diff --git a/changelog.d/4801.feature b/changelog.d/4801.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e5fd3246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/4801.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Include a default configuration file in the 'docs' directory.
diff --git a/docs/.sample_config_header.yaml b/docs/.sample_config_header.yaml
index 576fc9860..e001ef598 100644
--- a/docs/.sample_config_header.yaml
+++ b/docs/.sample_config_header.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-# This file is a reference to the configuration options which can be set in
-# homeserver.yaml.
+# The config is maintained as an up-to-date snapshot of the default
+# homeserver.yaml configuration generated by Synapse.
 #
-# Note that it is not quite ready to be used as-is. If you are starting from
-# scratch, it is easier to generate the config files following the instructions
-# in INSTALL.md.
+# It is intended to act as a reference for the default configuration,
+# helping admins keep track of new options and other changes, and compare
+# their configs with the current default.  As such, many of the actual
+# config values shown are placeholders.
+#
+# It is *not* intended to be copied and used as the basis for a real
+# homeserver.yaml. Instead, if you are starting from scratch, please generate
+# a fresh config using Synapse by following the instructions in INSTALL.md.
 
diff --git a/docs/sample_config.yaml b/docs/sample_config.yaml
index 3dd0b4a1a..b62745dd6 100644
--- a/docs/sample_config.yaml
+++ b/docs/sample_config.yaml
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-# This file is a reference to the configuration options which can be set in
-# homeserver.yaml.
+# The config is maintained as an up-to-date snapshot of the default
+# homeserver.yaml configuration generated by Synapse.
 #
-# Note that it is not quite ready to be used as-is. If you are starting from
-# scratch, it is easier to generate the config files following the instructions
-# in INSTALL.md.
+# It is intended to act as a reference for the default configuration,
+# helping admins keep track of new options and other changes, and compare
+# their configs with the current default.  As such, many of the actual
+# config values shown are placeholders.
+#
+# It is *not* intended to be copied and used as the basis for a real
+# homeserver.yaml. Instead, if you are starting from scratch, please generate
+# a fresh config using Synapse by following the instructions in INSTALL.md.
 
 ## Server ##