Integrated Loudness -14 LUFS
True Peak Max -1 dBTP

About this Target

Spotify's Normal setting adjusts playback toward -14 LUFS; this is not an upload acceptance band.

Spotify measures track and album loudness and adjusts Normal playback toward -14 LUFS. Its current artist guidance recommends keeping masters below -1 dBTP, or below -2 dBTP when a master is louder than -14 LUFS, to reduce additional distortion during encoding. Playback mode, album normalization, device behavior, and available peak headroom can change the applied gain, so a -14 LUFS master is a reference choice rather than a submission requirement.

Reference type: Official playback guidance

Guide: Loudness Leveler

Load the Mastering - Spotify Reference (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn over the complete program to lock the final correction.

Adjust Target Tolerance for the amount of movement you want around -14 LUFS, then use the built-in limiter for the -1 dBTP ceiling.

APU Loudness Leveler showing Spotify target at -14 LUFS
Fig 1. Real-time Spotify target tracking using APU Loudness Leveler.

Guide: Loudness Compressor

Workflow:
1. Load the Mastering - Spotify Reference (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category.
2. To have the compression range follow your material, use Source Range Learn while playing the complete program.
3. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn in the Limiter tab over the complete program.

APU Loudness Compressor showing Spotify target at -14 LUFS
Fig 2. Real-time Spotify LUFS targeting using APU Loudness Compressor.
APU Loudness Compressor showing Spotify target at -1 dBTP
Fig 3. Real-time Spotify dBTP targeting using APU Loudness Compressor.

Guide: Loudness Limiter

Load the Mastering - Spotify Ceiling (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. It configures both ceilings. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn over the complete program.

APU Loudness Limiter showing Spotify target at -14 LUFS
Fig 4. Real-time Spotify LUFS and dBTP targeting using APU Loudness Limiter.

Guide: Dynamics Optimizer

Load the Mastering - Spotify Reference (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category, open the complete file, then analyze and optimize it. Review the result, then measure the exported file before delivery.

APU Dynamics Optimizer showing Spotify target at -14 LUFS
Fig 5. Offline Spotify LUFS and dBTP targeting using APU Dynamics Optimizer.

Metering for Spotify

Measure Integrated LUFS over the complete track and linked Maximum True Peak across the stereo output. Short-term sections may exceed -14 LUFS; compare the final Integrated value with the playback reference and retain the recommended peak headroom.

Load the QC - Spotify Normalization (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. It configures the target range, True Peak threshold, Short-term history, and Integrated output for this reference.

APU Loudness Meter showing Spotify target at -14 LUFS
Fig 6. Real-time metering of the Spotify reference using APU Loudness Meter.

Sources

Platform behavior and delivery requirements can change. Check the linked source and the destination's current specification before final delivery.