In ElevenLabs, Stability controls how much a voice varies, Similarity controls how closely it follows the source voice, and Style attempts to amplify the source speaker’s delivery. They are different controls, not universal quality scores. A practical starting point for many supported workflows is Stability around 50, Similarity around 75, and Style at 0; then change one setting at a time and regenerate samples. These are ElevenLabs’ general guidelines, not a preset that guarantees a particular sound.
What the three settings change
The same slider value can sound different depending on the selected voice, source recording, model, and generated take. Treat the controls as ways to steer a performance, not as promises about emotion or voice identity.
| Setting | What it steers | Trade-off to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Variation between generations and the voice’s emotional range | More consistency can sound monotonous; more variation can become erratic |
| Similarity | Adherence to the original voice | High adherence can preserve noise or artifacts in a poor source recording |
| Style | Emphasis on the original speaker’s performance style | More emphasis can make output less stable and may add latency |
Stability: consistency versus variation
Lower Stability generally allows more variation and emotional range. It can help a delivery feel lively or dramatic, but very low values may produce unusually fast, random, or otherwise odd speech. Higher Stability generally makes behavior more consistent and can suit a serious, even delivery, but may limit expression or sound monotonous. The original voice has a strong influence on the result.
In the API, stability accepts values from 0 to 1 and has a documented default of 0.5. The user guide’s approximate 50 starting point refers to the same midpoint on a 0–100-style slider. ElevenLabs API reference
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Similarity: resemblance to the source
The API parameter is named similarity_boost. It controls how closely the generated voice follows the original voice; raising it is not automatically an improvement. If the source audio contains background noise or other artifacts, a high value can carry those defects into the output.
The API documents a range of 0 to 1 and a default of 0.75, corresponding to the commonly suggested slider starting point around 75. ElevenLabs API reference
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Style: amplify the speaker’s delivery
The style parameter attempts to amplify the style in the original speaker’s performance. ElevenLabs recommends starting at zero. Increasing it can make generation less stable, use more computational resources, and increase latency. Its troubleshooting guide also warns that, for some voices, Style may cause inconsistent speed, mispronunciations, or extra sounds. ElevenLabs voice settings guide ElevenLabs troubleshooting guide
Starting values and how to tune them
ElevenLabs’ Text to Speech guide says: “The most common setting is stability around 50, similarity around 75, and keeping style at 0, with minimal changes thereafter.” This is guidance for many supported workflows, not a tested universal preset. ElevenLabs Text to Speech guide
- Confirm the model and scope. Check which controls that model supports. In Studio, a voice-setting change can affect the voice across a project; use an override for selected text if you only want to change that passage. Previously generated audio may need to be regenerated. ElevenLabs voice settings guide
- Begin near the documented starting point. Where the model exposes these sliders, start around Stability 50, Similarity 75, and Style 0.
- Change one control at a time. Keep the voice and text the same so you can hear which adjustment changed the result. This is a useful comparison method, not a formal ElevenLabs testing protocol.
- Regenerate several samples. Compare the takes against the delivery you want rather than judging a setting from one generation.
- Adjust in small steps. If the performance is too flat, try lowering Stability; if it varies too much, try raising it. If it strays from the source voice, adjust Similarity cautiously, especially when the source recording is imperfect. Leave Style at zero unless you have a reason to emphasize the source performance.
Generation is not deterministic: ElevenLabs notes that setting specific slider values does not guarantee the same result each time. ElevenLabs Studio guide
Check model availability before tuning
Do not assume every model has all three sliders. The current product guide describes model-specific controls as follows; product capabilities can change, so check the current interface and documentation for the model you are using. ElevenLabs Text to Speech guide ElevenLabs prompting guide
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| Model | Documented controls and behavior |
|---|---|
| Eleven v3 | Stability is offered as Creative, Natural, or Robust and controls adherence to the reference audio. Creative is more expressive but more prone to hallucinations; Natural stays closest to the original recording; Robust is highly stable but less responsive to directional prompts. Similarity, Speed, and Speaker Boost are unavailable. |
| Eleven v4 and v4 Turbo | Stability and Similarity are available; Style and Speed sliders are unavailable. |
Related controls: Speaker Boost and Speed
Speaker Boost is separate from Similarity
Speaker Boost is a separate control that boosts similarity to the original speaker; it is not the Similarity slider. It uses somewhat more computation and may increase latency, while its audible differences are generally subtle according to ElevenLabs’ Studio guide. The Text to Speech guide says Speaker Boost is unavailable for Eleven v3. ElevenLabs voice settings guide
Speed changes pace, not voice resemblance
Speed is a separate control. The API documents 1.0 as its default, with values below 1.0 slowing speech and values above 1.0 speeding it up. The current Text to Speech guide says Speed is unavailable for Eleven v3 and Eleven v4. ElevenLabs API reference ElevenLabs Text to Speech guide
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