diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4b361d0269c..8bdb30ce4f8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Add `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter`, which can be used to disable exemplar recording. (#5850)
+- Add `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric.WithExemplarFilter`, which can be used to configure the exemplar filter used by the metrics SDK. (#5850)
+
 <!-- Released section -->
 <!-- Don't change this section unless doing release -->
 
diff --git a/sdk/metric/config.go b/sdk/metric/config.go
index 544275a1146..8e1fd5d4565 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/config.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/config.go
@@ -6,17 +6,21 @@ package metric // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
 )
 
 // config contains configuration options for a MeterProvider.
 type config struct {
-	res     *resource.Resource
-	readers []Reader
-	views   []View
+	res            *resource.Resource
+	readers        []Reader
+	views          []View
+	exemplarFilter exemplar.Filter
 }
 
 // readerSignals returns a force-flush and shutdown function for a
@@ -76,7 +80,13 @@ func unifyShutdown(funcs []func(context.Context) error) func(context.Context) er
 
 // newConfig returns a config configured with options.
 func newConfig(options []Option) config {
-	conf := config{res: resource.Default()}
+	conf := config{
+		res:            resource.Default(),
+		exemplarFilter: exemplar.TraceBasedFilter,
+	}
+	for _, o := range meterProviderOptionsFromEnv() {
+		conf = o.apply(conf)
+	}
 	for _, o := range options {
 		conf = o.apply(conf)
 	}
@@ -140,3 +150,35 @@ func WithView(views ...View) Option {
 		return cfg
 	})
 }
+
+// WithExemplarFilter configures the exemplar filter.
+//
+// The exemplar filter determines which measurements are offered to the
+// exemplar reservoir, but the exemplar reservoir makes the final decision of
+// whether to store an exemplar.
+//
+// By default, the [exemplar.SampledFilter]
+// is used. Exemplars can be entirely disabled by providing the
+// [exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter].
+func WithExemplarFilter(filter exemplar.Filter) Option {
+	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
+		cfg.exemplarFilter = filter
+		return cfg
+	})
+}
+
+func meterProviderOptionsFromEnv() []Option {
+	var opts []Option
+	// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/d4b241f451674e8f611bb589477680341006ad2b/specification/configuration/sdk-environment-variables.md#exemplar
+	const filterEnvKey = "OTEL_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_FILTER"
+
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(filterEnvKey))) {
+	case "always_on":
+		opts = append(opts, WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter))
+	case "always_off":
+		opts = append(opts, WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter))
+	case "trace_based":
+		opts = append(opts, WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.TraceBasedFilter))
+	}
+	return opts
+}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/config_test.go b/sdk/metric/config_test.go
index d3c1341bf51..644bad30082 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/config_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/config_test.go
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	ottest "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/internal/internaltest"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace"
 )
 
