Every platform normalizes loudness differently, and chasing a separate master for each one is a waste of time. This cheat sheet gives you the current LUFS and true peak targets for every major platform in 2026, plus a simple strategy for mastering once and delivering everywhere.
The Complete 2026 Loudness Target Table
| Platform | Integrated LUFS Target | True Peak Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify (Normal) | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Spotify (Loud) | -11 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Tidal | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Amazon Music | -14 LUFS | -2 dBTP |
| SoundCloud | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Deezer | -15 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Broadcast (EBU R128) | -23 LUFS | -1 dBTP |
| Broadcast (US / ATSC A/85) | -24 LKFS | -2 dBTP |
Do You Need a Separate Master for Each Platform?
For almost everyone, the answer is no. Because streaming platforms normalize loudness automatically, you can create one master and let each platform adjust playback to its own target. Creating ten different masters for ten platforms is unnecessary work.
The Master-Once Strategy
Here is the approach most modern mastering engineers use:
- ▸Master to a sensible integrated loudness — around -14 LUFS is a safe, widely compatible target that preserves dynamics.
- ▸Set your true peak ceiling to -1 dBTP so you are safe on every streaming platform.
- ▸Deliver this single master as a lossless WAV to all your distributors.
- ▸Trust the platforms to normalize from there — louder platforms turn it up (within limits), quieter contexts turn it down.
The only time you genuinely need separate masters is for broadcast (TV, radio) which targets a much quieter -23 to -24 LUFS, or for a specialized loud 'club' version for DJ use.
How Loud Should Your Master Actually Be?
This depends on your genre and intent, not just the platform target:
| Genre / Use | Typical Integrated LUFS |
|---|---|
| Classical / Jazz / Ambient | -18 to -14 LUFS |
| Pop / Rock / Singer-songwriter | -14 to -10 LUFS |
| EDM / Hip-Hop / Loud genres | -12 to -8 LUFS |
| Podcast / Spoken word | -16 LUFS |
| Broadcast delivery | -23 LUFS |
Remember: if you master louder than -14 LUFS, streaming platforms will turn you down. That is fine if you are pushing loudness for tonal character (saturation, glue, density), but pointless if you are only chasing volume.
The Only Two Numbers You Must Check
Before every release, verify just two things:
- ▸Integrated LUFS — is it in a sensible range for your genre and target platform?
- ▸True peak — is it at or below -1 dBTP so it will not clip after encoding?
If both are in range, your master is ready. You can check both numbers for free in your browser in under a minute — drop in your file, read the integrated LUFS and true peak, and compare against this cheat sheet.
Final Thoughts
Modern mastering is simpler than it used to be. Master once to around -14 LUFS with a -1 dBTP ceiling, deliver a lossless file everywhere, and let normalization handle the rest. Bookmark this cheat sheet, check your two numbers before every release, and you will never ship a master that gets crushed or distorted again.