diff --git a/app/vmselect/prometheus/prometheus.go b/app/vmselect/prometheus/prometheus.go
index a7d79e46d4..b4620219ac 100644
--- a/app/vmselect/prometheus/prometheus.go
+++ b/app/vmselect/prometheus/prometheus.go
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ var httpClient = &http.Client{
 func LabelValuesHandler(qt *querytracer.Tracer, startTime time.Time, at *auth.Token, labelName string, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 	defer labelValuesDuration.UpdateDuration(startTime)
 
-	cp, err := getCommonParams(r, startTime, false)
+	cp, err := getCommonParamsWithDefaultDuration(r, startTime, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ var tsdbStatusDuration = metrics.NewSummary(`vm_request_duration_seconds{path="/
 func LabelsHandler(qt *querytracer.Tracer, startTime time.Time, at *auth.Token, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 	defer labelsDuration.UpdateDuration(startTime)
 
-	cp, err := getCommonParams(r, startTime, false)
+	cp, err := getCommonParamsWithDefaultDuration(r, startTime, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -664,17 +664,14 @@ var seriesCountDuration = metrics.NewSummary(`vm_request_duration_seconds{path="
 func SeriesHandler(qt *querytracer.Tracer, startTime time.Time, at *auth.Token, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 	defer seriesDuration.UpdateDuration(startTime)
 
-	cp, err := getCommonParams(r, startTime, true)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	// Do not set start to searchutils.minTimeMsecs by default as Prometheus does,
 	// since this leads to fetching and scanning all the data from the storage,
 	// which can take a lot of time for big storages.
 	// It is better setting start as end-defaultStep by default.
 	// See https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/91
-	if cp.start == 0 {
-		cp.start = cp.end - defaultStep
+	cp, err := getCommonParamsWithDefaultDuration(r, startTime, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 	limit, err := searchutils.GetInt(r, "limit")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1137,6 +1134,17 @@ func getExportParams(r *http.Request, startTime time.Time) (*commonParams, error
 	return cp, nil
 }
 
+func getCommonParamsWithDefaultDuration(r *http.Request, startTime time.Time, requireNonEmptyMatch bool) (*commonParams, error) {
+	cp, err := getCommonParams(r, startTime, requireNonEmptyMatch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if cp.start == 0 {
+		cp.start = cp.end - defaultStep
+	}
+	return cp, nil
+}
+
 // getCommonParams obtains common params from r, which are used in /api/v1/* handlers:
 //
 // - timeout
@@ -1147,13 +1155,12 @@ func getExportParams(r *http.Request, startTime time.Time) (*commonParams, error
 // - extra_filters[]
 func getCommonParams(r *http.Request, startTime time.Time, requireNonEmptyMatch bool) (*commonParams, error) {
 	deadline := searchutils.GetDeadlineForQuery(r, startTime)
-	ct := startTime.UnixNano() / 1e6
-	start, err := searchutils.GetTime(r, "start", ct-3*defaultStep)
+	start, err := searchutils.GetTime(r, "start", 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	ct := startTime.UnixNano() / 1e6
 	end, err := searchutils.GetTime(r, "end", ct)
-
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 3a86a3d7f5..e9225ebf75 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ The following tip changes can be tested by building VictoriaMetrics components f
 
 ## tip
 
+* FEATURE: set the `start` arg to `end - 5 minutes` if isn't passed explicitly to [/api/v1/labels](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/url-examples.html#apiv1labels) and [/api/v1/label/.../values](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/url-examples.html#apiv1labelvalues).
+
 * BUGFIX: [MetricsQL](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/MetricsQL.html): properly calculate `rate_over_sum(m[d])` as `sum_over_time(m[d])/d`. Previously the `sum_over_time(m[d])` could be improperly divided by smaller than `d` time range. See [rate_over_sum() docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/MetricsQL.html#rate_over_sum) and [this issue](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/3045).
 
 
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 51a3a98815..3d72e3eebe 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ VictoriaMetrics accepts `round_digits` query arg for `/api/v1/query` and `/api/v
 
 VictoriaMetrics accepts `limit` query arg for `/api/v1/labels` and `/api/v1/label/<labelName>/values` handlers for limiting the number of returned entries. For example, the query to `/api/v1/labels?limit=5` returns a sample of up to 5 unique labels, while ignoring the rest of labels. If the provided `limit` value exceeds the corresponding `-search.maxTagKeys` / `-search.maxTagValues` command-line flag values, then limits specified in the command-line flags are used.
 
