diff --git a/docker/base/set_configs.py b/docker/base/set_configs.py
index 82e2e45890..bd2747536c 100644
--- a/docker/base/set_configs.py
+++ b/docker/base/set_configs.py
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ import sys
 
 
 # TODO(rhallisey): add docstring.
-logging.basicConfig()
+logging.basicConfig(
+    format='%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(levelname)s %(message)s',
+    level=logging.INFO,
+    datefmt='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
+)
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 LOG.setLevel(logging.INFO)
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/kolla-container-logformat-259885637cbeb0e6.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/kolla-container-logformat-259885637cbeb0e6.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8056184b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/kolla-container-logformat-259885637cbeb0e6.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Improves logging format of kolla containers by adding
+    timestamps with milliseconds, log levels, and a custom
+    date format.
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    Users who parse Docker container logs should take into account
+    that for example `INFO:__main__:Validating config file` is now
+    `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.fff INFO Validating config file`.