LUFS Loudness Normalization Gain Calculator
Calculate the gain needed to match your track’s integrated loudness to a streaming target like −14 LUFS, and check the resulting true peak.
How it works
Gain (dB) = target LUFS − measured LUFS · New true peak = current peak + gain
Streaming services normalize every track to a reference loudness so listeners don’t reach for the volume between songs. Because LUFS is a decibel scale, matching your track to the target is a single subtraction — no complex math. Watch the true peak, though: turning a quiet master up can push peaks past 0 dBFS, so most platforms recommend keeping true peak at or below −1 dBTP after normalization.
Worked example
A master at −9 LUFS being prepared for a −14 LUFS target needs −14 − (−9) = −5 dB of gain. If it currently true-peaks at −0.5 dBTP, the new peak is −5.5 dBTP — comfortably safe.
Sources: EBU R128 loudness — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
What LUFS target should I master to?
Common references are −14 LUFS (Spotify, YouTube, Amazon), −16 LUFS (Apple Music), and −23 LUFS (EBU R128 broadcast). Mastering near your main platform’s target avoids the service turning your track down and squashing its dynamics.
Will a loud master survive normalization?
If your track is louder than the target, the platform simply turns it down — you gain no loudness advantage but lose dynamic range from over-compression. Mastering close to the target preserves punch and lets the quiet-to-loud contrast do the work.
What is the difference between LUFS and dBTP?
LUFS measures perceived loudness averaged over time and weighted for human hearing, while dBTP (decibels true peak) measures the highest instantaneous level of the reconstructed waveform. You normalize loudness with LUFS and prevent clipping with dBTP — both matter.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.