diff --git a/pyxform/xls2json.py b/pyxform/xls2json.py
index 2bac009f..2b08a2ca 100644
--- a/pyxform/xls2json.py
+++ b/pyxform/xls2json.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def process_range_question_type(
         parameters=parameters, allowed=("start", "end", "step")
     )
     parameters_map = {"start": "start", "end": "end", "step": "step"}
-    defaults = {"start": "1", "end": "10", "step": "1"}
+    defaults = {"start": "0", "end": "10", "step": "1"}
 
     # set defaults
     for key in parameters_map.values():
diff --git a/tests/test_range.py b/tests/test_range.py
index 10cd8682..f04d6c69 100644
--- a/tests/test_range.py
+++ b/tests/test_range.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def test_range_type_defaults(self):
             """,
             xml__contains=[
                 '<bind nodeset="/data/level" type="int"/>',
-                '<range end="10" ref="/data/level" start="1" step="1">',
+                '<range end="10" ref="/data/level" start="0" step="1">',
             ],
         )
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def test_range_type_defaults(self):
             """,
             xml__contains=[
                 '<bind nodeset="/data/level" type="int"/>',
-                '<range end="20" ref="/data/level" start="1" step="1">',
+                '<range end="20" ref="/data/level" start="0" step="1">',
             ],
         )
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def test_range_type_defaults(self):
             """,
             xml__contains=[
                 '<bind nodeset="/data/level" type="int"/>',
-                '<range end="10" ref="/data/level" start="1" step="1">',
+                '<range end="10" ref="/data/level" start="0" step="1">',
             ],
         )