diff --git a/common/changes/@typespec/compiler/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json b/common/changes/@typespec/compiler/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..18268f1f6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/changes/@typespec/compiler/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "changes": [
+    {
+      "packageName": "@typespec/compiler",
+      "comment": "Add support for `@returns` and `@errors` doc comment tags. `@returns`(or `@returnsDoc` decorator) can be used to describe the success return types of an operation. `@errors`(or `@errorsDoc` decorator) can be used to describe the error return types of an operation.",
+      "type": "none"
+    }
+  ],
+  "packageName": "@typespec/compiler"
+}
diff --git a/common/changes/@typespec/http/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json b/common/changes/@typespec/http/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..931a1d2bb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/changes/@typespec/http/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "changes": [
+    {
+      "packageName": "@typespec/http",
+      "comment": "Add support for `@returns` and `@errors` doc comment tags.",
+      "type": "none"
+    }
+  ],
+  "packageName": "@typespec/http"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common/changes/@typespec/openapi3/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json b/common/changes/@typespec/openapi3/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ee001dfd4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/changes/@typespec/openapi3/feature-op-returns-docs_2023-09-19-16-32.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "changes": [
+    {
+      "packageName": "@typespec/openapi3",
+      "comment": "Add support for `@returns` and `@errors` doc comment tags.",
+      "type": "none"
+    }
+  ],
+  "packageName": "@typespec/openapi3"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/standard-library/built-in-decorators.md b/docs/standard-library/built-in-decorators.md
index 7fe661ff2b..a6dcb9ade1 100644
--- a/docs/standard-library/built-in-decorators.md
+++ b/docs/standard-library/built-in-decorators.md
@@ -158,6 +158,32 @@ message: string;
 ```
 
 
+### `@errorsDoc` {#@errorsDoc}
+
+Attach a documentation string to describe the error return types of an operation.
+If an operation returns a union of success and errors it only describe the errors. See `@errorsDoc` for success documentation.
+
+```typespec
+@errorsDoc(doc: valueof string)
+```
+
+#### Target
+
+`Operation`
+
+#### Parameters
+| Name | Type | Description |
+|------|------|-------------|
+| doc | `valueof scalar string` | Documentation string |
+
+#### Examples
+
+```typespec
+@errorsDoc("Returns doc")
+op get(): Pet | NotFound;
+```
+
+
 ### `@format` {#@format}
 
 Specify a known data format hint for this string type. For example `uuid`, `uri`, etc.
@@ -631,6 +657,32 @@ expireAt: int32;
 ```
 
 
+### `@returnsDoc` {#@returnsDoc}
+
+Attach a documentation string to describe the successful return types of an operation.
+If an operation returns a union of success and errors it only describe the success. See `@errorsDoc` for error documentation.
+
+```typespec
+@returnsDoc(doc: valueof string)
+```
+
+#### Target
+
+`Operation`
+
+#### Parameters
+| Name | Type | Description |
+|------|------|-------------|
+| doc | `valueof scalar string` | Documentation string |
+
+#### Examples
+
+```typespec
+@returnsDoc("Returns doc")
+op get(): Pet | NotFound;
+```
+
+
 ### `@returnTypeVisibility` {#@returnTypeVisibility}
 
 Sets which visibilities apply to the return type for the given operation.
diff --git a/packages/compiler/lib/decorators.tsp b/packages/compiler/lib/decorators.tsp
index 9d8a9845e1..231e1531b6 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/lib/decorators.tsp
+++ b/packages/compiler/lib/decorators.tsp
@@ -29,6 +29,32 @@ extern dec summary(target: unknown, summary: valueof string);
  */
 extern dec doc(target: unknown, doc: valueof string, formatArgs?: {});
 
