diff --git a/conda_build/cli/main_build.py b/conda_build/cli/main_build.py
index 8582247606..316ff998b1 100644
--- a/conda_build/cli/main_build.py
+++ b/conda_build/cli/main_build.py
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ def parse_args(args):
     p.add_argument(
         "--zstd-compression-level",
         help=("When building v2 packages, set the compression level used by "
-              "conda-package-handling. Defaults to the maximum."),
+              "conda-package-handling. "
+              f"Defaults to {zstd_compression_level_default}."),
         type=int,
         choices=range(1, 23),
         default=cc_conda_build.get('zstd_compression_level', zstd_compression_level_default),
diff --git a/conda_build/config.py b/conda_build/config.py
index 0551068b46..db11b5d309 100644
--- a/conda_build/config.py
+++ b/conda_build/config.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def set_invocation_time():
 ignore_verify_codes_default = []
 exit_on_verify_error_default = False
 conda_pkg_format_default = None
-zstd_compression_level_default = 22
+zstd_compression_level_default = 19
 
 
 # Python2 silliness:
diff --git a/news/zstd_def_19 b/news/zstd_def_19
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9087c3d12e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/zstd_def_19
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Change Zstd default compression to 19
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>