diff --git a/plugins/inputs/processes/README.md b/plugins/inputs/processes/README.md
index 6fa842a2b..7c3cce086 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/processes/README.md
+++ b/plugins/inputs/processes/README.md
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ See the [CONFIGURATION.md][CONFIGURATION.md] for more details.
 ```toml @sample.conf
 # Get the number of processes and group them by status
 [[inputs.processes]]
-  # no configuration
+  ## Use sudo to run ps command on *BSD systems. Linux systems will read
+  ## /proc, so this does not apply there.
+  use_sudo = false
 ```
 
 Another possible configuration is to define an alternative path for resolving
@@ -31,6 +33,28 @@ retrieve process information from the specified location.
 
 `docker run -v /proc:/rootfs/proc:ro -e HOST_PROC=/rootfs/proc`
 
+### Using sudo
+
+Linux systems will read from `/proc`, while BSD systems will use the `ps`
+command. The `ps` command generally does not require elevated permissions.
+However, if a user wants to collect system-wide stats, elevated permissions are
+required. If the user has configured sudo with the ability to run this
+command, then set the `use_sudo` to true.
+
+If your account does not already have the ability to run commands with
+passwordless sudo then updates to the sudoers file are required. Below is an
+example to allow the requires ps commands:
+
+First, use the `visudo` command to start editing the sudoers file. Then add
+the following content, where `<username>` is the username of the user that
+needs this access:
+
+```text
+Cmnd_Alias PS = /bin/ps
+<username> ALL=(root) NOPASSWD: PS
+Defaults!PS !logfile, !syslog, !pam_session
+```
+
 ## Metrics
 
 - processes
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_notwindows.go b/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_notwindows.go
index 2e0444bfb..b4ac31e53 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_notwindows.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_notwindows.go
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Processes struct {
-	execPS       func() ([]byte, error)
+	UseSudo bool `toml:"use_sudo"`
+
+	execPS       func(UseSudo bool) ([]byte, error)
 	readProcFile func(filename string) ([]byte, error)
 
 	Log telegraf.Logger
@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ func getEmptyFields() map[string]interface{} {
 
 // exec `ps` to get all process states
 func (p *Processes) gatherFromPS(fields map[string]interface{}) error {
-	out, err := p.execPS()
+	out, err := p.execPS(p.UseSudo)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -208,13 +210,18 @@ func readProcFile(filename string) ([]byte, error) {
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-func execPS() ([]byte, error) {
+func execPS(useSudo bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	bin, err := exec.LookPath("ps")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	out, err := exec.Command(bin, "axo", "state").Output()
+	cmd := []string{bin, "axo", "state"}
+	if useSudo {
+		cmd = append([]string{"sudo", "-n"}, cmd...)
+	}
+
+	out, err := exec.Command(cmd[0], cmd[1:]...).Output()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_test.go b/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_test.go
index 12d0bbe10..f092de7e8 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/processes/processes_test.go
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ func TestParkedProcess(t *testing.T) {
 		testutil.IgnoreTime())
 }
 
-func testExecPS(out string) func() ([]byte, error) {
-	return func() ([]byte, error) { return []byte(out), nil }
+func testExecPS(out string) func(_ bool) ([]byte, error) {
+	return func(_ bool) ([]byte, error) { return []byte(out), nil }
 }
 
 // struct for counting calls to testProcFile
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func (t *tester) testProcFile2(_ string) ([]byte, error) {
 	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf(testProcStat2, "S", "2")), nil
 }
 
-func testExecPSError() ([]byte, error) {
+func testExecPSError(_ bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	return []byte("\nSTAT\nD\nI\nL\nR\nR+\nS\nS+\nSNs\nSs\nU\nZ\n"), fmt.Errorf("error")
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/processes/sample.conf b/plugins/inputs/processes/sample.conf
index 4c39c02eb..d8f2cc136 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/processes/sample.conf
+++ b/plugins/inputs/processes/sample.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 # Get the number of processes and group them by status
 [[inputs.processes]]
-  # no configuration
+  ## Use sudo to run ps command on *BSD systems. Linux systems will read
+  ## /proc, so this does not apply there.
+  use_sudo = false