diff --git a/api/queries_issue.go b/api/queries_issue.go
index f83e43d92..ae27878a6 100644
--- a/api/queries_issue.go
+++ b/api/queries_issue.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func IssueStatus(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, currentUsername string)
 	return &payload, nil
 }
 
-func IssueList(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, state string, labels []string, assigneeString string, limit int, authorString string) ([]Issue, error) {
+func IssueList(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, state string, labels []string, assigneeString string, limit int, authorString string) (*IssuesAndTotalCount, error) {
 	var states []string
 	switch state {
 	case "open", "":
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ func IssueList(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, state string, labels []str
 		repository(owner: $owner, name: $repo) {
 			hasIssuesEnabled
 			issues(first: $limit, after: $endCursor, orderBy: {field: CREATED_AT, direction: DESC}, states: $states, labels: $labels, filterBy: {assignee: $assignee, createdBy: $author}) {
+				totalCount
 				nodes {
 					...issue
 				}
@@ -219,8 +220,9 @@ func IssueList(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, state string, labels []str
 	var response struct {
 		Repository struct {
 			Issues struct {
-				Nodes    []Issue
-				PageInfo struct {
+				TotalCount int
+				Nodes      []Issue
+				PageInfo   struct {
 					HasNextPage bool
 					EndCursor   string
 				}
@@ -258,7 +260,8 @@ loop:
 		}
 	}
 
-	return issues, nil
+	res := IssuesAndTotalCount{Issues: issues, TotalCount: response.Repository.Issues.TotalCount}
+	return &res, nil
 }
 
 func IssueByNumber(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, number int) (*Issue, error) {
diff --git a/api/queries_pr.go b/api/queries_pr.go
index ee80c2f7f..be86dc679 100644
--- a/api/queries_pr.go
+++ b/api/queries_pr.go
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ func CreatePullRequest(client *Client, repo *Repository, params map[string]inter
 	return &result.CreatePullRequest.PullRequest, nil
 }
 
-func PullRequestList(client *Client, vars map[string]interface{}, limit int) ([]PullRequest, error) {
+func PullRequestList(client *Client, vars map[string]interface{}, limit int) (*PullRequestAndTotalCount, error) {
 	type prBlock struct {
 		Edges []struct {
 			Node PullRequest
@@ -446,6 +446,8 @@ func PullRequestList(client *Client, vars map[string]interface{}, limit int) ([]
 			HasNextPage bool
 			EndCursor   string
 		}
+		TotalCount int
+		IssueCount int
 	}
 	type response struct {
 		Repository struct {
@@ -489,24 +491,26 @@ func PullRequestList(client *Client, vars map[string]interface{}, limit int) ([]
 			first: $limit,
 			after: $endCursor,
 			orderBy: {field: CREATED_AT, direction: DESC}
-		) {
-          edges {
-            node {
-				...pr
-            }
-		  }
-		  pageInfo {
-			  hasNextPage
-			  endCursor
-		  }
-        }
-      }
+			) {
+				totalCount
+				edges {
+					node {
+						...pr
+					}
+				}
+				pageInfo {
+					hasNextPage
+					endCursor
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}`
 
 	var check = make(map[int]struct{})
 	var prs []PullRequest
 	pageLimit := min(limit, 100)
 	variables := map[string]interface{}{}
+	res := PullRequestAndTotalCount{}
 
 	// If assignee was specified, use the `search` API rather than
 	// `Repository.pullRequests`, but this mode doesn't support multiple labels
@@ -518,6 +522,7 @@ func PullRequestList(client *Client, vars map[string]interface{}, limit int) ([]
 			$endCursor: String,
 		) {
 			search(query: $q, type: ISSUE, first: $limit, after: $endCursor) {
+				issueCount
 				edges {
 					node {
 						...pr
@@ -571,8 +576,10 @@ loop:
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		prData := data.Repository.PullRequests
+		res.TotalCount = prData.TotalCount
 		if _, ok := variables["q"]; ok {
 			prData = data.Search
+			res.TotalCount = prData.IssueCount
 		}
 
 		for _, edge := range prData.Edges {
@@ -594,8 +601,8 @@ loop:
 			break
 		}
 	}
-
-	return prs, nil
+	res.PullRequests = prs
+	return &res, nil
 }
 
 func min(a, b int) int {
diff --git a/command/issue.go b/command/issue.go
index d0d5fb7fc..11e5bc6c2 100644
--- a/command/issue.go
+++ b/command/issue.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func init() {
 	issueCmd.AddCommand(issueListCmd)
 	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("assignee", "a", "", "Filter by assignee")
 	issueListCmd.Flags().StringSliceP("label", "l", nil, "Filter by label")
-	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("state", "s", "", "Filter by state: {open|closed|all}")
+	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("state", "s", "open", "Filter by state: {open|closed|all}")
 	issueListCmd.Flags().IntP("limit", "L", 30, "Maximum number of issues to fetch")
 	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("author", "A", "", "Filter by author")
 