 type reader struct {
@@ -192,3 +194,102 @@ func TestWithView(t *testing.T) {
 	)})
 	assert.Len(t, c.views, 2)
 }
+
+func TestWithExemplarFilterOff(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		desc                   string
+		opts                   []Option
+		env                    string
+		expectFilterSampled    bool
+		expectFilterNotSampled bool
+	}{
+		{
+			desc:                   "default",
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "always on option",
+			opts:                   []Option{WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter)},
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "always off option",
+			opts:                   []Option{WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)},
+			expectFilterSampled:    false,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "trace based option",
+			opts:                   []Option{WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.TraceBasedFilter)},
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "last option takes precedence",
+			opts: []Option{
+				WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter),
+				WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter),
+			},
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "always_off env",
+			env:                    "always_off",
+			expectFilterSampled:    false,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "always_on env",
+			env:                    "always_on",
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "always_on case insensitiveenv",
+			env:                    "ALWAYS_ON",
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: true,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "trace_based env",
+			env:                    "trace_based",
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "wrong env",
+			env:                    "foo_bar",
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: false,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:                   "option takes precedence over env var",
+			env:                    "always_off",
+			opts:                   []Option{WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter)},
+			expectFilterSampled:    true,
+			expectFilterNotSampled: true,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if tc.env != "" {
+				t.Setenv("OTEL_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_FILTER", tc.env)
+			}
+			c := newConfig(tc.opts)
+			assert.NotNil(t, c.exemplarFilter)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expectFilterNotSampled, c.exemplarFilter(context.Background()))
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.expectFilterSampled, c.exemplarFilter(sample(context.Background())))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func sample(parent context.Context) context.Context {
+	sc := trace.NewSpanContext(trace.SpanContextConfig{
+		TraceID:    trace.TraceID{0x01},
+		SpanID:     trace.SpanID{0x01},
+		TraceFlags: trace.FlagsSampled,
+	})
+	return trace.ContextWithSpanContext(parent, sc)
+}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/example_test.go b/sdk/metric/example_test.go
index faca4731818..3fa7e969e4a 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/example_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/example_test.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
 	semconv "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.26.0"
 )
@@ -240,3 +241,21 @@ func ExampleNewView_exponentialHistogram() {
 		metric.WithView(view),
 	)
 }
+
+func ExampleWithExemplarFilter_disabled() {
+	// Use exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter to disable exemplar collection.
+	_ = metric.NewMeterProvider(
+		metric.WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter),
+	)
+}
+
+func ExampleWithExemplarFilter_custom() {
+	// Create a custom filter function that only offers measurements if the
+	// context has an error.
+	customFilter := func(ctx context.Context) bool {
+		return ctx.Err() != nil
+	}
+	_ = metric.NewMeterProvider(
+		metric.WithExemplarFilter(customFilter),
+	)
+}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/exemplar.go b/sdk/metric/exemplar.go
index 4beaa9ea00a..1f8652d6eca 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/exemplar.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/exemplar.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 package metric // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
 
 import (
-	"os"
 	"runtime"
 	"slices"
 
@@ -13,29 +12,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 // reservoirFunc returns the appropriately configured exemplar reservoir
-// creation func based on the passed InstrumentKind and user defined
-// environment variables.
-//
-// Note: This will only return non-nil values when the experimental exemplar
-// feature is enabled and the OTEL_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_FILTER environment variable
-// is not set to always_off.
-func reservoirFunc[N int64 | float64](agg Aggregation) func() aggregate.FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] {
-	// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/d4b241f451674e8f611bb589477680341006ad2b/specification/configuration/sdk-environment-variables.md#exemplar
-	const filterEnvKey = "OTEL_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_FILTER"
-
-	var filter exemplar.Filter
-
-	switch os.Getenv(filterEnvKey) {
-	case "always_on":
-		filter = exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter
-	case "always_off":
-		return aggregate.DropReservoir
-	case "trace_based":
-		fallthrough
-	default:
-		filter = exemplar.TraceBasedFilter
-	}
-
+// creation func based on the passed InstrumentKind and filter configuration.
+func reservoirFunc[N int64 | float64](agg Aggregation, filter exemplar.Filter) func() aggregate.FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] {
 	// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/d4b241f451674e8f611bb589477680341006ad2b/specification/metrics/sdk.md#exemplar-defaults
 	// Explicit bucket histogram aggregation with more than 1 bucket will
 	// use AlignedHistogramBucketExemplarReservoir.
diff --git a/sdk/metric/exemplar/filter.go b/sdk/metric/exemplar/filter.go
index 4d485200f56..b595e2acef3 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/exemplar/filter.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/exemplar/filter.go
@@ -27,3 +27,8 @@ func TraceBasedFilter(ctx context.Context) bool {
 func AlwaysOnFilter(ctx context.Context) bool {
 	return true
 }
+
+// AlwaysOffFilter is a [Filter] that never offers measurements.
+func AlwaysOffFilter(ctx context.Context) bool {
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate.go b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate.go
index f1f3ab67314..25de3b05086 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ type Builder[N int64 | float64] struct {
 	// create new exemplar reservoirs for a new seen attribute set.
 	//
 	// If this is not provided a default factory function that returns an
-	// DropReservoir reservoir will be used.
+	// dropReservoir reservoir will be used.
 	ReservoirFunc func() FilteredExemplarReservoir[N]
 	// AggregationLimit is the cardinality limit of measurement attributes. Any
 	// measurement for new attributes once the limit has been reached will be
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (b Builder[N]) resFunc() func() FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] {
 		return b.ReservoirFunc
 	}
 
