LUFS Loudness Converter
Convert between LUFS, RMS, and dBFS.
Check if your mix meets streaming platform loudness standards for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Netflix, podcasts, and broadcast.
Understanding LUFS, RMS, and dBFS
LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is the modern standard for measuring perceived loudness in audio — used by every major streaming platform, broadcaster, and podcast network. It replaced RMS (Root Mean Square) as the primary loudness metric because it better matches how humans actually perceive volume.
The three loudness measurements:
- LUFS (Integrated) — the average loudness of an entire track from start to finish. This is what streaming platforms measure.
- LUFS (Short-term) — average loudness over the last 3 seconds. Useful for monitoring during mix.
- LUFS (Momentary) — average loudness over the last 400ms. For peak monitoring.
- RMS — an older power-based average. For most practical purposes, LUFS ≈ RMS numerically (within 1–3 dB).
- dBFS — decibels relative to Full Scale. 0 dBFS is the maximum digital level before clipping.
- True Peak (dBTP) — the actual peak level after digital-to-analog conversion. Always target -1 dBTP for streaming.
Streaming platform loudness targets:
| Platform | Target (Integrated LUFS) | True Peak | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | −14 LUFS | −1 dBTP | Turns down louder tracks |
| Apple Music | −16 LUFS | −1 dBTP | Sound Check normalization |
| YouTube | −14 LUFS | −1 dBTP | Normalizes on playback |
| Netflix | −27 LUFS | −2 dBTP | Dialogue-heavy content |
| Podcast | −16 LUFS | −1 dBTP | Apple Podcasts standard |
| Broadcast (EBU R128) | −23 LUFS | −1 dBTP | European TV/radio |
| Broadcast (ATSC A/85) | −24 LUFS | −2 dBTP | US TV standard |
The Loudness War: From the 1990s through 2010s, record labels pushed mastering engineers to make tracks as loud as possible — killing dynamic range in the process. When Spotify introduced loudness normalization, tracks mastered at −6 LUFS were simply turned down to match −14 LUFS, eliminating any competitive benefit while destroying the mix’s dynamics. Today, a well-mastered track at −14 LUFS with good dynamics sounds better than a crushed −6 LUFS master on any streaming platform.
Practical tip: Master your music to −14 to −16 LUFS integrated for streaming. Leave headroom for True Peak at −1 dBTP. Use a LUFS meter plugin (free options: Youlean Loudness Meter, MeterPlugs) during your final mix down.