Stenocactus multicostatus is a small cactus with stems with many narrow, acute, straight or wavy ribs, densely pleated together, giving a wrinkled look to their near globular shape. It grows up to 6 cm tall, 6–10 cm wide. It has nearly 100 thin ribs around the outside, each with six to nine spines. The upper spines are wider, at 4–8 cm long, while the lower ones are shorter, at 5–15 mm long. The flower is white to purple, 2–5 cm in diameter with many stamens.