# Podcast Loudness: What LUFS to Aim For on Spotify, Apple & YouTube

Updated October 14, 2026 · [Michael Nguyen](https://audo.ai/about) · Tested October 2026

Most podcasters master episodes to −16 LUFS (stereo) or −19 LUFS (mono) with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling—Apple Podcasts' official target, which also plays cleanly on Spotify and YouTube without clipping. Spotify and YouTube normalize louder tracks to −14 LUFS, European broadcast (EBU R 128) uses −23 LUFS, US TV (ATSC A/85) uses −24 LKFS, and Audible/ACX audiobooks require −23 to −18 dB RMS with a −3 dB peak ceiling. You can check any file's loudness, true peak, and range for free on Audo AI's LUFS meter (/lufs-meter), then normalize it to podcast or streaming targets in one step with Boost volume (/volume-booster).

Official platform loudness and peak targets (linked to published specifications)

| Platform or standard | Target loudness | True peak ceiling | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | −16 LKFS (±1 dB) stereo · −19 LKFS mono | −1 dB true peak | Recommended master for RSS podcast feeds | https://podcasters.apple.com/support/audio-requirements |
| Spotify | −14 LUFS (−11 Loud, −19 Quiet) | −1 dBTP (−2 dBTP if louder than −14 LUFS) | Normalizes louder tracks down; −16 LUFS speech plays cleanly | https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/loudness-normalization/ |
| YouTube | No published target (−14 LUFS is a safe choice) | −1 dBTP is a safe choice | Turns louder videos down; −16 to −14 LUFS works well for spoken word | — |
| TV and radio in Europe (EBU R 128) | −23 LUFS (±0.5 LU) | −1 dBTP | Broadcast standard across Europe | https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/r128 |
| US TV (ATSC A/85) | −24 LKFS (±2 LU) | −2 dBTP | US broadcast television standard | https://www.atsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A85-2026-07.pdf |
| Audible / ACX Audiobooks | −23 to −18 dB RMS | −3 dB peak (noise floor under −60 dB RMS) | Measured per chapter file in RMS rather than LUFS | https://help.acx.com/s/article/acx-audio-submission-requirements |

## Integrated LUFS, true peak (dBTP), and loudness range (LU) in plain words

A standard peak meter only shows the loudest instant of a waveform, which says very little about how loud a voice sounds to human ears. EBU R 128 loudness metering gives you three numbers that work together:

- **Integrated loudness (LUFS or LKFS):** The average perceived loudness across your entire recording, weighted for human hearing. Because digital audio counts down from 0 (full scale), −14 LUFS is louder than −16 LUFS, and −23 LUFS is quieter. LUFS and LKFS are two names for the exact same scale (1 LU = 1 dB).
- **True peak (dBTP):** The highest point the reconstructed analog wave reaches, including peaks that land between digital samples. Keeping true peak at or below −1 dBTP prevents distortion when your WAV is compressed to MP3 or AAC.
- **Loudness range (LU):** How far apart the quietest and loudest sections are. A conversational podcast usually sits around 4 to 8 LU; if your range is 15 LU, one speaker is likely much quieter than the other.

## Why −16 LUFS is the safest single target for podcast RSS feeds

When you upload an episode to your podcast host, that single audio file goes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and car stereos. Some apps normalize playback; others play the file exactly as uploaded.

Mastering stereo episodes to −16 LUFS (or −19 LUFS for mono speech) with a −1 dBTP ceiling satisfies Apple Podcasts on the nose, leaves enough headroom so Spotify's Loud setting doesn't crush your transients, and stays loud enough for listeners in noisy cars or on phone speakers.

## Why you should level uneven speakers before setting episode loudness

Normalizing a whole episode to −16 LUFS raises or lowers the entire file by one amount (with a limiter catching peaks). If the host is speaking at −14 LUFS and a remote guest is speaking at −26 LUFS, normalizing the whole file leaves the guest 12 LU quieter than the host.

Fix the gap in two steps:

- **1. Even out the voices with Balance audio (/audio-leveler):** Detects who is speaking when on a single mixed file (or aligns and levels separate host and guest tracks) so both voices sit at the same target level while pauses stay quiet.
- **2. Set final loudness and check on the LUFS meter (/lufs-meter):** Use Boost volume (/volume-booster) to hit Podcast (−16 LUFS), YouTube (−14 LUFS), Broadcast (−23 LUFS), Audiobook, or any custom LUFS target with peaks kept under −1 dBTP, and check any finished file for free on Audo's LUFS meter.

## When a DAW meter plugin is the better choice

Audo AI's free LUFS meter (/lufs-meter) and Boost volume (/volume-booster) are built for checking whole audio or video files in the browser (up to 10 files a day completely free on the meter) or automating loudness checks via API and MCP.

If you are actively mixing music beds, sound effects, and dialogue on a multitrack timeline in Reaper, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, or Audition and want to watch real-time momentary and short-term LUFS bars move while you ride faders on your master bus, use a real-time DAW plugin such as Youlean Loudness Meter or iZotope Insight alongside your mix, then run a final file check before export.

## Or check and set your episode's LUFS in one step

Drop any audio or video file into Audo's LUFS meter to see its integrated LUFS, true peak, and range for free, or set it to podcast level with Boost volume. Free to try. No sign-up.

- [Open free LUFS meter](https://audo.ai/lufs-meter)
- [Open Boost volume](https://audo.ai/volume-booster)

## Questions

**Should a podcast be −16 LUFS or −14 LUFS?** Aim for −16 LUFS (with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling) for a stereo podcast RSS feed, or −19 LUFS for a mono file. That matches Apple Podcasts' official spec and plays cleanly on Spotify and YouTube without hitting extra limiting.

**Why does Apple Podcasts say −16 LKFS while Spotify says LUFS?** LKFS and LUFS are two names for the exact same loudness scale: the ITU standard calls it LKFS and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU R 128) calls it LUFS. A reading of −16 LKFS is identical to −16 LUFS.

**What true peak (dBTP) should I use for podcasts and YouTube?** Keep true peak at or below −1 dBTP (or −2 dBTP if mastering louder than −14 LUFS for Spotify). Lossy encoders like MP3 and AAC slightly shift waveform peaks, so a 0 dBTP WAV file will clip after encoding unless you leave 1 dB of headroom.

**What are Audible and ACX loudness requirements for audiobooks?** ACX measures audiobooks in RMS rather than LUFS: each submitted file must measure between −23 dB and −18 dB RMS, with peak values no higher than −3 dB and a noise floor below −60 dB RMS.

**How can I check the LUFS of an MP3 or MP4 file for free?** Upload the file to Audo AI's LUFS meter (/lufs-meter). It measures the entire audio or video file—integrated LUFS, true peak in dBTP, and loudness range in LU—in a few seconds, always free with no sign-up.

## More

- Related guides: [Fix a quiet guest and interview echo](https://audo.ai/guides/fix-quiet-guest-and-interview-echo.md), [Auphonic alternatives](https://audo.ai/guides/auphonic-alternative.md), [Adobe Podcast Enhance: limits and alternatives](https://audo.ai/guides/adobe-podcast-enhance.md)
- Related tools: [LUFS meter](https://audo.ai/lufs-meter.md), [Boost volume](https://audo.ai/volume-booster.md), [Balance audio](https://audo.ai/audio-leveler.md), [File info](https://audo.ai/media-info.md)
- All guides: https://audo.ai/guides
- Every tool: https://audo.ai/llms.txt
- This page for people: https://audo.ai/guides/podcast-loudness-lufs