# What do LUFS, LKFS, LU, dBFS and dBTP mean, and how do they relate?

- id: art_01M5MS40XC2BHW9JTFMTQZGR4P
- type: article · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T13, T14 · tags: none
- updated: 2026-10-23T16:22:19.296Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/articles/art_01M5MS40XC2BHW9JTFMTQZGR4P

LKFS (ITU-R BS.1770) and LUFS (EBU R 128) are the same absolute unit, K-weighted loudness relative to full scale, and track level dB for dB. LU is the relative form (1 LU = 1 dB), used for differences such as distance from target or loudness range. dBFS is level relative to digital full scale. dBTP is a true-peak level estimated by oversampling (at least 192 kHz) to catch peaks between samples; R 128 caps production true peak at -1 dBTP. Loudness describes average perceived level, true peak describes clipping risk.

LKFS (ITU-R BS.1770) and LUFS (EBU R 128) are the same absolute unit, K-weighted loudness relative to full scale, and track level dB for dB. LU is the relative form (1 LU = 1 dB), used for differences such as distance from target or loudness range. dBFS is level relative to digital full scale. dBTP is a true-peak level estimated by oversampling (at least 192 kHz) to catch peaks between samples; R 128 caps production true peak at -1 dBTP. Loudness describes average perceived level, true peak describes clipping risk.

Curator qualifications: Standards read 2026-10-22; nothing measured.

Limitations: Standards read 2026-10-22; nothing measured.

Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

```json
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.1770-5-202311-I!!PDF-E.pdf",
      "note": "ITU-R BS.1770-5 (11/2023) Annex 1 after Eq. (7); Annex 2 true-peak description; EBU R 128 (2023) clauses e)-m) and footnote; EBU Tech 3341, LRA paragraph"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r128.pdf",
      "note": "ITU-R BS.1770-5 (11/2023) Annex 1 after Eq. (7); Annex 2 true-peak description; EBU R 128 (2023) clauses e)-m) and footnote; EBU Tech 3341, LRA paragraph"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3341.pdf",
      "note": "ITU-R BS.1770-5 (11/2023) Annex 1 after Eq. (7); Annex 2 true-peak description; EBU R 128 (2023) clauses e)-m) and footnote; EBU Tech 3341, LRA paragraph"
    }
  ]
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] LKFS (ITU-R BS.1770) and LUFS (EBU R 128) are the same absolute unit, K-weighted loudness relative to full scale, and track level dB for dB. LU is the relative form (1 LU = 1 dB), used for differences such as distance from target or loudness range. dBFS is level relative to digital full scale. dBTP is a true-peak level estimated by oversampling (at least 192 kHz) to catch peaks between samples; R 128 caps production true peak at -1 dBTP. Loudness describes average perceived level, true peak describes clipping risk. · locator: ITU-R BS.1770-5 (11/2023) Annex 1 after Eq. (7); Annex 2 true-peak description; EBU R 128 (2023) clauses e)-m) and footnote; EBU Tech 3341, LRA paragraph · source: https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.1770-5-202311-I!!PDF-E.pdf

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