diff --git a/docs/migration/to-2.x.md b/docs/migration/to-2.x.md
index ac2538b..b350339 100644
--- a/docs/migration/to-2.x.md
+++ b/docs/migration/to-2.x.md
@@ -12,3 +12,11 @@ methods your application supports, such as `["GET", "POST"]`.
 `cors_allowed_headers` defaults to `[]`. Both frameworks allow their built-in
 CORS headers, including `Content-Type`. Add headers such as `Authorization`
 explicitly if your application needs them.
+
+## Prometheus HTTP metrics on FastAPI, FastMCP, and Litestar
+
+Health checks and metrics scrapes are excluded from Prometheus HTTP request
+metrics. Existing user-defined exclusions still apply. Dashboards and alerts
+that previously included these requests may show lower request totals and
+different latency percentiles. Review thresholds that were based on the old
+traffic mix.
diff --git a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastapi_bootstrapper.py b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastapi_bootstrapper.py
index 87ebe70..e7626c7 100644
--- a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastapi_bootstrapper.py
+++ b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastapi_bootstrapper.py
@@ -250,7 +250,12 @@ def dependencies_installed() -> bool:
     def bootstrap(self) -> None:
         config = self.bootstrap_config
         application = config.app
-        instrumentator = Instrumentator(**config.prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params)
+        instrumentator_params = dict(config.prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params)
+        instrumentator_params["excluded_handlers"] = [
+            *instrumentator_params.get("excluded_handlers", []),
+            *self.infrastructure_excluded_patterns(),
+        ]
+        instrumentator = Instrumentator(**instrumentator_params)
         if config.is_prometheus_http_metrics_on(
             opentelemetry_records_http_metrics=FastAPIOpenTelemetryInstrument.is_recording_metrics(config)
         ):
diff --git a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastmcp_bootstrapper.py b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastmcp_bootstrapper.py
index 44f0b50..494ffc3 100644
--- a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastmcp_bootstrapper.py
+++ b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/fastmcp_bootstrapper.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import dataclasses
 import functools
 import inspect
-import re
 import time
 import typing
 from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator, Mapping
@@ -280,10 +279,11 @@ def dependencies_installed() -> bool:
 
     def _instrument_http_app(self, http_application: "StarletteWithLifespan") -> "StarletteWithLifespan":
         config: typing.Final = self.bootstrap_config
-        instrumentator_params: typing.Final[dict[str, typing.Any]] = {
-            "excluded_handlers": [f"^{re.escape(config.prometheus_metrics_path)}$"],
-            **config.prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params,
-        }
+        instrumentator_params = dict(config.prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params)
+        instrumentator_params["excluded_handlers"] = [
+            *instrumentator_params.get("excluded_handlers", []),
+            *self.infrastructure_excluded_patterns(),
+        ]
         # A second http_app() would register the default metrics again, which the instrumentator
         # treats as a duplicate and silently skips, so every application shares the first set.
         if self._default_metrics is None:
diff --git a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/litestar_bootstrapper.py b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/litestar_bootstrapper.py
index 84f019c..4a2acea 100644
--- a/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/litestar_bootstrapper.py
+++ b/lite_bootstrap/bootstrappers/litestar_bootstrapper.py
@@ -415,6 +415,10 @@ class LitestarPrometheusController(PrometheusController):
             "group_path": config.prometheus_group_path,
             **config.prometheus_additional_params,
         }
+        user_exclusions = prometheus_params.get("exclude")
+        if isinstance(user_exclusions, str):
+            user_exclusions = [user_exclusions]
+        prometheus_params["exclude"] = [*(user_exclusions or []), *self.infrastructure_excluded_patterns()]
         litestar_prometheus_config = PrometheusConfig(app_name=config.service_name_or_default, **prometheus_params)
 
         config.application_config.route_handlers.append(LitestarPrometheusController)
diff --git a/lite_bootstrap/instruments/prometheus_instrument.py b/lite_bootstrap/instruments/prometheus_instrument.py
index ef7b08c..491814b 100644
--- a/lite_bootstrap/instruments/prometheus_instrument.py
+++ b/lite_bootstrap/instruments/prometheus_instrument.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Prometheus config and readiness check; framework-specific bootstrap lives in the bootstrapper subclasses."""
 
