Headroom Calculator
Calculate audio headroom — the dBFS gap between your peak signal level and the maximum allowable level — for safe recording and mixing.
Headroom Settings
The maximum allowable level. Use 0 for raw recording, -1 for streaming masters, -2 for broadcast.
The highest peak in your signal or mix bus (e.g. -6, -12, -18). Must be below the ceiling to avoid clipping.
Quick Presets
Common Peak Targets & Headroom
Headroom calculated at your current ceiling (-1.0 dBFS).
| Peak Level | Headroom | Typical Context |
|---|
The Formula
Both values are in dBFS. A peak of -12 dBFS with a 0 dBFS ceiling gives 12 dB of headroom. Positive result = safe; negative = clipping.
Why 24-bit Changes Things
At 24-bit depth the noise floor sits around -144 dBFS — far below audibility. Recording at -18 dBFS wastes no dynamic range while providing ample headroom for peaks, making the old 16-bit discipline of "record as hot as possible" obsolete.
Industry Delivery Standards
Summary
Calculate audio headroom — the dBFS gap between your peak signal level and the maximum allowable level — for safe recording and mixing.
How it works
- Enter your peak signal level in dBFS (e.g. -6 dBFS for a hot mix bus).
- Set the target ceiling — typically 0 dBFS for raw recording or -1 dBFS for mastered files.
- The calculator shows headroom = ceiling minus peak level.
- A color-coded indicator tells you whether the headroom is safe, tight, or clipping.
- A reference table lists common industry-standard peak targets and their headroom at your ceiling.
- Adjust either value in real time to explore gain-staging options.
Use cases
- Check whether a recorded track has enough headroom before mixing.
- Verify your mix bus peaks leave sufficient room for mastering.
- Plan gain staging so individual channels sum without clipping.
- Compare headroom targets for streaming, broadcast, and theatrical delivery.
- Understand why -18 dBFS is recommended as a nominal recording level.
- Quickly convert a known peak to the headroom remaining before clipping.