diff --git a/doc/api/fs.md b/doc/api/fs.md
index 17d15c51c5454d..07b52b17ed203c 100644
--- a/doc/api/fs.md
+++ b/doc/api/fs.md
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ added:
   * `offset` {integer} The location in the buffer at which to start filling.
     **Default:** `0`
   * `length` {integer} The number of bytes to read. **Default:**
-    `buffer.byteLength`
+    `buffer.byteLength - offset`
   * `position` {integer} The location where to begin reading data from the
     file. If `null`, data will be read from the current file position, and
     the position will be updated. If `position` is an integer, the current
@@ -3060,7 +3060,7 @@ changes:
 * `options` {Object}
   * `buffer` {Buffer|TypedArray|DataView} **Default:** `Buffer.alloc(16384)`
   * `offset` {integer} **Default:** `0`
-  * `length` {integer} **Default:** `buffer.byteLength`
+  * `length` {integer} **Default:** `buffer.byteLength - offset`
   * `position` {integer|bigint} **Default:** `null`
 * `callback` {Function}
   * `err` {Error}
diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 75349f5b1f6f0e..9fb7473d0fea7a 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ function read(fd, buffer, offset, length, position, callback) {
     ({
       buffer = Buffer.alloc(16384),
       offset = 0,
-      length = buffer.byteLength,
+      length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
       position
     } = options);
   }