 import dataclasses
+import re
 import typing
 
 from lite_bootstrap.exceptions import ConfigurationError
@@ -42,3 +43,8 @@ class PrometheusInstrument(BaseInstrument[PrometheusConfigT]):
     @classmethod
     def is_configured(cls, bootstrap_config: "PrometheusConfig") -> bool:
         return bool(bootstrap_config.prometheus_metrics_path)
+
+    def infrastructure_excluded_patterns(self) -> list[str]:
+        config = self.bootstrap_config
+        paths = (getattr(config, "health_checks_path", ""), config.prometheus_metrics_path)
+        return [rf"^{re.escape(path.rstrip('/'))}/?$" for path in paths if path]
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 19e9ce9..605ad42 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -263,6 +263,15 @@ def prometheus_recorded_path(path: str) -> bool:
     return f'"{path}"' in prometheus_client.generate_latest().decode()
 
 
+def prometheus_request_count(metric_name: str, path_label: str, path: str) -> float:
+    return sum(
+        sample.value
+        for metric in prometheus_client.REGISTRY.collect()
+        for sample in metric.samples
+        if sample.name == metric_name and sample.labels.get(path_label) == path
+    )
+
+
 def unregister_prometheus_request_metrics() -> None:
     """Unregister the instrumentator's request metrics: a second registration is skipped, not reused."""
     registered_collectors: typing.Final = dict(prometheus_client.REGISTRY._collector_to_names)  # noqa: SLF001
diff --git a/tests/test_fastapi_bootstrap.py b/tests/test_fastapi_bootstrap.py
index 3cb11af..1ad185a 100644
--- a/tests/test_fastapi_bootstrap.py
+++ b/tests/test_fastapi_bootstrap.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
     in_memory_opentelemetry_metric_reader,
     opentelemetry_recorded_http_server_metrics,
     prometheus_recorded_path,
+    prometheus_request_count,
     unregister_prometheus_request_metrics,
     warning_source_files,
 )
@@ -577,6 +578,32 @@ def test_fastapi_otel_hands_the_instrumentor_the_meter_provider(fastapi_config:
     assert isinstance(get_meter_provider(), SDKMeterProvider)
 
 
+def test_fastapi_prometheus_excludes_infrastructure_and_user_paths() -> None:
+    unregister_prometheus_request_metrics()
+    suffix = uuid.uuid4().hex
+    normal_path = f"/health-{suffix}/report"
+    excluded_path = f"/excluded-{suffix}"
+    config = FastAPIConfig(
+        health_checks_path=f"/health-{suffix}",
+        prometheus_metrics_path=f"/metrics-{suffix}",
+        prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params={"excluded_handlers": [f"^{excluded_path}$"]},
+    )
+
+    async def items() -> list[int]:
+        return [1]
+
+    for path in (normal_path, excluded_path):
+        config.app.add_api_route(path, items, methods=["GET"])
+    application = FastAPIBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=config).bootstrap()
+    with TestClient(application) as client:
+        for path in (config.health_checks_path, config.prometheus_metrics_path, excluded_path, normal_path):
+            assert client.get(path).is_success
+
+    for path in (config.health_checks_path, config.prometheus_metrics_path, excluded_path):
+        assert prometheus_request_count("http_requests_total", "handler", path) == 0
+    assert prometheus_request_count("http_requests_total", "handler", normal_path) == 1
+
+
 def _http_metric_sets_one_request_moves(config: FastAPIConfig) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
     """Return whether one request reached OpenTelemetry's HTTP metrics and Prometheus's, in that order."""
     path: typing.Final = f"/items-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
diff --git a/tests/test_fastmcp_bootstrap.py b/tests/test_fastmcp_bootstrap.py
index 6e60e5b..f925b75 100644
--- a/tests/test_fastmcp_bootstrap.py
+++ b/tests/test_fastmcp_bootstrap.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 from opentelemetry.trace import SpanKind, get_tracer_provider
 from starlette import status
 from starlette.applications import Starlette
+from starlette.requests import Request
+from starlette.responses import Response
 from starlette.testclient import TestClient
 