+/**
+ * Attach a documentation string to describe the successful return types of an operation.
+ * If an operation returns a union of success and errors it only describe the success. See `@errorsDoc` for error documentation.
+ * @param doc Documentation string
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typespec
+ * @returnsDoc("Returns doc")
+ * op get(): Pet | NotFound;
+ * ```
+ */
+extern dec returnsDoc(target: Operation, doc: valueof string);
+
+/**
+ * Attach a documentation string to describe the error return types of an operation.
+ * If an operation returns a union of success and errors it only describe the errors. See `@errorsDoc` for success documentation.
+ * @param doc Documentation string
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typespec
+ * @errorsDoc("Returns doc")
+ * op get(): Pet | NotFound;
+ * ```
+ */
+extern dec errorsDoc(target: Operation, doc: valueof string);
+
 /**
  * Mark this type as deprecated.
  *
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/core/checker.ts b/packages/compiler/src/core/checker.ts
index 5ce1db7908..246c478d04 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/core/checker.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/core/checker.ts
@@ -3179,10 +3179,7 @@ export function createChecker(program: Program): Checker {
       ) {
         const doc = extractParamDoc(prop.parent.parent.parent, type.name);
         if (doc) {
-          type.decorators.unshift({
-            decorator: $docFromComment,
-            args: [{ value: createLiteralType(doc), jsValue: doc }],
-          });
+          type.decorators.unshift(createDocFromCommentDecorator("self", doc));
         }
       }
       finishType(type);
@@ -3193,6 +3190,16 @@ export function createChecker(program: Program): Checker {
     return type;
   }
 
+  function createDocFromCommentDecorator(key: "self" | "returns" | "errors", doc: string) {
+    return {
+      decorator: $docFromComment,
+      args: [
+        { value: createLiteralType(key), jsValue: key },
+        { value: createLiteralType(doc), jsValue: doc },
+      ],
+    };
+  }
+
   function isValueType(type: Type): boolean {
     if (type === nullType) {
       return true;
@@ -3439,10 +3446,16 @@ export function createChecker(program: Program): Checker {
     // Doc comment should always be the first decorator in case an explicit @doc must override it.
     const docComment = extractMainDoc(targetType);
     if (docComment) {
-      decorators.unshift({
-        decorator: $docFromComment,
-        args: [{ value: createLiteralType(docComment), jsValue: docComment }],
-      });
+      decorators.unshift(createDocFromCommentDecorator("self", docComment));
+    }
+    if (targetType.kind === "Operation") {
+      const returnTypesDocs = extractReturnsDocs(targetType);
+      if (returnTypesDocs.returns) {
+        decorators.unshift(createDocFromCommentDecorator("returns", returnTypesDocs.returns));
+      }
+      if (returnTypesDocs.errors) {
+        decorators.unshift(createDocFromCommentDecorator("errors", returnTypesDocs.errors));
+      }
     }
     return decorators;
   }
@@ -5827,6 +5840,30 @@ function extractMainDoc(type: Type): string | undefined {
   return trimmed === "" ? undefined : trimmed;
 }
 
+function extractReturnsDocs(type: Type): {
+  returns: string | undefined;
+  errors: string | undefined;
+} {
+  const result: { returns: string | undefined; errors: string | undefined } = {
+    returns: undefined,
+    errors: undefined,
+  };
+  if (type.node?.docs === undefined) {
+    return result;
+  }
+  for (const doc of type.node.docs) {
+    for (const tag of doc.tags) {
+      if (tag.kind === SyntaxKind.DocReturnsTag) {
+        result.returns = getDocContent(tag.content);
+      }
+      if (tag.kind === SyntaxKind.DocErrorsTag) {
+        result.errors = getDocContent(tag.content);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
 function extractParamDoc(node: OperationStatementNode, paramName: string): string | undefined {
   if (node.docs === undefined) {
     return undefined;
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/core/parser.ts b/packages/compiler/src/core/parser.ts
index 10e9d50a53..be2f84ee8c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/core/parser.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/core/parser.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   DirectiveArgument,
   DirectiveExpressionNode,
   DocContent,
+  DocErrorsTagNode,
   DocNode,
   DocParamTagNode,
   DocReturnsTagNode,
@@ -2399,7 +2400,7 @@ function createParser(code: string | SourceFile, options: ParseOptions = {}): Pa
   }
 
   type ParamLikeTag = DocTemplateTagNode | DocParamTagNode;
-  type SimpleTag = DocReturnsTagNode | DocUnknownTagNode;
+  type SimpleTag = DocReturnsTagNode | DocErrorsTagNode | DocUnknownTagNode;
 
