Spotify normalizes all tracks to -14 dB LUFS at playback using the ITU 1770 standard

Spotify’s loudness normalization system measures each uploaded track’s integrated loudness according to the ITU BS.1770 standard (K-weighted, gated average) and applies gain correction at playback to bring it to -14 dB LUFS. This is not a transcoding or processing step — the original file is preserved unchanged; gain is applied on the fly during playback. The -14 LUFS target sits between the ‘loud’ (-11 LUFS) and ‘quiet’ (-19 LUFS) premium user settings, and is the default ‘Normal’ playback level. This target is close to the EBU R128 broadcast standard (-23 LUFS with a different gating profile) but significantly louder, reflecting streaming’s listening context. Understanding this target prevents the common mistake of heavily limiting masters to appear loud, since Spotify will simply turn them down.

Examples

A master measured at -8 LUFS (heavily limited) is turned down by 6 dB at playback. A master at -18 LUFS (dynamic) is turned up by 4 dB. Both play back at -14 LUFS — the limiting gained nothing audible and lost dynamic range.

Assessment

A friend masters their track to -8 LUFS to ‘sound louder on Spotify.’ Explain what will actually happen on playback, and what target they should have aimed for instead.