diff --git a/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun.md b/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun.md
index 4bc5d65a1e..7e0b92f232 100644
--- a/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun.md
+++ b/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Manage taskruns
 
 * [tkn](tkn.md)	 - CLI for tekton pipelines
 * [tkn taskrun delete](tkn_taskrun_delete.md)	 - Delete a taskrun in a namespace
+* [tkn taskrun describe](tkn_taskrun_describe.md)	 - Describe a taskrun in a namespace
 * [tkn taskrun list](tkn_taskrun_list.md)	 - Lists taskruns in a namespace
 * [tkn taskrun logs](tkn_taskrun_logs.md)	 - Show taskruns logs
 
diff --git a/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun_describe.md b/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun_describe.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..17f1a7f54f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/cmd/tkn_taskrun_describe.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+## tkn taskrun describe
+
+Describe a taskrun in a namespace
+
+***Aliases**: desc*
+
+### Usage
+
+```
+tkn taskrun describe
+```
+
+### Synopsis
+
+Describe a taskrun in a namespace
+
+### Examples
+
+
+# Describe a TaskRun of name 'foo' in namespace 'bar'
+tkn taskrun describe foo -n bar
+
+tkn tr desc foo -n bar",
+
+
+### Options
+
+```
+      --allow-missing-template-keys   If true, ignore any errors in templates when a field or map key is missing in the template. Only applies to golang and jsonpath output formats. (default true)
+  -h, --help                          help for describe
+  -o, --output string                 Output format. One of: json|yaml|name|go-template|go-template-file|template|templatefile|jsonpath|jsonpath-file.
+      --template string               Template string or path to template file to use when -o=go-template, -o=go-template-file. The template format is golang templates [http://golang.org/pkg/text/template/#pkg-overview].
+```
+
+### Options inherited from parent commands
+
+```
+  -k, --kubeconfig string   kubectl config file (default: $HOME/.kube/config)
+  -n, --namespace string    namespace to use (default: from $KUBECONFIG)
+```
+
+### SEE ALSO
+
+* [tkn taskrun](tkn_taskrun.md)	 - Manage taskruns
+
diff --git a/docs/man/man1/tkn-taskrun-describe.1 b/docs/man/man1/tkn-taskrun-describe.1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..268afcfda1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/man/man1/tkn-taskrun-describe.1
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+.TH "TKN\-TASKRUN\-DESCRIBE" "1" "Sep 2019" "Auto generated by spf13/cobra" "" 
+.nh
+.ad l
+
+
+.SH NAME
+.PP
+tkn\-taskrun\-describe \- Describe a taskrun in a namespace
+
+
+.SH SYNOPSIS
+.PP
+\fBtkn taskrun describe\fP
+
+
+.SH DESCRIPTION
+.PP
+Describe a taskrun in a namespace
+
+
+.SH OPTIONS
+.PP
+\fB\-\-allow\-missing\-template\-keys\fP[=true]
+    If true, ignore any errors in templates when a field or map key is missing in the template. Only applies to golang and jsonpath output formats.
+
+.PP
+\fB\-h\fP, \fB\-\-help\fP[=false]
+    help for describe
+
+.PP
+\fB\-o\fP, \fB\-\-output\fP=""
+    Output format. One of: json|yaml|name|go\-template|go\-template\-file|template|templatefile|jsonpath|jsonpath\-file.
+
+.PP
+\fB\-\-template\fP=""
+    Template string or path to template file to use when \-o=go\-template, \-o=go\-template\-file. The template format is golang templates [
+\[la]http://golang.org/pkg/text/template/#pkg-overview\[ra]].