   function parseDocTag(): DocTag {
     const pos = tokenPos();
@@ -2413,6 +2414,8 @@ function createParser(code: string | SourceFile, options: ParseOptions = {}): Pa
       case "return":
       case "returns":
         return parseDocSimpleTag(pos, tagName, SyntaxKind.DocReturnsTag);
+      case "errors":
+        return parseDocSimpleTag(pos, tagName, SyntaxKind.DocErrorsTag);
       default:
         return parseDocSimpleTag(pos, tagName, SyntaxKind.DocUnknownTag);
     }
@@ -3127,6 +3130,7 @@ export function visitChildren<T>(node: Node, cb: NodeCallback<T>): T | undefined
         visitNode(cb, node.tagName) || visitNode(cb, node.paramName) || visitEach(cb, node.content)
       );
     case SyntaxKind.DocReturnsTag:
+    case SyntaxKind.DocErrorsTag:
     case SyntaxKind.DocUnknownTag:
       return visitNode(cb, node.tagName) || visitEach(cb, node.content);
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/core/types.ts b/packages/compiler/src/core/types.ts
index 110f8121b1..524b7225c7 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/core/types.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/core/types.ts
@@ -752,6 +752,7 @@ export enum SyntaxKind {
   DocText,
   DocParamTag,
   DocReturnsTag,
+  DocErrorsTag,
   DocTemplateTag,
   DocUnknownTag,
   Projection,
@@ -1558,7 +1559,12 @@ export interface DocTagBaseNode extends BaseNode {
   readonly content: readonly DocContent[];
 }
 
-export type DocTag = DocReturnsTagNode | DocParamTagNode | DocTemplateTagNode | DocUnknownTagNode;
+export type DocTag =
+  | DocReturnsTagNode
+  | DocErrorsTagNode
+  | DocParamTagNode
+  | DocTemplateTagNode
+  | DocUnknownTagNode;
 export type DocContent = DocTextNode;
 
 export interface DocTextNode extends BaseNode {
@@ -1570,6 +1576,10 @@ export interface DocReturnsTagNode extends DocTagBaseNode {
   readonly kind: SyntaxKind.DocReturnsTag;
 }
 
+export interface DocErrorsTagNode extends DocTagBaseNode {
+  readonly kind: SyntaxKind.DocErrorsTag;
+}
+
 export interface DocParamTagNode extends DocTagBaseNode {
   readonly kind: SyntaxKind.DocParamTag;
   readonly paramName: IdentifierNode;
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/formatter/print/printer.ts b/packages/compiler/src/formatter/print/printer.ts
index 0f5926d717..6f4cd7b385 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/formatter/print/printer.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/formatter/print/printer.ts
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ export function printNode(
     case SyntaxKind.DocParamTag:
     case SyntaxKind.DocTemplateTag:
     case SyntaxKind.DocReturnsTag:
+    case SyntaxKind.DocErrorsTag:
     case SyntaxKind.DocUnknownTag:
       // https://github.com/microsoft/typespec/issues/1319 Tracks pretty-printing doc comments.
       compilerAssert(
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/lib/decorators.ts b/packages/compiler/src/lib/decorators.ts
index bbefc0c198..fbfa380b8e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/lib/decorators.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/lib/decorators.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ export function getSummary(program: Program, type: Type): string | undefined {
 }
 
 const docsKey = createStateSymbol("docs");
+const returnsDocsKey = createStateSymbol("returnsDocs");
+const errorsDocsKey = createStateSymbol("errorDocs");
+type DocTarget = "self" | "returns" | "errors";
+
 export interface DocData {
   /**
    * Doc value.
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ export interface DocData {
    * - `@doc` means the `@doc` decorator was used
    * - `comment` means it was set from a `/** comment * /`
    */
-  source: "@doc" | "comment";
+  source: "decorator" | "comment";
 }
 /**
  * @doc attaches a documentation string. Works great with multi-line string literals.
@@ -103,19 +107,50 @@ export function $doc(context: DecoratorContext, target: Type, text: string, sour
   if (sourceObject) {
     text = replaceTemplatedStringFromProperties(text, sourceObject);
   }
-  setDocData(context.program, target, { value: text, source: "@doc" });
+  setDocData(context.program, target, "self", { value: text, source: "decorator" });
 }
 
 /**
  * @internal to be used to set the `@doc` from doc comment.
  */
-export function $docFromComment(context: DecoratorContext, target: Type, text: string) {
-  setDocData(context.program, target, { value: text, source: "comment" });
+export function $docFromComment(
+  context: DecoratorContext,
+  target: Type,
+  key: DocTarget,
+  text: string
+) {
+  setDocData(context.program, target, key, { value: text, source: "comment" });
+}
+
+function getDocKey(target: DocTarget): symbol {
+  switch (target) {
+    case "self":
+      return docsKey;
+    case "returns":
+      return returnsDocsKey;
+    case "errors":
+      return errorsDocsKey;
+  }
 }
 
