LUFS Meter: Check Your Song's Loudness Online
Upload a song and read its integrated loudness in LUFS and its estimated true peak. Previewing is free, with no sign-in.
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In short
To check a song's LUFS, drop a WAV, MP3, FLAC or AIFF file on the upload box. When the studio opens, expand "Audio details & processing report" under the player and read the Original column: integrated loudness in LUFS, estimated true peak in dBTP and sample rate. It is one number for the whole track, not a live meter, and the true peak is an estimate, so use a certified meter for final delivery.
What a LUFS meter measures
LUFS stands for Loudness Units referenced to Full Scale. EBU Recommendation R 128 says the unit comes from ITU-R BS.1770 and that LUFS is equivalent to LKFS, the name BS.1770 uses. A loudness meter doesn't read the highest sample. It weighs the signal to estimate how loud it sounds, then reports that on the LUFS scale.
EBU's Tech 3341 describes three time scales. Momentary uses a sliding 0.4-second window, short-term a 3-second window, and integrated covers a whole programme, with gating that ignores silence below −70 LUFS and anything 10 LU below the gated average. It adds Loudness Range (LRA), measured in LU, where 1 LU is equivalent to 1 dB. A meter also reports true peak in dBTP, the highest level of the waveform between the samples.
This tool gives you the integrated figure and an estimated true peak. It doesn't give momentary, short-term or LRA values.
How to check LUFS online in 3 steps
Upload your track
Drop a WAV, MP3, FLAC or AIFF file on the upload box. It can be up to 200 MB and 10 minutes, mono or stereo. Use the file you plan to release: an MP3 is measured as the MP3 it is.
Open the report
When the studio opens, expand "Audio details & processing report" under the player. The figures come from the same run that renders the preview master, so there is no separate analysis button.
Read the Original column
Loudness (LUFS) is the integrated figure for the whole file, and Estimated true peak (dBTP) is its highest level. Choose "Download report" to save the same numbers, plus more, as a JSON file.
What the LUFS meter report shows
| Report item | Where you see it | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Loudness (LUFS), Original | Panel under the player | Integrated loudness of your whole file, measured with an open-source implementation of ITU-R BS.1770-4 |
| Estimated true peak (dBTP), Original | Panel under the player | A four-times oversampled estimate of the highest level, not a certified true-peak meter |
| Sample rate (Hz), Original | Panel under the player | The file's rate. Files above 48 kHz are resampled to 48 kHz first, so the report shows 48,000 |
| Sample peak, crest factor, duration, channels | Downloaded JSON report | Sample peak in dBFS, crest factor in dB, length in seconds and channel count for the original |
| Mastered column | Panel under the player | The same measures for the preview master, measured on the base render |
The report can also carry a note. It says the input is near full scale when the sample peak reaches −0.05 dBFS or higher, and that the input has a low crest factor when the crest factor is under 7 dB.
Reading your LUFS number
- More negative means quieter. A track at −16 LUFS is 2 LU, about 2 dB, quieter than one at −14 LUFS.
- There is no single right figure. Broadcast follows EBU R 128, which sets −23.0 LUFS for programmes and a true peak ceiling of −1 dBTP. Music services publish their own figures, or none. Our LUFS for Spotify page lists Spotify's, and loudness normalization covers how other services describe it.
- Integrated is an average over the whole track. A quiet intro and a loud chorus end up as one number, so listen as well as measure.
- Leave headroom. The estimated true peak shows how close the waveform comes to full scale. A master that peaks near 0 dBTP leaves little room for lossy encoding.
LUFS vs dB: what is the difference?
LUFS measures loudness: the signal is weighted and gated over time. dBFS and dBTP measure level: how high a peak reaches against full scale. Both are decibel scales, which is why a change of 1 LU equals a change of 1 dB, but they answer different questions. A song can be quiet in LUFS and still peak near 0 dBTP, so read both lines of the report. If that low loudness is the problem, see make an MP3 louder.
Where a quick LUFS check helps
- Before you send a release to a distributor. Read the numbers, then compare them with your distributor's own requirements.
- When comparing two mixes. Upload each one and compare the Original LUFS, so the decision doesn't rest on volume alone.