@@ -114,30 +114,27 @@ func issueList(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	fmt.Fprintf(colorableErr(cmd), "\nIssues for %s\n\n", ghrepo.FullName(baseRepo))
-
-	issues, err := api.IssueList(apiClient, baseRepo, state, labels, assignee, limit, author)
+	listResult, err := api.IssueList(apiClient, baseRepo, state, labels, assignee, limit, author)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if len(issues) == 0 {
-		colorErr := colorableErr(cmd) // Send to stderr because otherwise when piping this command it would seem like the "no open issues" message is actually an issue
-		msg := "There are no open issues"
-
-		userSetFlags := false
-		cmd.Flags().Visit(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
-			userSetFlags = true
-		})
-		if userSetFlags {
-			msg = "No issues match your search"
+	hasFilters := false
+	cmd.Flags().Visit(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
+		switch f.Name {
+		case "state", "label", "assignee", "author":
+			hasFilters = true
 		}
-		printMessage(colorErr, msg)
-		return nil
-	}
+	})
+
+	title := listHeader(ghrepo.FullName(baseRepo), "issue", len(listResult.Issues), listResult.TotalCount, hasFilters)
+	// TODO: avoid printing header if piped to a script
+	fmt.Fprintf(colorableErr(cmd), "\n%s\n\n", title)
 
 	out := cmd.OutOrStdout()
-	printIssues(out, "", len(issues), issues)
+
+	printIssues(out, "", len(listResult.Issues), listResult.Issues)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -231,6 +228,25 @@ func issueView(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 }
 
+func listHeader(repoName string, itemName string, matchCount int, totalMatchCount int, hasFilters bool) string {
+	if totalMatchCount == 0 {
+		if hasFilters {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("No %ss match your search in %s", itemName, repoName)
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("There are no open %ss in %s", itemName, repoName)
+	}
+
+	if hasFilters {
+		matchVerb := "match"
+		if totalMatchCount == 1 {
+			matchVerb = "matches"
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("Showing %d of %s in %s that %s your search", matchCount, utils.Pluralize(totalMatchCount, itemName), repoName, matchVerb)
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Showing %d of %s in %s", matchCount, utils.Pluralize(totalMatchCount, itemName), repoName)
+}
+
 func printIssuePreview(out io.Writer, issue *api.Issue) error {
 	coloredLabels := labelList(*issue)
 	if coloredLabels != "" {
diff --git a/command/issue_test.go b/command/issue_test.go
index 141147e8a..0d839d5a2 100644
--- a/command/issue_test.go
+++ b/command/issue_test.go
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ func TestIssueList(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("error running command `issue list`: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	eq(t, output.Stderr(), `
+Showing 3 of 3 issues in OWNER/REPO
+
+`)
+
 	expectedIssues := []*regexp.Regexp{
 		regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^1\t.*won`),
 		regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)^2\t.*too`),
@@ -144,9 +149,8 @@ func TestIssueList_withFlags(t *testing.T) {
 
 	eq(t, output.String(), "")
 	eq(t, output.Stderr(), `
-Issues for OWNER/REPO
+No issues match your search in OWNER/REPO
 
-No issues match your search
 `)
 