-function setDocData(program: Program, target: Type, data: DocData) {
-  program.stateMap(docsKey).set(target, data);
+function setDocData(program: Program, target: Type, key: DocTarget, data: DocData) {
+  program.stateMap(getDocKey(key)).set(target, data);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the documentation information for the given type. In most cases you probably just want to use {@link getDoc}
+ * @param program Program
+ * @param target Type
+ * @returns Doc data with source information.
+ */
+export function getDocDataInternal(
+  program: Program,
+  target: Type,
+  key: DocTarget
+): DocData | undefined {
+  return program.stateMap(getDocKey(key)).get(target);
 }
+
 /**
  * Get the documentation information for the given type. In most cases you probably just want to use {@link getDoc}
  * @param program Program
@@ -123,7 +158,7 @@ function setDocData(program: Program, target: Type, data: DocData) {
  * @returns Doc data with source information.
  */
 export function getDocData(program: Program, target: Type): DocData | undefined {
-  return program.stateMap(docsKey).get(target);
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "self");
 }
 
 /**
@@ -133,7 +168,57 @@ export function getDocData(program: Program, target: Type): DocData | undefined
  * @returns Documentation value
  */
 export function getDoc(program: Program, target: Type): string | undefined {
-  return getDocData(program, target)?.value;
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "self")?.value;
+}
+
+export function $returnsDoc(context: DecoratorContext, target: Operation, text: string) {
+  validateDecoratorUniqueOnNode(context, target, $doc);
+  setDocData(context.program, target, "returns", { value: text, source: "decorator" });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the documentation information for the return success types of an operation. In most cases you probably just want to use {@link getReturnsDoc}
+ * @param program Program
+ * @param target Type
+ * @returns Doc data with source information.
+ */
+export function getReturnsDocData(program: Program, target: Operation): DocData | undefined {
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "returns");
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the documentation string for the return success types of an operation.
+ * @param program Program
+ * @param target Type
+ * @returns Documentation value
+ */
+export function getReturnsDoc(program: Program, target: Operation): string | undefined {
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "returns")?.value;
+}
+
+export function $errorsDoc(context: DecoratorContext, target: Operation, text: string) {
+  validateDecoratorUniqueOnNode(context, target, $doc);
+  setDocData(context.program, target, "errors", { value: text, source: "decorator" });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the documentation information for the return errors types of an operation. In most cases you probably just want to use {@link getErrorsDoc}
+ * @param program Program
+ * @param target Type
+ * @returns Doc data with source information.
+ */
+export function getErrorsDocData(program: Program, target: Operation): DocData | undefined {
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "errors");
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the documentation string for the return errors types of an operation.
+ * @param program Program
+ * @param target Type
+ * @returns Documentation value
+ */
+export function getErrorsDoc(program: Program, target: Operation): string | undefined {
+  return getDocDataInternal(program, target, "errors")?.value;
 }
 
 export function $inspectType(program: Program, target: Type, text: string) {
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/server/type-details.ts b/packages/compiler/src/server/type-details.ts
index 91315186a8..0d9c43fdde 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/server/type-details.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/server/type-details.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function getSymbolDocumentation(program: Program, symbol: Sym) {
   const type = symbol.type ?? program.checker.getTypeForNode(symbol.declarations[0]);
   const apiDocs = getDocData(program, type);
   // The doc comment is already included above we don't want to duplicate
-  if (apiDocs && apiDocs.source === "@doc") {
+  if (apiDocs && apiDocs.source === "comment") {
     docs.push(apiDocs.value);
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/checker/doc-comment.test.ts b/packages/compiler/test/checker/doc-comment.test.ts
index 09914a24ba..d359610617 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/checker/doc-comment.test.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/checker/doc-comment.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { ok, strictEqual } from "assert";
 import { Model, Operation } from "../../src/core/index.js";
-import { getDoc } from "../../src/lib/decorators.js";
+import { getDoc, getErrorsDoc, getReturnsDoc } from "../../src/lib/decorators.js";
 import { BasicTestRunner, createTestRunner } from "../../src/testing/index.js";
 
