diff --git a/docs/Core.md b/docs/Core.md
index 5a0b29579d..fbf88065ea 100644
--- a/docs/Core.md
+++ b/docs/Core.md
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Defaults to `["https://nodejs.org/dist/v{version}/{filename}"]`
 
 The specific version of Node.js to install
 
-Defaults to `"18.20.8"`
+Defaults to `"20.19.0"`
 
 <h4 id="nodejs_repositories-node_version_from_nvmrc">node_version_from_nvmrc</h4>
 
diff --git a/e2e/headers/BUILD.bazel b/e2e/headers/BUILD.bazel
index 160858e22d..c79a1bf1bd 100644
--- a/e2e/headers/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/e2e/headers/BUILD.bazel
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ cc_test(
     name = "using_headers_test",
     srcs = ["using_headers.cc"],
     copts = select({
-        "@platforms//os:windows": ["/std:c++14"],
-        "//conditions:default": ["-std=c++14"],
+        "@platforms//os:windows": ["/std:c++17"],
+        "//conditions:default": ["-std=c++17"],
     }),
     target_compatible_with = select({
         # Windows does not ship headers in the release artifact so this won't work yet.
diff --git a/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl b/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
index af3901f849..31c4e7bbeb 100644
--- a/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/private/current_node_cc_headers.bzl
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ cc_library(
     name = "foo",
     srcs = ["foo.cc"],
     # If toolchain sets this already, you can omit.
-    copts = ["-std=c++14"],
+    copts = ["-std=c++17"],
     deps = ["@rules_nodejs//nodejs/headers:current_node_cc_headers"]
 )
 ```
diff --git a/nodejs/repositories.bzl b/nodejs/repositories.bzl
index b98fb291ae..acda3f2d9b 100644
--- a/nodejs/repositories.bzl
+++ b/nodejs/repositories.bzl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ DEFAULT_NODE_VERSION = [
     # 16.18.1-windows_amd64 -> 16.18.1
     v.split("-")[0]
     for v in NODE_VERSIONS.keys()
-    if v.startswith("18.")
+    if v.startswith("20.")
 ][-1]  # Versions are sorted increasing, so last one is the latest version
 
 LATEST_KNOWN_NODE_VERSION = [
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ cc_library(
     # -> no results ...
     allow_empty = True,
   ),
+  copts = ["-std=c++17"],
   includes = ["bin/nodejs/include/node"],
 )
 """
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4ce7604803..9ac1dac789 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
   "repository": "https://github.com/bazel-contrib/rules_nodejs.git",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=12 <=18"
+    "node": ">=12 <20"
   },
   "packageManager": "pnpm@8.11.0",
   "devDependencies": {