What does -16 LUFS mean, and why it matters
Updated 29 October 2026
LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) measures how loud audio sounds to a listener over its whole length. It matters because podcast apps play episodes back to back, and nobody wants to reach for the volume.
- What the number meansQuieter audio has a lower (more negative) number. -16 LUFS is the level podcast apps expect for stereo; speech-only mono is often a little louder in practice.
- Why not just make it as loud as possiblePast a point the audio clips and sounds harsh, and apps may turn it down anyway. Consistent beats loud.
- Peaks are differentPeak level is the highest spike. Keep it under 0 dB to avoid clipping. Vandcast limits true peaks to -1.5 dBTP on export.
- How to check yoursUse the free checker below. Drop in an MP3 or WAV and read the number. Nothing is uploaded: it is measured in your browser.
- How to fix itExport from Vandcast: every export is levelled to -16 LUFS.
Tip: A few dB either way is fine. If a file is 5 dB or more away from -16, level it.
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