diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/opt/options.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/opt/options.py
index bddb437d10..3056fb7277 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/opt/options.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/opt/options.py
@@ -288,11 +288,16 @@ def _config_split(*args: Any) -> dict[str | None, str]:
 )
 
 
+_default_limit = -20_000
 limit_option = MWOptionDecorator(
     "--limit",
-    help=unwrap("Limit the number of records, by default all records are shown."),
+    help=unwrap(
+        f"""Limit the number of results that are processed. 0 means no limit. A negative
+        value specifies a cap where a warning will be issued if the cap is hit.
+        Default value is {_default_limit}."""
+    ),
     type=int,
-    default=0,
+    default=_default_limit,
 )
 
 offset_option = MWOptionDecorator(
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDataIds.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDataIds.py
index bab1a88749..566093e438 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDataIds.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDataIds.py
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ def __init__(self, dataIds: Iterable[DataCoordinate]):
         # use dict to store dataIds as keys to preserve ordering
         self.dataIds = dict.fromkeys(dataIds)
 
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        return len(self.dataIds)
+
+    def pop_last(self) -> None:
+        if self.dataIds:
+            final_key = list(self.dataIds.keys())[-1]
+            self.dataIds.pop(final_key)
+
     def getAstropyTable(self, order: bool) -> AstropyTable:
         """Get the table as an astropy table.
 
@@ -195,12 +203,21 @@ def queryDataIds(
             results = results.where(where)
         if order_by:
             results = results.order_by(*order_by)
-        if limit > 0:
-            results = results.limit(limit)
+        query_limit = abs(limit)
+        warn_limit = False
+        if limit != 0:
+            if limit < 0:
+                query_limit += 1
+                warn_limit = True
+
+            results = results.limit(query_limit)
 
         if results.any(exact=False):
             if results.dimensions:
                 table = _Table(results)
+                if warn_limit and len(table) == query_limit:
+                    table.pop_last()
+                    _LOG.warning("More data IDs are available than the request limit of %d", abs(limit))
                 if not table.dataIds:
                     return None, "Post-query region filtering removed all rows, since nothing overlapped."
                 return table.getAstropyTable(not order_by), None
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDimensionRecords.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDimensionRecords.py
index 7e97bb9dc3..72d9a9bea9 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDimensionRecords.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/script/queryDimensionRecords.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import logging
 from operator import attrgetter
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@
 from .._butler import Butler
 from .._timespan import Timespan
 
+_LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def queryDimensionRecords(
     repo: str,
@@ -100,10 +103,19 @@ def queryDimensionRecords(
             query_results = query_results.where(where)
         if order_by:
             query_results = query_results.order_by(*order_by)
-        if limit > 0:
-            query_results = query_results.limit(limit)
+        query_limit = abs(limit)
+        warn_limit = False
+        if limit != 0:
+            if limit < 0:
+                query_limit += 1
+                warn_limit = True
+
+            query_results = query_results.limit(query_limit)
 
         records = list(query_results)
+        if warn_limit and len(records) == query_limit:
+            records.pop(-1)
+            _LOG.warning("More data IDs are available than the request limit of %d", abs(limit))
 
         if not records:
             return None