Crepis setosa (bristly hawksbeard) is a herbaceous weed, up to about 50cm tall. It has most leaves in a rosette, but has smaller leaves on the erect stem. The stems and leaves with bristly hairs.

The flower heads are numerous, about 1cm wide and with yellow flowers, and individual fruit have beaks (i.e. narrow sections between the body of the fruit and the feathery pappus). Its relative, C. capillaris (smooth hawksbeard) is similar but has smooth stems and fruit without beaks.