diff --git a/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.8 b/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.8
index 80cf607921c0..1f17e762cd1b 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.8
+++ b/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.8
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ to use while on battery power.
 Specifies the CPU idle percent level when
 adaptive
 mode should begin to degrade performance to save power.
-The default is 75% or higher.
+The default is 90% or higher.
 .It Fl n Ar mode
 Selects the
 .Ar mode
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ The default is 500 ms.
 Specifies the CPU idle percent level where
 adaptive
 mode should consider the CPU running and increase performance.
-The default is 50% or lower.
+The default is 80% or lower.
 .It Fl v
 Verbose mode.
 Messages about power changes will be printed to stdout and
diff --git a/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.c b/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.c
index 932996a381e8..54a19f349a6f 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/powerd/powerd.c
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/sysctl.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 
-#define DEFAULT_ACTIVE_PERCENT	50
-#define DEFAULT_IDLE_PERCENT	75
+#define DEFAULT_ACTIVE_PERCENT	80
+#define DEFAULT_IDLE_PERCENT	90
 #define DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL	500
 
 enum modes_t {