+
+
+.SH OPTIONS INHERITED FROM PARENT COMMANDS
+.PP
+\fB\-k\fP, \fB\-\-kubeconfig\fP=""
+    kubectl config file (default: $HOME/.kube/config)
+
+.PP
+\fB\-n\fP, \fB\-\-namespace\fP=""
+    namespace to use (default: from $KUBECONFIG)
+
+
+.SH EXAMPLE
+
+.SH Describe a TaskRun of name 'foo' in namespace 'bar'
+.PP
+tkn taskrun describe foo \-n bar
+
+.PP
+tkn tr desc foo \-n bar",
+
+
+.SH SEE ALSO
+.PP
+\fBtkn\-taskrun(1)\fP
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe.go b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0760e5ce2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe.go
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+// Copyright © 2019 The Tekton Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package taskrun
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"text/tabwriter"
+	"text/template"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/cli/pkg/cli"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/cli/pkg/formatted"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/pkg/apis/pipeline/v1alpha1"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	cliopts "k8s.io/cli-runtime/pkg/genericclioptions"
+)
+
+const templ = `Name:	{{ .TaskRun.Name }}
+Namespace:	{{ .TaskRun.Namespace }}
+Task Ref:	{{ .TaskRun.Spec.TaskRef.Name }}
+{{- if ne .TaskRun.Spec.ServiceAccount "" }}
+Service Account:	{{ .TaskRun.Spec.ServiceAccount }}
+{{- end }}
+
+Status
+STARTED 	DURATION 	STATUS
+{{ formatAge .TaskRun.Status.StartTime  .Params.Time }}	{{ formatDuration .TaskRun.Status.StartTime .TaskRun.Status.CompletionTime }}	{{ formatCondition .TaskRun.Status.Conditions }}
+{{- $msg := hasFailed .TaskRun -}}
+{{-  if ne $msg "" }}
+
+Message
+{{ $msg }}
+{{- end }}
+
+Inputs
+{{- $l := len .TaskRun.Spec.Inputs.Resources }}{{ if eq $l 0 }}
+No resources
+{{- else }}
+NAME	RESOURCE REF
+{{- range $i, $r := .TaskRun.Spec.Inputs.Resources }}
+{{$r.Name }}	{{ $r.ResourceRef.Name }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+Outputs
+{{- $l := len .TaskRun.Spec.Outputs.Resources }}{{ if eq $l 0 }}
+No resources
+{{- else }}
+NAME	RESOURCE REF
+{{- range $i, $r := .TaskRun.Spec.Outputs.Resources }}
+{{$r.Name }}	{{ $r.ResourceRef.Name }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+Params
+{{- $l := len .TaskRun.Spec.Inputs.Params }}{{ if eq $l 0 }}
+No params
+{{- else }}
+NAME	VALUE
+{{- range $i, $p := .TaskRun.Spec.Inputs.Params }}
+{{- if eq $p.Value.Type "string" }}
+{{ $p.Name }}	{{ $p.Value.StringVal }}
+{{- else }}
+{{ $p.Name }}	{{ $p.Value.ArrayVal }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+Steps
+{{- $l := len .TaskRun.Status.Steps }}{{ if eq $l 0 }}
+No steps
+{{- else }}
+STEP NAME
+{{- range $steps := .TaskRun.Status.Steps }}
+{{ $steps.Name }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+`
+
+func describeCommand(p cli.Params) *cobra.Command {
+	f := cliopts.NewPrintFlags("describe")
+	eg := `
+# Describe a TaskRun of name 'foo' in namespace 'bar'
+tkn taskrun describe foo -n bar
+
+tkn tr desc foo -n bar",
+`
+
+	c := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:          "describe",
+		Aliases:      []string{"desc"},
+		Short:        "Describe a taskrun in a namespace",
+		Example:      eg,
+		Args:         cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+		SilenceUsage: true,
+		Annotations: map[string]string{
+			"commandType": "main",
+		},
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			s := &cli.Stream{
+				Out: cmd.OutOrStdout(),
+				Err: cmd.OutOrStderr(),
+			}
+			return printTaskRunDescription(s, args[0], p)
+		},
+	}
+