- To spot a file that is too hot. The near-full-scale note and a true peak close to 0 dBTP both flag little headroom.
- After mastering. Compare Original and Mastered to see how far the preview master moved.
- When a track sounds loud next to another one. A number shows whether you are hearing a real difference.
Tips for an accurate LUFS reading
- Upload the final mix, not a bounce with a limiter you plan to remove.
- Measure the whole song. The integrated figure only means something over the full length.
- Use WAV or AIFF if you have it. An MP3 is a lossy copy, and its figures describe that copy.
- Don't compare an Original reading with a Mastered one as if both were your file. Mastered describes the preview master.
- For release-critical numbers, check the exported file again in a certified meter.
LUFS meter options compared
| Option | What you get | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| This tool | Integrated LUFS and estimated true peak for the Original, with a preview master next to it | No live meter, no momentary, short-term or LRA values, and the report arrives with a mastering run |
| A loudness meter in your audio editor | Live momentary, short-term and integrated readings while you play | You need the software, and you adjust levels by hand |
| A meter that states compliance with ITU-R BS.1770 and EBU Tech 3341 | Readings of the kind EBU R 128 asks for when it sets the −1 dBTP true peak limit | Built for delivery and compliance work |
The honest limits
- It is not a live meter. You get one integrated figure per upload. There are no momentary, short-term or Loudness Range readings.
- There is no analysis-only mode. The report comes from the same run that renders the preview master.
- True peak is estimated. The engine uses a four-times oversampled estimate, not a certified meter.
- The Mastered column isn't re-measured live. Intensity and EQ changes you make afterwards aren't reflected in it.
- Limits on files. WAV, MP3, FLAC or AIFF up to 200 MB and 10 minutes. Files that are silent or too low in level are rejected.
- Not for you if you need compliance paperwork, live monitoring or measurements of files longer than 10 minutes.
LUFS meter FAQ
How do I check the LUFS of a song?
Upload the file, open "Audio details & processing report" under the player and read Loudness (LUFS) in the Original column. It is the integrated figure for the whole track.
Is this LUFS meter free?
Yes, to preview. Uploading, eight sound profiles, intensity, EQ and original/mastered previews are free, with no sign-in needed. Mastered downloads need the $9.90 USD monthly membership, which renews until canceled.
Which files can I measure?
WAV, MP3, FLAC and AIFF, up to 200 MB and 10 minutes, mono or stereo. Files above 48 kHz are resampled to 48 kHz before measuring, so the report shows 48,000 Hz.
Does it show momentary, short-term or loudness range?
No. It reports integrated loudness, an estimated true peak and the sample rate. Momentary, short-term and Loudness Range are separate readings in EBU's metering guidance, and this report doesn't include them.
Is the true peak reading exact?
No. It is a four-times oversampled estimate, not a certified true-peak meter. Use a certified meter on the file you deliver.
What LUFS should my song be?
It depends on where it will be heard. EBU R 128 sets −23.0 LUFS for broadcast programmes, while music services publish their own figures or none. See our LUFS for Spotify page for one service's published numbers.
Can I measure a song without mastering it?
Not separately. The report comes from the same run that renders the preview master, but you can read the Original column and ignore the master. You don't need a membership to see it.
What is the difference between LUFS and dB?
LUFS measures weighted, gated loudness over time. dBFS and dBTP measure how high the peaks reach. A change of 1 LU is equivalent to 1 dB, but the two answer different questions.
Do my Intensity and EQ settings change the Original reading?
No. The Original figures describe your uploaded file. The Mastered figures describe the preview master on its base render, and later Intensity or EQ changes aren't re-measured.
Are my uploads stored?
Measuring runs in your browser, then your source audio, master, settings and report are uploaded for private cloud history. Saved results remain until deletion is requested or storage is discontinued with notice. The Privacy page says audio isn't sold or used to train AI models.
When should I not use this LUFS meter?
Don't use it for compliance paperwork, live monitoring or files over 10 minutes. Use a certified meter for the final exported file.
Ready to check your track?
Upload a song above, open the report and read its LUFS and estimated true peak in under a minute. → AI music mastering
Last updated: 2026-10-28