-	return DropReservoir
+	return dropReservoir
 }
 
 type fltrMeasure[N int64 | float64] func(ctx context.Context, value N, fltrAttr attribute.Set, droppedAttr []attribute.KeyValue)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate_test.go b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate_test.go
index fec39f5f919..c7e242c041f 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/aggregate_test.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func (c *clock) Register() (unregister func()) {
 }
 
 func dropExemplars[N int64 | float64]() FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] {
-	return DropReservoir[N]()
+	return dropReservoir[N]()
 }
 
 func TestBuilderFilter(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop.go b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop.go
index 4a3d4cc2218..dfc5a033395 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop.go
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 )
 
-// DropReservoir returns a [FilteredReservoir] that drops all measurements it is offered.
-func DropReservoir[N int64 | float64]() FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] { return &dropRes[N]{} }
+// dropReservoir returns a [FilteredReservoir] that drops all measurements it is offered.
+func dropReservoir[N int64 | float64]() FilteredExemplarReservoir[N] { return &dropRes[N]{} }
 
 type dropRes[N int64 | float64] struct{}
 
diff --git a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop_test.go b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop_test.go
index 7b3a0f9c3ef..fee90adc777 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate/drop_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ func TestDrop(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func testDropFiltered[N int64 | float64](t *testing.T) {
-	r := DropReservoir[N]()
+	r := dropReservoir[N]()
 
 	var dest []exemplar.Exemplar
 	r.Collect(&dest)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/meter_test.go b/sdk/metric/meter_test.go
index 906182ad13d..189d66de3e0 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/meter_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/meter_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/global"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -2462,3 +2463,53 @@ func TestMeterProviderDelegation(t *testing.T) {
 		otel.SetMeterProvider(provider)
 	})
 }
+
+func TestExemplarFilter(t *testing.T) {
+	rdr := NewManualReader()
+	mp := NewMeterProvider(
+		WithReader(rdr),
+		// Passing AlwaysOnFilter causes collection of the exemplar for the
+		// counter increment below.
+		WithExemplarFilter(exemplar.AlwaysOnFilter),
+	)
+
+	m1 := mp.Meter("scope")
+	ctr1, err := m1.Float64Counter("ctr")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	ctr1.Add(context.Background(), 1.0)
+
+	want := metricdata.ResourceMetrics{
+		Resource: resource.Default(),
+		ScopeMetrics: []metricdata.ScopeMetrics{
+			{
+				Scope: instrumentation.Scope{
+					Name: "scope",
+				},
+				Metrics: []metricdata.Metrics{
+					{
+						Name: "ctr",
+						Data: metricdata.Sum[float64]{
+							Temporality: metricdata.CumulativeTemporality,
+							IsMonotonic: true,
+							DataPoints: []metricdata.DataPoint[float64]{
+								{
+									Value: 1.0,
+									Exemplars: []metricdata.Exemplar[float64]{
+										{
+											Value: 1.0,
+										},
+									},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	got := metricdata.ResourceMetrics{}
+	err = rdr.Collect(context.Background(), &got)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	metricdatatest.AssertEqual(t, want, got, metricdatatest.IgnoreTimestamp())
+}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/pipeline.go b/sdk/metric/pipeline.go
index 823bf2fe3d2..fbc9b8649e6 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/pipeline.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/pipeline.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/embedded"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal/x"
@@ -38,14 +39,15 @@ type instrumentSync struct {
 	compAgg     aggregate.ComputeAggregation
 }
 
-func newPipeline(res *resource.Resource, reader Reader, views []View) *pipeline {
+func newPipeline(res *resource.Resource, reader Reader, views []View, exemplarFilter exemplar.Filter) *pipeline {
 	if res == nil {
 		res = resource.Empty()
 	}
 	return &pipeline{
-		resource: res,
-		reader:   reader,
-		views:    views,
+		resource:       res,
+		reader:         reader,
+		views:          views,
+		exemplarFilter: exemplarFilter,
 		// aggregations is lazy allocated when needed.
 	}
 }
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ type pipeline struct {
 	aggregations   map[instrumentation.Scope][]instrumentSync
 	callbacks      []func(context.Context) error
 	multiCallbacks list.List
+	exemplarFilter exemplar.Filter
 }
 