+	_ = c.MarkZshCompPositionalArgumentCustom(1, "__tkn_get_taskrun")
+	f.AddFlags(c)
+
+	return c
+}
+
+func printTaskRunDescription(s *cli.Stream, trName string, p cli.Params) error {
+	cs, err := p.Clients()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create tekton client")
+	}
+
+	tr, err := cs.Tekton.TektonV1alpha1().TaskRuns(p.Namespace()).Get(trName, metav1.GetOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to find taskrun %q", trName)
+	}
+
+	var data = struct {
+		TaskRun *v1alpha1.TaskRun
+		Params  cli.Params
+	}{
+		TaskRun: tr,
+		Params:  p,
+	}
+
+	funcMap := template.FuncMap{
+		"formatAge":       formatted.Age,
+		"formatDuration":  formatted.Duration,
+		"formatCondition": formatted.Condition,
+		"hasFailed":       hasFailed,
+	}
+
+	w := tabwriter.NewWriter(s.Out, 0, 5, 3, ' ', tabwriter.TabIndent)
+	t := template.Must(template.New("Describe taskrun").Funcs(funcMap).Parse(templ))
+
+	err = t.Execute(w, data)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(s.Err, "Failed to execute template")
+		return err
+	}
+	return w.Flush()
+}
+
+func hasFailed(tr *v1alpha1.TaskRun) string {
+	if len(tr.Status.Conditions) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	if tr.Status.Conditions[0].Status == corev1.ConditionFalse {
+		return tr.Status.Conditions[0].Message
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe_test.go b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0f8b12306b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/describe_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+// Copyright © 2019 The Tekton Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package taskrun
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jonboulle/clockwork"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/cli/pkg/test"
+	cb "github.com/tektoncd/cli/pkg/test/builder"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/pkg/apis/pipeline/v1alpha1"
+	"github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/pkg/reconciler/v1alpha1/pipelinerun/resources"
+	pipelinetest "github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/test"
+	tb "github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/test/builder"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"knative.dev/pkg/apis"
+)
+
+func TestTaskRunDescribe_not_found(t *testing.T) {
+	cs, _ := test.SeedTestData(t, pipelinetest.Data{})
+	p := &test.Params{Tekton: cs.Pipeline}
+
+	taskrun := Command(p)
+	_, err := test.ExecuteCommand(taskrun, "desc", "bar", "-n", "ns")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("Expected error, did not get any")
+	}
+	expected := "failed to find taskrun \"bar\""
+	test.AssertOutput(t, expected, err.Error())
+}
+
+func TestTaskRunDescribe_empty_taskrun(t *testing.T) {
+	clock := clockwork.NewFakeClock()
+
+	trs := []*v1alpha1.TaskRun{
+		tb.TaskRun("tr-1", "ns",
+			tb.TaskRunLabel("tekton.dev/task", "t1"),
+			tb.TaskRunSpec(tb.TaskRunTaskRef("t1")),
+			tb.TaskRunStatus(
+				tb.StatusCondition(apis.Condition{
+					Status: corev1.ConditionTrue,
+					Reason: resources.ReasonSucceeded,
+				}),
+			),
+		),
+	}
+
+	cs, _ := test.SeedTestData(t, pipelinetest.Data{
+		TaskRuns: trs,
+	})
+
+	p := &test.Params{Tekton: cs.Pipeline, Clock: clock}
+
+	taskrun := Command(p)
+	clock.Advance(10 * time.Minute)
+	actual, err := test.ExecuteCommand(taskrun, "desc", "tr-1", "-n", "ns")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := `Name:        tr-1
+Namespace:   ns
+Task Ref:    t1
+
+Status
+STARTED    DURATION    STATUS
+---        ---         Succeeded
+
+Inputs
+No resources
+
+Outputs
+No resources
+
+Params
+No params
+
+Steps
