diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogByteSizeMergePolicyProvider.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogByteSizeMergePolicyProvider.java
index 994f1c423b0..05e9b5da434 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogByteSizeMergePolicyProvider.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogByteSizeMergePolicyProvider.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class LogByteSizeMergePolicyProvider extends AbstractIndexShardComponent
         this.maxMergeSize = componentSettings.getAsBytesSize("max_merge_size", new ByteSizeValue((long) LogByteSizeMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MAX_MERGE_MB, ByteSizeUnit.MB));
         this.mergeFactor = componentSettings.getAsInt("merge_factor", LogByteSizeMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MERGE_FACTOR);
         this.maxMergeDocs = componentSettings.getAsInt("max_merge_docs", LogByteSizeMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MAX_MERGE_DOCS);
-        this.calibrateSizeByDeletes = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("calibrate_size_by_deletes", false);
+        this.calibrateSizeByDeletes = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("calibrate_size_by_deletes", true);
         this.useCompoundFile = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("use_compound_file", store == null || store.suggestUseCompoundFile());
         logger.debug("using [log_bytes_size] merge policy with merge_factor[{}], min_merge_size[{}], max_merge_size[{}], max_merge_docs[{}] use_compound_file[{}], calibrate_size_by_deletes[{}]",
                 mergeFactor, minMergeSize, maxMergeSize, maxMergeDocs, useCompoundFile, calibrateSizeByDeletes);
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogDocMergePolicyProvider.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogDocMergePolicyProvider.java
index caa6bfd3c6a..1e3e01e370d 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogDocMergePolicyProvider.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/merge/policy/LogDocMergePolicyProvider.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class LogDocMergePolicyProvider extends AbstractIndexShardComponent imple
         this.minMergeDocs = componentSettings.getAsInt("min_merge_docs", LogDocMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MIN_MERGE_DOCS);
         this.maxMergeDocs = componentSettings.getAsInt("max_merge_docs", LogDocMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MAX_MERGE_DOCS);
         this.mergeFactor = componentSettings.getAsInt("merge_factor", LogDocMergePolicy.DEFAULT_MERGE_FACTOR);
-        this.calibrateSizeByDeletes = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("calibrate_size_by_deletes", false);
+        this.calibrateSizeByDeletes = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("calibrate_size_by_deletes", true);
         this.useCompoundFile = componentSettings.getAsBoolean("use_compound_file", store == null || store.suggestUseCompoundFile());
         logger.debug("using [log_doc] merge policy with merge_factor[{}] min_merge_docs[{}], max_merge_docs[{}], use_compound_file[{}], calibrate_size_by_deletes[{}]",
                 mergeFactor, minMergeDocs, maxMergeDocs, useCompoundFile, calibrateSizeByDeletes);