Plants smaller than in typical Hypnum revolutum, 2--3(--5) cm, usually regularly pinnate with branches 0.2--0.5 cm, rarely longer. Leaves of stem broadly ovate-oblong, 0.5--1 mm, margins plane or less commonly revolute at base; median cells 25--40 × ca. 4 µm, costa less distinct.

About the same habitat, substrate, and distribution as the typical variety.

Hypnum revolutum var. ravaudii is scattered through the range and is seemingly infrequent. It is troublesome to determine because of its lack of the characteristic revolute margins, except sometimes near the base, and the costa is less distinct, thus it appears quite different, though smaller, from the typical variety.