+No steps
+`
+
+	test.AssertOutput(t, expected, actual)
+}
+
+func TestTaskRunDescribe_only_taskrun(t *testing.T) {
+	clock := clockwork.NewFakeClock()
+
+	trs := []*v1alpha1.TaskRun{
+		tb.TaskRun("tr-1", "ns",
+			tb.TaskRunStatus(
+				tb.TaskRunStartTime(clockwork.NewFakeClock().Now().Add(20*time.Second)),
+				tb.StatusCondition(apis.Condition{
+					Type:   apis.ConditionSucceeded,
+					Status: corev1.ConditionTrue,
+				}),
+				tb.StepState(
+					cb.StepName("step1"),
+					tb.StateTerminated(0),
+				),
+				tb.StepState(
+					cb.StepName("step2"),
+					tb.StateTerminated(0),
+				),
+			),
+			tb.TaskRunSpec(
+				tb.TaskRunTaskRef("t1"),
+				tb.TaskRunInputs(tb.TaskRunInputsParam("input", "param")),
+				tb.TaskRunInputs(tb.TaskRunInputsParam("input2", "param2")),
+				tb.TaskRunInputs(tb.TaskRunInputsResource("git", tb.TaskResourceBindingRef("git"))),
+				tb.TaskRunInputs(tb.TaskRunInputsResource("image-input", tb.TaskResourceBindingRef("image"))),
+				tb.TaskRunOutputs(tb.TaskRunOutputsResource("image-output", tb.TaskResourceBindingRef("image"))),
+				tb.TaskRunOutputs(tb.TaskRunOutputsResource("image-output2", tb.TaskResourceBindingRef("image"))),
+			),
+		),
+	}
+
+	cs, _ := test.SeedTestData(t, pipelinetest.Data{
+		TaskRuns: trs,
+	})
+
+	p := &test.Params{Tekton: cs.Pipeline, Clock: clock}
+
+	taskrun := Command(p)
+	clock.Advance(10 * time.Minute)
+	actual, err := test.ExecuteCommand(taskrun, "desc", "tr-1", "-n", "ns")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := `Name:        tr-1
+Namespace:   ns
+Task Ref:    t1
+
+Status
+STARTED         DURATION    STATUS
+9 minutes ago   ---         Succeeded
+
+Inputs
+NAME          RESOURCE REF
+git           git
+image-input   image
+
+Outputs
+NAME            RESOURCE REF
+image-output    image
+image-output2   image
+
+Params
+NAME     VALUE
+input    param
+input2   param2
+
+Steps
+STEP NAME
+step1
+step2
+`
+
+	test.AssertOutput(t, expected, actual)
+}
+
+func TestTaskRunDescribe_failed(t *testing.T) {
+	clock := clockwork.NewFakeClock()
+
+	trs := []*v1alpha1.TaskRun{
+		tb.TaskRun("tr-1", "ns",
+			tb.TaskRunStatus(
+				tb.TaskRunStartTime(clock.Now().Add(2*time.Minute)),
+				cb.TaskRunCompletionTime(clock.Now().Add(5*time.Minute)),
+				tb.StatusCondition(apis.Condition{
+					Status:  corev1.ConditionFalse,
+					Reason:  resources.ReasonFailed,
+					Message: "Testing tr failed",
+				}),
+			),
+			tb.TaskRunSpec(
+				tb.TaskRunTaskRef("t1"),
+			),
+		),
+	}
+
+	cs, _ := test.SeedTestData(t, pipelinetest.Data{
+		TaskRuns: trs,
+	})
+
+	p := &test.Params{Tekton: cs.Pipeline, Clock: clock}
+
+	taskrun := Command(p)
+	clock.Advance(10 * time.Minute)
+	actual, err := test.ExecuteCommand(taskrun, "desc", "tr-1", "-n", "ns")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := `Name:        tr-1
+Namespace:   ns
+Task Ref:    t1
+
+Status
+STARTED         DURATION    STATUS
+8 minutes ago   3 minutes   Failed
+
+Message
+Testing tr failed
+
+Inputs
+No resources
+
+Outputs
+No resources
+
+Params
+No params
+
+Steps
+No steps
+`
+
+	test.AssertOutput(t, expected, actual)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/taskrun/taskrun.go b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/taskrun.go
index 56559d3dc3..a153e03c4f 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/taskrun/taskrun.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/taskrun/taskrun.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func Command(p cli.Params) *cobra.Command {
 		listCommand(p),
 		logCommand(p),
 		deleteCommand(p),
+		describeCommand(p),
 	)
 
 	return cmd