Spotify Loudness Penalty Checker
Spotify normalises playback to about -14 LUFS integrated.
Spotify aims for -14 LUFS in supported playback modes. A track measured at -8 LUFS would be reduced by roughly 6 dB at the Normal setting. This changes playback gain, not the audio file delivered by your distributor.
The Normal setting targets -14 LUFS; Premium listeners can choose another setting. Spotify says its web player and some third-party devices do not apply normalisation, so the result is an estimate, not a promise for every listener.
There is no single required master loudness for Spotify. Use the checker to compare your measured level with the Normal setting, then listen to the track at matched playback level before deciding whether to change it.
Check your track
Use your final audio file to estimate the dB difference for Spotify and other platforms. Free and private in your browser.
Open the Loudness Penalty CheckerCommon questions
What LUFS should I master to for Spotify?
Spotify’s Normal playback setting aims for -14 LUFS, but this is not a delivery requirement. Choose the master that sounds right at matched playback volume.
Does Spotify turn quiet tracks up?
Yes. Spotify says softer tracks may receive positive gain, limited by available headroom; they are not always lifted all the way to -14 LUFS.
Is the penalty applied to the whole album?
Spotify uses album normalisation when playing an album in order, and track normalisation in playlists and shuffle.