Aloe brevifolia var. brevifolia plants usually form large groups of densely leafy rosettes. Leaves are broadly triangular and greyish green in colour. The upper surface is usually without any spots or spines but the lower surface may have a few soft spines along the upper middle or scattered on the terminal part. It has white thorns on the edge of the leaves.

One or two unbranched inflorescences are formed. Large bracts are present along the peduncle, which extend almost to the base. The racemes are cone-shaped and rather sparse lower down, but with the buds densely packed and hidden by the bracts. The flowers are various shades of red or sometimes yellow, tubular in shape but slightly curved, with the stamens protruding slightly from the mouth of the tube.

Aloe brevifolia may be distinguished from other dwarf aloes by the combination of the clustered growth form and the relatively broad and thick leaves.