 // addSync adds the instrumentSync to pipeline p with scope. This method is not
@@ -349,7 +352,7 @@ func (i *inserter[N]) cachedAggregator(scope instrumentation.Scope, kind Instrum
 	cv := i.aggregators.Lookup(normID, func() aggVal[N] {
 		b := aggregate.Builder[N]{
 			Temporality:   i.pipeline.reader.temporality(kind),
-			ReservoirFunc: reservoirFunc[N](stream.Aggregation),
+			ReservoirFunc: reservoirFunc[N](stream.Aggregation, i.pipeline.exemplarFilter),
 		}
 		b.Filter = stream.AttributeFilter
 		// A value less than or equal to zero will disable the aggregation
@@ -552,10 +555,10 @@ func isAggregatorCompatible(kind InstrumentKind, agg Aggregation) error {
 // measurement.
 type pipelines []*pipeline
 
-func newPipelines(res *resource.Resource, readers []Reader, views []View) pipelines {
+func newPipelines(res *resource.Resource, readers []Reader, views []View, exemplarFilter exemplar.Filter) pipelines {
 	pipes := make([]*pipeline, 0, len(readers))
 	for _, r := range readers {
-		p := newPipeline(res, r, views)
+		p := newPipeline(res, r, views, exemplarFilter)
 		r.register(p)
 		pipes = append(pipes, p)
 	}
diff --git a/sdk/metric/pipeline_registry_test.go b/sdk/metric/pipeline_registry_test.go
index fc632cbb101..d1fb71a3b13 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/pipeline_registry_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/pipeline_registry_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/internal/aggregate"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest"
@@ -357,7 +358,7 @@ func testCreateAggregators[N int64 | float64](t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range testcases {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			var c cache[string, instID]
-			p := newPipeline(nil, tt.reader, tt.views)
+			p := newPipeline(nil, tt.reader, tt.views, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 			i := newInserter[N](p, &c)
 			readerAggregation := i.readerDefaultAggregation(tt.inst.Kind)
 			input, err := i.Instrument(tt.inst, readerAggregation)
@@ -379,7 +380,7 @@ func TestCreateAggregators(t *testing.T) {
 
 func testInvalidInstrumentShouldPanic[N int64 | float64]() {
 	var c cache[string, instID]
-	i := newInserter[N](newPipeline(nil, NewManualReader(), []View{defaultView}), &c)
+	i := newInserter[N](newPipeline(nil, NewManualReader(), []View{defaultView}, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter), &c)
 	inst := Instrument{
 		Name: "foo",
 		Kind: InstrumentKind(255),
@@ -395,7 +396,7 @@ func TestInvalidInstrumentShouldPanic(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPipelinesAggregatorForEachReader(t *testing.T) {
 	r0, r1 := NewManualReader(), NewManualReader()
-	pipes := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), []Reader{r0, r1}, nil)
+	pipes := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), []Reader{r0, r1}, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 	require.Len(t, pipes, 2, "created pipelines")
 
 	inst := Instrument{Name: "foo", Kind: InstrumentKindCounter}
@@ -467,7 +468,7 @@ func TestPipelineRegistryCreateAggregators(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), tt.readers, tt.views)
+			p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), tt.readers, tt.views, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 			testPipelineRegistryResolveIntAggregators(t, p, tt.wantCount)
 			testPipelineRegistryResolveFloatAggregators(t, p, tt.wantCount)
 			testPipelineRegistryResolveIntHistogramAggregators(t, p, tt.wantCount)
@@ -521,7 +522,7 @@ func TestPipelineRegistryResource(t *testing.T) {
 	readers := []Reader{NewManualReader()}
 	views := []View{defaultView, v}
 	res := resource.NewSchemaless(attribute.String("key", "val"))
-	pipes := newPipelines(res, readers, views)
+	pipes := newPipelines(res, readers, views, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 	for _, p := range pipes {
 		assert.True(t, res.Equal(p.resource), "resource not set")
 	}
@@ -532,7 +533,7 @@ func TestPipelineRegistryCreateAggregatorsIncompatibleInstrument(t *testing.T) {
 
 	readers := []Reader{testRdrHistogram}
 	views := []View{defaultView}
-	p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), readers, views)
+	p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), readers, views, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 	inst := Instrument{Name: "foo", Kind: InstrumentKindObservableGauge}
 
 	var vc cache[string, instID]
@@ -592,7 +593,7 @@ func TestResolveAggregatorsDuplicateErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	fooInst := Instrument{Name: "foo", Kind: InstrumentKindCounter}
 	barInst := Instrument{Name: "bar", Kind: InstrumentKindCounter}
 
