Funaria hygrometrica is rather inconspicuous when sterile (when the more conspicuous sporophyte has not yet developed). The obovate leaves form a bulb-like cluster at the top of the shortish, 3-8 mm long stem. The leaves are 2-4 mm long with an acute apex and weakly serrate margins. The midrib ends just below, or extends just beyond the leaf apex. The leaf cells are inflated, subhexagonal (± six-angular) to short-rectangular, somewhat narrower at the margin and oblong in the base. The colourful sporophyte is much longer than the stem from which it arises. The yellowish stalk (seta) that bears the capsule is 20-50 mm long. The distinctive capsule is horizontal to pendent, up to 3 mm long, reddish brown, asymmetrical, curved, more or less pear-shaped with an oblique mouth, with deep longitudinal furrows when dry. The teeth at the capsule mouth are arranged in two rows, with the outer teeth S-shaped and fused at the apex by a lattice disk. The cells of the capsule lid are twisted counter-clockwise. The inflated, hood-shaped calyptra is often seen covering the immature capsules. The spores are yellow-brown and very small.