 from lite_bootstrap import BootstrapperNotReadyError, FastMcpBootstrapper, FastMcpConfig
@@ -574,15 +576,21 @@ def _unregister_request_metrics() -> None:
 
 
 def _http_metric_sets_one_request_moves(**overrides: typing.Any) -> tuple[bool, bool]:  # noqa: ANN401
-    """Return whether one health-check request reached OpenTelemetry's HTTP metrics and Prometheus's, in that order."""
-    config: typing.Final = _make_test_config(**{"opentelemetry_generate_health_check_spans": True, **overrides})
+    """Return whether one application request reached OpenTelemetry and Prometheus HTTP metrics, in that order."""
+    config = _make_test_config(**overrides)
+    path = f"/items-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
+
+    @config.application.custom_route(path, methods=["GET"])
+    async def items(_request: Request) -> Response:
+        return Response("ok")
+
     with in_memory_opentelemetry_metric_reader() as reader:
         bootstrapper = FastMcpBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=config)
         application = bootstrapper.bootstrap()
     try:
         with TestClient(application.http_app()) as client:
-            assert client.get(config.health_checks_path).status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
-        return opentelemetry_recorded_http_server_metrics(reader), prometheus_recorded_path(config.health_checks_path)
+            assert client.get(path).status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+        return opentelemetry_recorded_http_server_metrics(reader), prometheus_recorded_path(path)
     finally:
         bootstrapper.teardown()
 
@@ -630,56 +638,56 @@ def _http_requests_total(handler: str, method: str = "GET", status_group: str =
     return _sample_value("http_requests_total", {"handler": handler, "method": method, "status": status_group})
 
 
-def test_fastmcp_prometheus_counts_http_requests_by_route_template() -> None:
-    health_checks_path = f"/health-{uuid.uuid4().hex}/"
-    config = _make_test_config(health_checks_path=health_checks_path)
+def test_fastmcp_prometheus_excludes_infrastructure_and_user_paths() -> None:
+    health_path = f"/health-{uuid.uuid4().hex}/"
+    normal_path = f"{health_path}report"
+    excluded_path = "/excluded"
+    config = _make_test_config(
+        health_checks_path=health_path,
+        prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params={"excluded_handlers": [f"^{excluded_path}$"]},
+    )
+
+    @config.application.custom_route(normal_path, methods=["GET"])
+    @config.application.custom_route(excluded_path, methods=["GET"])
+    async def items(_request: Request) -> Response:
+        return Response("ok")
+
     bootstrapper = FastMcpBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=config)
     application = bootstrapper.bootstrap()
     try:
         with TestClient(application.http_app()) as client:
-            client.get(health_checks_path)
-            client.get(health_checks_path)
+            for path in (health_path, config.prometheus_metrics_path, excluded_path, normal_path):
+                assert client.get(path).is_success
             client.get("/missing")
-            client.get(config.prometheus_metrics_path)
     finally:
         bootstrapper.teardown()
 
