diff --git a/.changeset/moody-monkeys-jump.md b/.changeset/moody-monkeys-jump.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8ae02861c22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/moody-monkeys-jump.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"hardhat": patch
+---
+
+Update `.gitignore` files in the sample projects to ignore snapshots and env files.
diff --git a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/01-node-test-runner-viem/gitignore b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/01-node-test-runner-viem/gitignore
index 991a319eb0b..8a0137f2762 100644
--- a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/01-node-test-runner-viem/gitignore
+++ b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/01-node-test-runner-viem/gitignore
@@ -16,5 +16,16 @@
 # Typechain output
 /types
 
+# Environment files
+.env
+.env.*
+!.env.example
+
 # Hardhat coverage reports
 /coverage
+
+# Gas snapshot files
+/.gas-snapshot
+
+# Snapshot cheatcodes output
+/snapshots
diff --git a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/02-mocha-ethers/gitignore b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/02-mocha-ethers/gitignore
index 991a319eb0b..8a0137f2762 100644
--- a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/02-mocha-ethers/gitignore
+++ b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/02-mocha-ethers/gitignore
@@ -16,5 +16,16 @@
 # Typechain output
 /types
 
+# Environment files
+.env
+.env.*
+!.env.example
+
 # Hardhat coverage reports
 /coverage
+
+# Gas snapshot files
+/.gas-snapshot
+
+# Snapshot cheatcodes output
+/snapshots
diff --git a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/03-minimal/gitignore b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/03-minimal/gitignore
index 991a319eb0b..8a0137f2762 100644
--- a/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/03-minimal/gitignore
+++ b/packages/hardhat/templates/hardhat-3/03-minimal/gitignore
@@ -16,5 +16,16 @@
 # Typechain output
 /types
 
+# Environment files
+.env
+.env.*
+!.env.example
+
 # Hardhat coverage reports
 /coverage
+
+# Gas snapshot files
+/.gas-snapshot
+
+# Snapshot cheatcodes output
+/snapshots