Loudness Standards
A reference table of loudness targets. Streaming platforms adjust normalisation over time, so confirm current values in their documentation.
Loudness targets compared
| Standard / platform | Target | True peak |
|---|---|---|
| EBU R128 (European broadcast) | −23 LUFS | −1 dBTP |
| ATSC A/85 (US broadcast) | −24 LKFS | −2 dBTP |
| ARIB TR-B32 (Japan) | −24 LKFS | −1 dBTP |
| Spotify (default normalisation, reference) | about −14 LUFS | −1 dBTP recommended |
| YouTube (reference) | about −14 LUFS | — |
| Apple Music (Sound Check, reference) | about −16 LUFS | −1 dBTP |
| Podcasts (common practice) | −16 LUFS stereo / −19 mono | −1 dBTP |
How to use these targets
Measure your mix with the loudness meter or file loudness meter. Read what is LUFS for background.