 describe("compiler: checker: doc comments", () => {
@@ -142,6 +142,94 @@ describe("compiler: checker: doc comments", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("@returns", () => {
+    it("set the returnsDoc on an operation", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @returns A string
+       */
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getReturnsDoc(runner.program, test), "A string");
+    });
+
+    it("@returnsDoc decorator override the doc comment", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @returns A string
+       */
+      @returnsDoc("Another string")
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getReturnsDoc(runner.program, test), "Another string");
+    });
+
+    it("doc comment on op is override the base comment", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @returns A string
+       */
+      op base(): string;
+
+      /**
+       * @returns Another string
+       */
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getReturnsDoc(runner.program, test), "Another string");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("@errors", () => {
+    it("set the errorsDoc on an operation", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @errors A string
+       */
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getErrorsDoc(runner.program, test), "A string");
+    });
+
+    it("@errorsDoc decorator override the doc comment", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @errors A string
+       */
+      @errorsDoc("Another string")
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getErrorsDoc(runner.program, test), "Another string");
+    });
+
+    it("doc comment on op is override the base comment", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(`
+      
+      /**
+       * @errors A string
+       */
+      op base(): string;
+
+      /**
+       * @errors Another string
+       */
+      @test op test(): string;
+      `)) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getErrorsDoc(runner.program, test), "Another string");
+    });
+  });
+
   it("using @param in doc comment of operation applies doc on the parameters", async () => {
     const { addUser } = (await runner.compile(`
     
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/decorators/decorators.test.ts b/packages/compiler/test/decorators/decorators.test.ts
index e3914c4257..6ab18c5ae3 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/decorators/decorators.test.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/decorators/decorators.test.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ import { Model, Operation, Scalar, getVisibility, isSecret } from "../../src/ind
 import {
   getDoc,
   getEncode,
+  getErrorsDoc,
   getFriendlyName,
   getKeyName,
   getKnownValues,
   getOverloadedOperation,
   getOverloads,
+  getReturnsDoc,
   isErrorModel,
 } from "../../src/lib/decorators.js";
 import { BasicTestRunner, createTestRunner, expectDiagnostics } from "../../src/testing/index.js";
@@ -139,6 +141,60 @@ describe("compiler: built-in decorators", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("@returnsDoc", () => {
+    it("applies @returnsDoc on operation", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(
+        `
+        @test
+        @returnsDoc("A string")
+        op test(): string;
+        `
+      )) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getReturnsDoc(runner.program, test), "A string");
+    });
+
+    it("emit diagnostic if doc is not a string", async () => {
+      const diagnostics = await runner.diagnose(`
+        @test
+        @returnsDoc(123)
+        op test(): string;
+      `);
+
+      expectDiagnostics(diagnostics, {
+        code: "invalid-argument",
+        message: `Argument '123' is not assignable to parameter of type 'valueof string'`,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("@errorsDoc", () => {
+    it("applies @errorsDoc on operation", async () => {
+      const { test } = (await runner.compile(
+        `
+        @test
+        @errorsDoc("An error")
+        op test(): string;
+        `
+      )) as { test: Operation };
+
+      strictEqual(getErrorsDoc(runner.program, test), "An error");
+    });
+
+    it("emit diagnostic if doc is not a string", async () => {
+      const diagnostics = await runner.diagnose(`
+        @test
+        @errorsDoc(123)
+        op test(): string;
+      `);
+
+      expectDiagnostics(diagnostics, {
+        code: "invalid-argument",
+        message: `Argument '123' is not assignable to parameter of type 'valueof string'`,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("@friendlyName", () => {
     it("applies @friendlyName on model", async () => {
       const { A, B, C } = await runner.compile(`
diff --git a/packages/http/src/responses.ts b/packages/http/src/responses.ts
index c78e901fae..796071ae2e 100644
--- a/packages/http/src/responses.ts
+++ b/packages/http/src/responses.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import {
   Diagnostic,
   DiagnosticCollector,
   getDoc,
+  getErrorsDoc,
+  getReturnsDoc,
   isArrayModelType,
   isErrorModel,
   isNullType,
@@ -43,10 +45,10 @@ export function getResponsesForOperation(
         // TODO how should we treat this? https://github.com/microsoft/typespec/issues/356
         continue;
       }
-      processResponseType(program, diagnostics, responses, option.type);
+      processResponseType(program, diagnostics, operation, responses, option.type);
     }
   } else {
-    processResponseType(program, diagnostics, responses, responseType);
+    processResponseType(program, diagnostics, operation, responses, responseType);
   }
 
   return diagnostics.wrap(Object.values(responses));
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ export function getResponsesForOperation(
 function processResponseType(
   program: Program,
   diagnostics: DiagnosticCollector,
+  operation: Operation,
   responses: Record<string, HttpOperationResponse>,
   responseType: Type
 ) {
@@ -96,7 +99,7 @@ function processResponseType(
     const response: HttpOperationResponse = responses[statusCode] ?? {
       statusCode,
       type: responseType,
-      description: getResponseDescription(program, responseType, statusCode, bodyType),
+      description: getResponseDescription(program, operation, responseType, statusCode, bodyType),
       responses: [],
     };
 
