What Is LUFS? Audio Loudness Units Explained for Beginners

LUFS stands for Loudness Units Full Scale. It is the measurement standard that streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube use to normalize audio loudness. If your track is too loud or too quiet relative to the platform target, it will be turned up or down automatically. Understanding LUFS helps you master your music so it sounds exactly the way you intended on every platform.

LUFS vs dB: What Is the Difference?

Decibels (dB) measure the peak amplitude of an audio signal -- the loudest instantaneous moment. LUFS measures perceived loudness over time, which is closer to how human ears actually experience volume. A track can have identical peak levels to another track but sound significantly louder or quieter depending on its average loudness.

LUFS accounts for frequency weighting and time integration, meaning it considers that humans are more sensitive to midrange frequencies and that sustained loudness feels different from brief peaks. This is why LUFS has become the industry standard for loudness measurement in broadcasting and streaming.

Why Streaming Platforms Use LUFS

Before loudness normalization, the "loudness war" pushed producers to master tracks as loud as possible. The result was heavily compressed, fatiguing audio. Streaming platforms solved this by normalizing all tracks to a target loudness level, measured in LUFS.

Spotify normalizes to approximately -14 LUFS integrated. Apple Music targets around -16 LUFS. YouTube sits near -14 LUFS. If your master comes in at -8 LUFS, Spotify will turn it down by about 6 dB, and all that compression you applied to make it loud now just sounds squashed with no loudness advantage.

For a deeper breakdown of platform-specific targets, see the LUFS targets guide for Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Types of LUFS Measurements

There are three types of LUFS readings you will encounter, and each tells you something different about your track.

Integrated LUFS is the average loudness of the entire track from start to finish. This is the number streaming platforms use for normalization. When someone says "master to -14 LUFS," they mean integrated LUFS.

Short-term LUFS measures loudness over a three-second window. It shows you how loudness fluctuates throughout the song and is useful for identifying sections that are disproportionately loud or quiet.

Momentary LUFS uses a 400-millisecond window and captures rapid loudness changes. It is less useful for mastering decisions but helpful for understanding transient dynamics.

How to Measure LUFS on Your Tracks

You can measure LUFS with a dedicated loudness meter. Most DAWs include a basic meter, but a purpose-built loudness tool gives you integrated, short-term, and momentary readings along with true peak values. The Genesis Mix Lab Loudness Meter lets you check your track's LUFS level for free in your browser with no account required.

When measuring, always play the track from start to finish for an accurate integrated reading. Checking only the chorus will give you a misleadingly high number, while measuring only the intro will read too low.

Practical LUFS Targets for Producers

For most genres, mastering to -14 LUFS integrated with a true peak ceiling of -1 dBTP is a safe target that works well across Spotify, YouTube, and most other platforms. This gives you enough headroom for dynamic range while avoiding normalization penalties.

Genres like EDM and hip-hop often push louder (-10 to -12 LUFS) because the compressed, in-your-face aesthetic is part of the sound. Classical and jazz typically sit quieter (-16 to -20 LUFS) to preserve dynamics. The key is to make an intentional choice rather than defaulting to "as loud as possible."

Visit the Genesis Mix Lab blog for more guides on mastering, loudness, and streaming delivery. And check pricing to see how AI mastering can hit your LUFS targets automatically.

About Genesis Mix Lab

Genesis Mix Lab is a browser-based AI mixing and mastering platform for music producers. It offers AI-powered multitrack mixing and mastering in a single platform, with features including reference track matching, genre-aware processing, and real-time Mix Notes. Pricing starts at $0/month (free tier) with Pro at $19.99/month, including all plugins.