diff --git a/docs/src/integrations/exchange.md b/docs/src/integrations/exchange.md
index 43436bab2..1003b2431 100644
--- a/docs/src/integrations/exchange.md
+++ b/docs/src/integrations/exchange.md
@@ -44,7 +44,15 @@ Customize `--ledger` to your desired ledger storage location, and `--rpc-port` t
 The `--entrypoint` and `--expected-genesis-hash` parameters are all specific to the cluster you are joining.
 [Current parameters for Mainnet Beta](../clusters.md#example-solana-validator-command-line-2)
 
-The `--limit-ledger-size` parameter allows you to specify how many ledger [shreds](../terminology.md#shred) your node retains on disk. If you do not include this parameter, the validator will keep the entire ledger until it runs out of disk space. The default value is good for at least a couple days but larger values may be used by adding an argument to `--limit-ledger-size` if desired. Check `solana-validator --help` for the default limit value used by `--limit-ledger-size`
+The `--limit-ledger-size` parameter allows you to specify how many ledger
+[shreds](../terminology.md#shred) your node retains on disk. If you do not
+include this parameter, the validator will keep the entire ledger until it runs
+out of disk space.  The default value attempts to keep the ledger disk usage
+under 500GB.  More or less disk usage may be requested by adding an argument to
+`--limit-ledger-size` if desired. Check `solana-validator --help` for the
+default limit value used by `--limit-ledger-size`.  More information about
+selecting a custom limit value is [available
+here](https://github.com/solana-labs/solana/blob/583cec922b6107e0f85c7e14cb5e642bc7dfb340/core/src/ledger_cleanup_service.rs#L15-L26).
 
 Specifying one or more `--trusted-validator` parameters can protect you from booting from a malicious snapshot. [More on the value of booting with trusted validators](../running-validator/validator-start.md#trusted-validators)
 
diff --git a/docs/src/running-validator/validator-start.md b/docs/src/running-validator/validator-start.md
index c3b6bbade..455a5fdc7 100644
--- a/docs/src/running-validator/validator-start.md
+++ b/docs/src/running-validator/validator-start.md
@@ -284,10 +284,17 @@ example, `solana-validator --dynamic-port-range 11000-11010 ...` will restrict
 the validator to ports 11000-11010.
 
 ### Limiting ledger size to conserve disk space
+The `--limit-ledger-size` parameter allows you to specify how many ledger
+[shreds](../terminology.md#shred) your node retains on disk. If you do not
+include this parameter, the validator will keep the entire ledger until it runs
+out of disk space.
 
-The `--limit-ledger-size` argument will instruct the validator to only retain the
-last couple hours of ledger. To retain the full ledger, simply remove that arg.
-
+The default value attempts to keep the ledger disk usage under 500GB.  More or
+less disk usage may be requested by adding an argument to `--limit-ledger-size`
+if desired. Check `solana-validator --help` for the default limit value used by
+`--limit-ledger-size`.  More information about
+selecting a custom limit value is [available
+here](https://github.com/solana-labs/solana/blob/583cec922b6107e0f85c7e14cb5e642bc7dfb340/core/src/ledger_cleanup_service.rs#L15-L26).
 
 ### Systemd Unit
 Running the validator as a systemd unit is one easy way to manage running in the