# What is LUFS?

> LUFS measures how loud a video sounds. See what -14 and -23 LUFS mean, what ad platforms say, and a worked example of fixing a quiet ad.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-09
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/lufs

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LUFS is a unit for how loud audio sounds to a listener, and editors usually read one average for the whole clip. A lower number is quieter: -23 LUFS is quieter than -14 LUFS.

## Where the numbers come from

Meta, YouTube and LinkedIn publish no loudness target on their ad spec pages (checked 3 Nov 2026). Meta asks only for stereo AAC audio at 128 kbps or more. The targets you hear about come from elsewhere.

| Target | Source | Made for |
|---|---|---|
| -23 LUFS | [EBU R 128](https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r128.pdf) | European broadcast, adverts included |
| -14 LUFS | Spotify | Music streaming |
| No figure | Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn ad pages | Your choice |

Many editors pick -14 LUFS for social video. That is a habit, not a platform rule.

## The formula

Gain needed (dB) = target LUFS − measured LUFS

## A worked example

Say your ad measures -20 LUFS and you want -14 LUFS.

-14 − (-20) = **+6 dB**

Raise the whole mix by 6 dB. A 1 dB change in the signal moves the reading by 1, so the ad now reads -14 LUFS. Then check the loudest moment does not clip. See [true peak](/glossary/true-peak). To keep a voice clear over music, see [audio ducking](/glossary/audio-ducking).

## How to check yours

1. Play the whole ad through your editor's loudness meter.
2. In Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere), tag the clip type in the Essential Sound panel. Then open its Loudness tab and select Auto-Match. The clip's LUFS value shows under the button.
3. In DaVinci Resolve, the Fairlight page has loudness meters at the right of the monitoring panel.
4. On export, use normalisation where your editor offers it. Descript's export has a "Normalize volume" setting with a LUFS target.

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) has a loudness meter. It can normalise an export to -14 LUFS for social or -23 LUFS for broadcast, with a true-peak limiter. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### Which LUFS should I use for Instagram Reels?

Meta publishes no loudness target for ads. Many editors aim near -14 LUFS, which is Spotify's figure. Treat it as a choice, then listen on a phone with sound on.

### Is LUFS the same as LKFS?

Yes. EBU says the two are equivalent and uses LUFS.

### Is LUFS the same as decibels?

No. Decibels measure a level at one moment. LUFS is a loudness reading, usually averaged over the clip. A 1 dB change in the signal moves it by 1.

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