read before you master it. Changing a number of words into minutes first? Use the words to minutes calculator to plan the length.
Before you upload: loudness checklist
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Measured the final mix, not the voice track alone | Music and effects change the integrated number |
| Integrated loudness within the platform’s tolerance | Broadcasters reject files that miss the spec |
| True peak at or under the ceiling | Peaks over the limit can distort after encoding |
| ACX files checked for RMS, peak and noise floor | ACX uses RMS, so a LUFS reading alone is not enough |
| One export per destination | A -14 LUFS YouTube mix is too loud for -23 LUFS broadcast |
How Kveeky helps with voice tracks that need mastering
Kveeky gives you a clean voice track to drop into any editor, so the loudness work is the last step, not a re-recording.
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Frequently asked questions
What LUFS should a podcast be?
Apple Podcasts asks for about -16 LKFS with a ±1 dB tolerance and true peak no higher than -1 dBFS. Spotify normalises playback to -14 LUFS by default.
What LUFS should I use for YouTube?
YouTube does not state a LUFS target on a page we could verify. Many creators aim for about -14 LUFS integrated, which is the same as Spotify’s default, but that is common practice rather than an official rule. YouTube’s Stable volume setting also evens out levels on most non-music videos.
What loudness does Spotify use?
Spotify normalises to -14 LUFS by default, with -11 LUFS (Loud) and -19 LUFS (Quiet) options for Premium listeners. It recommends mastering to -14 LUFS with true peak at or below -1 dBTP.
What is the ACX loudness requirement?
ACX needs each file between -23 dB and -18 dB RMS, with peaks no higher than -3 dB and a noise floor no higher than -60 dB RMS. It uses RMS, not LUFS.
What is the EBU R 128 loudness target?
EBU R 128 normalises programmes to -23 LUFS, with a tolerance of ±0.2 LU, or ±1 LU for live programmes.
Are LUFS and LKFS the same?
Yes. Both are loudness units measured under ITU-R BS.1770. EBU documents use LUFS, and ATSC and Apple documents use LKFS.
What is the TV loudness standard in the US and UK?
US TV follows ATSC A/85 at -24 LKFS, required for commercials under the CALM Act. UK TV follows EBU R 128 at -23 LUFS, and Clearcast checks UK TV ads for -23 LUFS with a -1 dBTP peak limit.
Sources
- Apple Podcasts loudness, true peak, formats and bitrates: Apple Podcasts for Creators, “Audio requirements”, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- Spotify playback levels and mastering advice: Spotify for Artists, “Loudness normalization”, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- Spotify audio ad loudness and file specs: Spotify Advertising, “Audio ad specs”, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- Amazon audio ad loudness and file specs: Amazon Ads, “Audio ads” ad specs, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- SiriusXM spot limiter ceiling and file specs: SiriusXM Media, “Audio spots”, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- ACX levels, noise floor and file format: ACX Help, “ACX Audio Submission Requirements”, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- EBU R 128 target and tolerance: EBU Tech, “Loudness” and R 128, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- US TV commercial loudness rule (ATSC A/85, effective 13 December 2012): 47 CFR 73.682, Cornell Law School LII, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- YouTube Stable volume (no LUFS target published): YouTube Help, “Control video volume on your device”, retrieved 15 October 2026.
- UK TV ad audio QC (-23 LUFS, -1 dBTP): Clearcast, “The Library – Full Technical Spec Download”, retrieved 15 October 2026.
- US TV -2 dBTP maximum true peak and the -23 to -27 LKFS streaming range: ATSC A/85:2026-07, Annex M quick reference, retrieved 15 October 2026.
- FFmpeg loudnorm options and ranges: FFmpeg Filters Documentation, retrieved 16 October 2026.
- Kveeky formats, plans and rights: Kveeky pricing, retrieved 16 October 2026.