-By default, VictoriaMetrics returns time series for the last 5 minutes from `/api/v1/series`, while the Prometheus API defaults to all time.  Use `start` and `end` to select a different time range.
+By default, VictoriaMetrics returns time series for the last 5 minutes from `/api/v1/series`, `/api/v1/labels` and `/api/v1/label/<labelName>/values` while the Prometheus API defaults to all time.  Explicitly set `start` and `end` to select the desired time range.
 VictoriaMetrics accepts `limit` query arg for `/api/v1/series` handlers for limiting the number of returned entries. For example, the query to `/api/v1/series?limit=5` returns a sample of up to 5 series, while ignoring the rest. If the provided `limit` value exceeds the corresponding `-search.maxSeries` command-line flag values, then limits specified in the command-line flags are used.
 
 Additionally, VictoriaMetrics provides the following handlers:
diff --git a/docs/Single-server-VictoriaMetrics.md b/docs/Single-server-VictoriaMetrics.md
index 5b847e4705..aef1b24043 100644
--- a/docs/Single-server-VictoriaMetrics.md
+++ b/docs/Single-server-VictoriaMetrics.md
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ VictoriaMetrics accepts `round_digits` query arg for `/api/v1/query` and `/api/v
 
 VictoriaMetrics accepts `limit` query arg for `/api/v1/labels` and `/api/v1/label/<labelName>/values` handlers for limiting the number of returned entries. For example, the query to `/api/v1/labels?limit=5` returns a sample of up to 5 unique labels, while ignoring the rest of labels. If the provided `limit` value exceeds the corresponding `-search.maxTagKeys` / `-search.maxTagValues` command-line flag values, then limits specified in the command-line flags are used.
 
-By default, VictoriaMetrics returns time series for the last 5 minutes from `/api/v1/series`, while the Prometheus API defaults to all time.  Use `start` and `end` to select a different time range.
+By default, VictoriaMetrics returns time series for the last 5 minutes from `/api/v1/series`, `/api/v1/labels` and `/api/v1/label/<labelName>/values` while the Prometheus API defaults to all time.  Explicitly set `start` and `end` to select the desired time range.
 VictoriaMetrics accepts `limit` query arg for `/api/v1/series` handlers for limiting the number of returned entries. For example, the query to `/api/v1/series?limit=5` returns a sample of up to 5 series, while ignoring the rest. If the provided `limit` value exceeds the corresponding `-search.maxSeries` command-line flag values, then limits specified in the command-line flags are used.
 
 Additionally, VictoriaMetrics provides the following handlers:
diff --git a/docs/url-examples.md b/docs/url-examples.md
index 9700b73260..ca00f36808 100644
--- a/docs/url-examples.md
+++ b/docs/url-examples.md
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ Additional information:
 
 ## /api/v1/labels
 
-**Get a list of label names**
+**Get a list of label names at the given time range**
 
 Single-node VictoriaMetrics:
 <div class="with-copy" markdown="1">
@@ -287,6 +287,8 @@ curl http://<vmselect>:8481/select/0/prometheus/api/v1/labels
 
 </div>
 
+By default VictoriaMetrics returns labels seen during the last 5 minutes. An arbitrary time range can be set via `start` and `end` query args.
+
 Additional information:
 * [Prometheus querying API usage](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#prometheus-querying-api-usage)
 * [Querying label values](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/api/#querying-label-values)
@@ -294,7 +296,7 @@ Additional information:
 
 ## /api/v1/label/.../values
 
-**Get a list of values for a particular label**
+**Get a list of values for a particular label on the given time range**
 
 Single-node VictoriaMetrics:
 <div class="with-copy" markdown="1">
@@ -314,6 +316,8 @@ curl http://<vmselect>:8481/select/0/prometheus/api/v1/label/job/values
 
 </div>
 
+By default VictoriaMetrics returns label values seen during the last 5 minutes. An arbitrary time range can be set via `start` and `end` query args.
+
 Additional information:
 * [Prometheus querying API usage](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#prometheus-querying-api-usage)
 * [Getting label names](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/api/#getting-label-names)
@@ -377,7 +381,7 @@ Additional information:
 
 ## /api/v1/series
 
-**Returns series names with their labels**
+**Returns series names with their labels on the given time range**
 
 Single-node VictoriaMetrics:
 <div class="with-copy" markdown="1">
@@ -397,6 +401,8 @@ curl http://<vmselect>:8481/select/0/prometheus/api/v1/series -d 'match[]=vm_htt
 
 </div>
 
+By default VictoriaMetrics returns time series seen during the last 5 minutes. An arbitrary time range can be set via `start` and `end` query args.
+
 Additional information:
 * [Prometheus querying API usage](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#prometheus-querying-api-usage)
 * [Finding series by label matchers](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/api/#finding-series-by-label-matchers)