@@ -223,6 +226,7 @@ function getResponseBody(
 
 function getResponseDescription(
   program: Program,
+  operation: Operation,
   responseType: Type,
   statusCode: string,
   bodyType: Type | undefined
@@ -241,5 +245,12 @@ function getResponseDescription(
     }
   }
 
+  const desc = isErrorModel(program, responseType)
+    ? getErrorsDoc(program, operation)
+    : getReturnsDoc(program, operation);
+  if (desc) {
+    return desc;
+  }
+
   return getStatusCodeDescription(statusCode);
 }
diff --git a/packages/http/test/response-descriptions.test.ts b/packages/http/test/response-descriptions.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd88321115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/http/test/response-descriptions.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import { expectDiagnosticEmpty } from "@typespec/compiler/testing";
+import { strictEqual } from "assert";
+import { getOperationsWithServiceNamespace } from "./test-host.js";
+
+describe("http: response descriptions", () => {
+  async function getHttpOp(code: string) {
+    const [ops, diagnostics] = await getOperationsWithServiceNamespace(code);
+    expectDiagnosticEmpty(diagnostics);
+    strictEqual(ops.length, 1);
+    return ops[0];
+  }
+
+  it("use a default message by status code if not specified", async () => {
+    const op = await getHttpOp(
+      `
+      op read(): {@statusCode _: 200, content: string};
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[0].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+  });
+
+  it("@returns set doc for all success responses", async () => {
+    const op = await getHttpOp(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @returnsDoc("A string")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[0].description, "A string");
+    strictEqual(op.responses[1].description, "A string");
+    strictEqual(op.responses[2].description, undefined);
+  });
+
+  it("@errors set doc for all success responses", async () => {
+    const op = await getHttpOp(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @errorsDoc("Generic error")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[0].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+    strictEqual(
+      op.responses[1].description,
+      "The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result."
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[2].description, "Generic error");
+  });
+
+  it("@doc explicitly on a response override the operation returns doc", async () => {
+    const op = await getHttpOp(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @error @doc("Not found model") model NotFound {@statusCode _: 404}
+      @errorsDoc("Generic error")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error | NotFound;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[0].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+    strictEqual(
+      op.responses[1].description,
+      "The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result."
+    );
+    strictEqual(op.responses[2].description, "Not found model");
+    strictEqual(op.responses[3].description, "Generic error");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/openapi3/test/response-descriptions.test.ts b/packages/openapi3/test/response-descriptions.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f20fd0e97a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/openapi3/test/response-descriptions.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { strictEqual } from "assert";
+import { openApiFor } from "./test-host.js";
+
+describe("openapi3: response descriptions", () => {
+  it("use a default message by status code if not specified", async () => {
+    const res = await openApiFor(
+      `
+      op read(): {@statusCode _: 200, content: string};
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["200"].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+  });
+
+  it("@returns set doc for all success responses", async () => {
+    const res = await openApiFor(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @returnsDoc("A string")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["200"].description, "A string");
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["201"].description, "A string");
+    strictEqual(
+      res.paths["/"].get.responses["default"].description,
+      "An unexpected error response."
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("@errors set doc for all success responses", async () => {
+    const res = await openApiFor(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @errorsDoc("Generic error")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["200"].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+    strictEqual(
+      res.paths["/"].get.responses["201"].description,
+      "The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result."
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["default"].description, "Generic error");
+  });
+
+  it("@doc explicitly on a response override the operation returns doc", async () => {
+    const res = await openApiFor(
+      `
+      @error model Error {}
+      @error @doc("Not found model") model NotFound {@statusCode _: 404}
+      @errorsDoc("Generic error")
+      op read(): { @statusCode _: 200, content: string } |  { @statusCode _: 201, content: string } | Error | NotFound;
+      `
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["200"].description, "The request has succeeded.");
+    strictEqual(
+      res.paths["/"].get.responses["201"].description,
+      "The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result."
+    );
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["404"].description, "Not found model");
+    strictEqual(res.paths["/"].get.responses["default"].description, "Generic error");
+  });
+});