-	p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), readers, views)
+	p := newPipelines(resource.Empty(), readers, views, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 
 	var vc cache[string, instID]
 	ri := newResolver[int64](p, &vc)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go b/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go
index 43f9499a09e..3df43827e11 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/pipeline_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/instrumentation"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/exemplar"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/metricdata/metricdatatest"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/resource"
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func testSumAggregateOutput(dest *metricdata.Aggregation) int {
 }
 
 func TestNewPipeline(t *testing.T) {
-	pipe := newPipeline(nil, nil, nil)
+	pipe := newPipeline(nil, nil, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 
 	output := metricdata.ResourceMetrics{}
 	err := pipe.produce(context.Background(), &output)
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ func TestNewPipeline(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPipelineUsesResource(t *testing.T) {
 	res := resource.NewWithAttributes("noSchema", attribute.String("test", "resource"))
-	pipe := newPipeline(res, nil, nil)
+	pipe := newPipeline(res, nil, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 
 	output := metricdata.ResourceMetrics{}
 	err := pipe.produce(context.Background(), &output)
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ func TestPipelineUsesResource(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPipelineConcurrentSafe(t *testing.T) {
-	pipe := newPipeline(nil, nil, nil)
+	pipe := newPipeline(nil, nil, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	var output metricdata.ResourceMetrics
 
@@ -124,13 +125,13 @@ func testDefaultViewImplicit[N int64 | float64]() func(t *testing.T) {
 		}{
 			{
 				name: "NoView",
-				pipe: newPipeline(nil, reader, nil),
+				pipe: newPipeline(nil, reader, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter),
 			},
 			{
 				name: "NoMatchingView",
 				pipe: newPipeline(nil, reader, []View{
 					NewView(Instrument{Name: "foo"}, Stream{Name: "bar"}),
-				}),
+				}, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter),
 			},
 		}
 
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ func TestLogConflictName(t *testing.T) {
 			return instID{Name: tc.existing}
 		})
 
-		i := newInserter[int64](newPipeline(nil, nil, nil), &vc)
+		i := newInserter[int64](newPipeline(nil, nil, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter), &vc)
 		i.logConflict(instID{Name: tc.name})
 
 		if tc.conflict {
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ func TestLogConflictSuggestView(t *testing.T) {
 	var vc cache[string, instID]
 	name := strings.ToLower(orig.Name)
 	_ = vc.Lookup(name, func() instID { return orig })
-	i := newInserter[int64](newPipeline(nil, nil, nil), &vc)
+	i := newInserter[int64](newPipeline(nil, nil, nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter), &vc)
 
 	viewSuggestion := func(inst instID, stream string) string {
 		return `"NewView(Instrument{` +
@@ -362,7 +363,7 @@ func TestInserterCachedAggregatorNameConflict(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var vc cache[string, instID]
-	pipe := newPipeline(nil, NewManualReader(), nil)
+	pipe := newPipeline(nil, NewManualReader(), nil, exemplar.AlwaysOffFilter)
 	i := newInserter[int64](pipe, &vc)
 
 	readerAggregation := i.readerDefaultAggregation(kind)
diff --git a/sdk/metric/provider.go b/sdk/metric/provider.go
index a82af538e67..7b0c0dbf714 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/provider.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/provider.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func NewMeterProvider(options ...Option) *MeterProvider {
 	flush, sdown := conf.readerSignals()
 
 	mp := &MeterProvider{
-		pipes:      newPipelines(conf.res, conf.readers, conf.views),
+		pipes:      newPipelines(conf.res, conf.readers, conf.views, conf.exemplarFilter),
 		forceFlush: flush,
 		shutdown:   sdown,
 	}