-    expected_health_requests = 2
-    assert _http_requests_total(health_checks_path) == expected_health_requests
-    assert _http_requests_total("none", status_group="4xx") == 1
+    assert _http_requests_total(health_path) == 0
     assert _http_requests_total(config.prometheus_metrics_path) == 0
+    assert _http_requests_total(excluded_path) == 0
+    assert _http_requests_total(normal_path) == 1
+    assert _http_requests_total("none", status_group="4xx") == 1
 
 
 def test_fastmcp_prometheus_counts_requests_of_every_http_app() -> None:
-    health_checks_path = f"/health-{uuid.uuid4().hex}/"
-    bootstrapper = FastMcpBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=_make_test_config(health_checks_path=health_checks_path))
-    application = bootstrapper.bootstrap()
-    try:
-        for http_application in (application.http_app(), application.http_app(path="/other")):
-            with TestClient(http_application) as client:
-                client.get(health_checks_path)
-    finally:
-        bootstrapper.teardown()
-
-    expected_requests = 2
-    assert _http_requests_total(health_checks_path) == expected_requests
+    path = f"/items-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
+    config = _make_test_config()
 
+    @config.application.custom_route(path, methods=["GET"])
+    async def items(_request: Request) -> Response:
+        return Response("ok")
 
-def test_fastmcp_prometheus_instrumentator_params_are_passed() -> None:
-    health_checks_path = f"/health-{uuid.uuid4().hex}/"
-    config = _make_test_config(
-        health_checks_path=health_checks_path,
-        prometheus_instrumentator_additional_params={"excluded_handlers": [health_checks_path]},
-    )
     bootstrapper = FastMcpBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=config)
     application = bootstrapper.bootstrap()
     try:
-        with TestClient(application.http_app()) as client:
-            client.get(health_checks_path)
+        for http_application in (application.http_app(), application.http_app(path="/other")):
+            with TestClient(http_application) as client:
+                client.get(path)
     finally:
         bootstrapper.teardown()
 
-    assert _http_requests_total(health_checks_path) == 0
+    expected_requests = 2
+    assert _http_requests_total(path) == expected_requests
 
 
 def test_fastmcp_prometheus_teardown_restores_http_app() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_litestar_bootstrap.py b/tests/test_litestar_bootstrap.py
index 4058755..6343b6e 100644
--- a/tests/test_litestar_bootstrap.py
+++ b/tests/test_litestar_bootstrap.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     in_memory_opentelemetry_metric_reader,
     opentelemetry_recorded_http_server_metrics,
     prometheus_recorded_path,
+    prometheus_request_count,
 )
 
 
@@ -660,6 +661,32 @@ def _server_spans(exporter: InMemorySpanExporter) -> list[ReadableSpan]:
     return [span for span in exporter.get_finished_spans() if span.kind == SpanKind.SERVER]
 
 
+def test_litestar_prometheus_excludes_infrastructure_and_user_paths() -> None:
+    suffix = uuid.uuid4().hex
+    normal_path = f"/health-{suffix}/report"
+    excluded_path = f"/excluded-{suffix}"
+    config = LitestarConfig(
+        health_checks_path=f"/health-{suffix}",
+        prometheus_metrics_path=f"/metrics-{suffix}",
+        prometheus_additional_params={"exclude": f"^{excluded_path}$"},
+    )
+
+    async def items() -> list[int]:
+        return [1]
+
+    config.application_config.route_handlers.extend(
+        [litestar.get(normal_path)(items), litestar.get(excluded_path)(items)]
+    )
+    application = LitestarBootstrapper(bootstrap_config=config).bootstrap()
+    with TestClient(application) as client:
+        for path in (config.health_checks_path, config.prometheus_metrics_path, excluded_path, normal_path):
+            assert client.get(path).is_success
+
+    for path in (config.health_checks_path, config.prometheus_metrics_path, excluded_path):
+        assert prometheus_request_count("litestar_requests_total", "path", path) == 0
+    assert prometheus_request_count("litestar_requests_total", "path", normal_path) == 1
+
+
 def _http_metric_sets_one_request_moves(config: LitestarConfig) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
     """Return whether one request reached OpenTelemetry's HTTP metrics and Prometheus's, in that order."""
     path: typing.Final = f"/items-{uuid.uuid4().hex}"