The short answer on podcast loudness LUFS targets: spoken-word podcasts are generally aimed at around -16 LUFS integrated for stereo files, with mono files often targeted a couple of LUFS lower. This is the widely accepted range that keeps your show playing back at a comfortable, consistent volume next to every other podcast in the app.
Below, what LUFS actually means, why the target differs from music, and how to hit it.
What LUFS measures
LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale. Unlike a peak meter, which shows the single loudest instant, LUFS measures perceived loudness over time — how loud something actually sounds to a human ear. That’s exactly what you want for podcasts, because the goal is for the whole episode to feel evenly loud, not just to avoid clipping. If the concept is new to you, our LUFS explainer breaks it down from scratch.
The recommended podcast loudness target
For podcasts, the commonly cited target is around -16 LUFS integrated (measured across the whole episode) for stereo. Because most podcasts are spoken word and many are effectively mono, a mono file is often aimed a little lower — frequently cited around -19 LUFS — to account for the loudness difference between mono and stereo at the same setting. You don’t need to hit a number to the decimal; landing within a couple of LUFS of the target is fine.
You’ll also see two other figures alongside the integrated value:
- True peak, which should stay below 0 dB (typically capped around -1 dBTP) so the file never clips.
- Loudness range (LRA), which describes how much your loudness varies — speech usually wants a fairly controlled range so quiet moments stay audible.
Why podcasts differ from music
Music masters are usually pushed louder. Podcasts sit at a more conservative level for two reasons: speech needs to stay intelligible without fatiguing the listener, and many platforms apply their own loudness normalization that turns very loud uploads down. If you master a podcast as hot as a modern music track, the platform may simply reduce it — and over-compressed speech sounds harsh and tiring. Aiming for the spoken-word target keeps you in the comfortable zone the platforms expect.
How to measure and hit your target
You need a loudness meter, which most editing tools include or support:
- Audacity and Reaper can measure and normalize to a LUFS target.
- Hindenburg and Descript are built for spoken word and can target the right loudness more or less automatically.
The workflow is simple: finish your edit, run a loudness normalization to your target LUFS, then check the true peak and apply a limiter if needed. This is the final stage of mastering — our full walkthrough on how to master a podcast shows where loudness fits in the chain alongside EQ and compression. And before you master, a clean recording helps; our tips on sounding better on a podcast microphone reduce the work the meter has to do.
Frequently asked questions
What LUFS should my podcast be?
Aim for roughly -16 LUFS integrated for stereo spoken word, with mono files often targeted a couple of LUFS lower. Keep true peaks below 0 dB. Being within a couple of LUFS of the target is perfectly acceptable.
Will platforms change my loudness anyway?
Many do apply normalization, turning loud uploads down toward a standard level. Mastering to the recommended spoken-word target means your show already sits where platforms expect, so it plays back consistently with other podcasts.
Does it matter if my podcast is mono or stereo?
It affects the target. For the same perceived loudness, a mono file is usually aimed a couple of LUFS lower than a stereo file. Pick one format, measure it with a loudness meter, and normalize to the appropriate target for that format.
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