Podcast Loudness Standards 2026: Spotify, Apple, YouTube Requirements

Your podcast sounds perfect on your headphones. But when a listener streams it on Spotify, it sounds quiet. Then they switch to Apple Podcasts, and it's suddenly too loud. What gives?

The answer is loudness normalization—and if your podcast doesn't meet platform standards, you're either being normalized (often poorly) or your listeners are adjusting volume manually. Neither is a good experience.

Here's everything you need to know about podcast loudness standards in 2026.

Quick Reference: Platform Loudness Requirements

What Is LUFS?

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is the industry standard for measuring perceived loudness. Unlike simple volume (dB), LUFS accounts for how human ears actually perceive sound.

Why LUFS Matters:

• Consistent listening experience - No sudden volume jumps between episodes or ads
• Platform compliance - Major platforms use LUFS for normalization
• Professional sound - Proper loudness indicates a polished production

Understanding True Peak:

True Peak (dBTP) measures the highest possible momentary volume, including frequencies that digital-to-analog conversion might miss. Keeping under -1 dBTP prevents distortion.

Spotify Loudness Requirements

Target: -14 LUFS True Peak: -1 dBTP

Spotify normalizes all podcasts to -14 LUFS. If your audio is already at this level, Spotify won't change it much. If it's quieter, Spotify will boost it (which can increase noise). If it's louder, Spotify will reduce it.

Spotify Tips:

• Aim for -14 LUFS for best results
• Don't exceed -1 dB True Peak
• Dynamic range is fine at this loudness level

Apple Podcasts Requirements

Target: -16 LUFS (recommended) True Peak: -1 dBTP

Apple Podcasts has historically been less strict about loudness, but they're moving toward -16 LUFS as the recommended target.

Apple Podcasts Tips:

• -16 LUFS is the current recommendation
• If your audio is -14 LUFS, Apple will slightly reduce it
• The difference is subtle, but -16 LUFS ensures consistency

YouTube Loudness Requirements

Target: -14 LUFS True Peak: -1 dBTP

YouTube uses the same -14 LUFS standard as Spotify. If you upload a podcast video, YouTube will normalize it to this level.

YouTube Tips:

• -14 LUFS works perfectly for video podcasts
• Watch your True Peak—YouTube is unforgiving of clipping
• If uploading audio-only, create a static image video

Why Consistent Loudness Matters

For Listeners:

• No manual volume adjustment between episodes
• Comfortable listening across different devices
• No jarring ad loudness spikes

For Your Podcast:

• More professional perception
• Better listener retention
• Fewer negative reviews about audio quality

For Platforms:

• Easier content moderation
• Consistent user experience
• Reduced complaints

How to Achieve Proper Loudness

Method 1: Use a Loudness Meter

In your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), use a loudness meter plugin:

• Youlean Loudness Meter (free)
• Nugen VisLM (paid)
• Wave L360 (paid)

Measure your integrated loudness (long-term average) and True Peak.

Method 2: Use Limiting

A brick-wall limiter catches peaks and prevents exceeding your target:

1. Set ceiling to -1 dB
2. Adjust threshold until integrated loudness hits -14 LUFS
3. Be careful—over-limiting sounds squashed and unnatural

Method 3: Professional Mastering

Meeting -14 LUFS can be tricky. Different content (music vs. speech) responds differently to compression and limiting. SONE automatically masters to the correct loudness for all platforms—ensuring your podcast meets Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and every other platform requirement without you touching a single knob.

Common Loudness Mistakes

❌ Making It Too Loud

Many podcasters think louder = better. But exceeding -14 LUFS just means platforms will reduce it—and often poorly, causing artifacts.

❌ Ignoring True Peak

Peaks that look fine on your meter might clip during playback. Always check True Peak.

❌ Inconsistent Episodes

If Episode 10 is -16 LUFS and Episode 11 is -12 LUFS, listeners will notice. Master every episode to the same standard.

❌ Not Accounting for Ads

Podcast ads often have different loudness than your content. If your host inserts ads automatically, check that the final mix is consistent.

The Smart Approach: Master for Every Platform

Rather than trying to guess which platform your listeners prefer, master for the most common denominator:

• Target: -14 LUFS
• True Peak: -1 dBTP
• Dynamic range: Natural, not over-compressed

This ensures your podcast sounds great everywhere, whether listeners use Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or any other platform.

Pro tip: Professional mastering handles all of this automatically. Services like SONE deliver files optimized for every major podcast platform—so you never have to worry about loudness standards again.

FAQ: Podcast Loudness

What happens if my podcast isn't -14 LUFS? Platforms will normalize it. Spotify and YouTube will adjust to -14 LUFS, which can cause volume changes or artifacts if your audio is far from the target.

Can my podcast be too quiet? Yes. Quieter podcasts require more amplification, which also boosts the noise floor. This can make your audio sound hissy or muddy.

Should I use loudness normalization or compression? Both. Compression smooths out volume variations, while normalization sets the final level. A good mastering chain includes both.

How do I check my podcast's loudness? Use a loudness meter plugin in your DAW, or upload to a platform's analytics to see if they're applying normalization.

What's the easiest way to get perfect loudness? Use a professional mastering service. SONE's podcast mastering ensures your episodes hit exactly -14 LUFS with proper True Peak handling—every time.

Don't Worry About Technical Specs

Loudness standards can feel overwhelming, but you don't need to become an audio engineer to get it right. The key is consistency: every episode should be mastered to the same level.

If you'd rather focus on creating content than tweaking meters and limits, try SONE's podcast mastering. Every episode is professionally mastered to platform standards—so your podcast sounds perfect on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and everywhere else listeners discover you.