 	bodyBytes, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(http.Requests[1].Body)
@@ -558,3 +562,114 @@ func TestIssueCreate_webTitleBody(t *testing.T) {
 	eq(t, url, "https://github.com/OWNER/REPO/issues/new?title=mytitle&body=mybody")
 	eq(t, output.String(), "Opening github.com/OWNER/REPO/issues/new in your browser.\n")
 }
+
+func Test_listHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	type args struct {
+		repoName        string
+		itemName        string
+		matchCount      int
+		totalMatchCount int
+		hasFilters      bool
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		args args
+		want string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "no results",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "table",
+				matchCount:      0,
+				totalMatchCount: 0,
+				hasFilters:      false,
+			},
+			want: "There are no open tables in REPO",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no matches after filters",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "Luftballon",
+				matchCount:      0,
+				totalMatchCount: 0,
+				hasFilters:      true,
+			},
+			want: "No Luftballons match your search in REPO",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "one result",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "genie",
+				matchCount:      1,
+				totalMatchCount: 23,
+				hasFilters:      false,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 1 of 23 genies in REPO",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "one result after filters",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "tiny cup",
+				matchCount:      1,
+				totalMatchCount: 23,
+				hasFilters:      true,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 1 of 23 tiny cups in REPO that match your search",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "one result in total",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "chip",
+				matchCount:      1,
+				totalMatchCount: 1,
+				hasFilters:      false,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 1 of 1 chip in REPO",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "one result in total after filters",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "spicy noodle",
+				matchCount:      1,
+				totalMatchCount: 1,
+				hasFilters:      true,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 1 of 1 spicy noodle in REPO that matches your search",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "multiple results",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "plant",
+				matchCount:      4,
+				totalMatchCount: 23,
+				hasFilters:      false,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 4 of 23 plants in REPO",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "multiple results after filters",
+			args: args{
+				repoName:        "REPO",
+				itemName:        "boomerang",
+				matchCount:      4,
+				totalMatchCount: 23,
+				hasFilters:      true,
+			},
+			want: "Showing 4 of 23 boomerangs in REPO that match your search",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := listHeader(tt.args.repoName, tt.args.itemName, tt.args.matchCount, tt.args.totalMatchCount, tt.args.hasFilters); got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("listHeader() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/command/pr.go b/command/pr.go
index 6c9501a3e..bd7743f46 100644
--- a/command/pr.go
+++ b/command/pr.go
@@ -140,8 +140,6 @@ func prList(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	fmt.Fprintf(colorableErr(cmd), "\nPull requests for %s\n\n", ghrepo.FullName(baseRepo))
-
 	limit, err := cmd.Flags().GetInt("limit")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -192,28 +190,25 @@ func prList(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		params["assignee"] = assignee
 	}
 
-	prs, err := api.PullRequestList(apiClient, params, limit)
+	listResult, err := api.PullRequestList(apiClient, params, limit)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if len(prs) == 0 {
-		colorErr := colorableErr(cmd) // Send to stderr because otherwise when piping this command it would seem like the "no open prs" message is actually a pr
-		msg := "There are no open pull requests"
-
-		userSetFlags := false
-		cmd.Flags().Visit(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
-			userSetFlags = true
-		})
-		if userSetFlags {
-			msg = "No pull requests match your search"
+	hasFilters := false
+	cmd.Flags().Visit(func(f *pflag.Flag) {
+		switch f.Name {
+		case "state", "label", "base", "assignee":
+			hasFilters = true
 		}
-		printMessage(colorErr, msg)
-		return nil
-	}
+	})
+
+	title := listHeader(ghrepo.FullName(baseRepo), "pull request", len(listResult.PullRequests), listResult.TotalCount, hasFilters)
+	// TODO: avoid printing header if piped to a script
+	fmt.Fprintf(colorableErr(cmd), "\n%s\n\n", title)
 
 	table := utils.NewTablePrinter(cmd.OutOrStdout())
-	for _, pr := range prs {
+	for _, pr := range listResult.PullRequests {
 		prNum := strconv.Itoa(pr.Number)
 		if table.IsTTY() {
 			prNum = "#" + prNum
diff --git a/command/pr_test.go b/command/pr_test.go
index c2199013d..4b9d0c6de 100644
--- a/command/pr_test.go
+++ b/command/pr_test.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func RunCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args string) (*cmdOut, error) {
 			v.Replace([]string{})
 		default:
 			switch v.Type() {
-			case "bool", "string":
+			case "bool", "string", "int":
 				v.Set(f.DefValue)
 			}
 		}
@@ -276,6 +276,10 @@ func TestPRList(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	eq(t, output.Stderr(), `
+Showing 3 of 3 pull requests in OWNER/REPO
+
+`)
 	eq(t, output.String(), `32	New feature	feature
 29	Fixed bad bug	hubot:bug-fix
 28	Improve documentation	docs
@@ -297,9 +301,8 @@ func TestPRList_filtering(t *testing.T) {
 
 	eq(t, output.String(), "")
 	eq(t, output.Stderr(), `
-Pull requests for OWNER/REPO
+No pull requests match your search in OWNER/REPO
 
-No pull requests match your search
 `)
 
 	bodyBytes, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(http.Requests[1].Body)
diff --git a/test/fixtures/issueList.json b/test/fixtures/issueList.json
index 40537f12d..4b19f3930 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/issueList.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/issueList.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     "repository": {
       "hasIssuesEnabled": true,
       "issues": {
+        "totalCount": 3,
         "nodes": [
           {
               "number": 1,
diff --git a/test/fixtures/prList.json b/test/fixtures/prList.json
index 2808a5a8e..abd0e4ee9 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/prList.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/prList.json
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   "data": {
     "repository": {
       "pullRequests": {
+        "totalCount": 3,
         "edges": [
           {
             "node": {