diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 51ca552dcf52..accab0fc74f8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 ### Fixes
 
+- `[expect]` Display expectedDiff more carefully in toBeCloseTo ([#8389](https://github.com/facebook/jest/pull/8389))
 - `[jest-fake-timers]` `getTimerCount` will not include cancelled immediates ([#8764](https://github.com/facebook/jest/pull/8764))
 
 ### Chore & Maintenance
diff --git a/packages/expect/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/matchers.test.js.snap b/packages/expect/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/matchers.test.js.snap
index 45aa734410be..9c018a897cee 100644
--- a/packages/expect/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/matchers.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/expect/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/matchers.test.js.snap
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ Expected: <green>false</>
 Received: <red>true</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: false} expect(-Infinity)toBeCloseTo( -1.23) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(-Infinity).toBeCloseTo(-1.23) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: <green>-1.23</>
@@ -480,7 +480,62 @@ Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:   <red>Infinity</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: false} expect(Infinity)toBeCloseTo( -Infinity) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0.01) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
+
+Expected: <green>0.01</>
+Received: <red>0</>
+
+Expected precision:    2
+Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
+Received difference:   <red>0.01</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(1).toBeCloseTo(1.23) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
+
+Expected: <green>1.23</>
+Received: <red>1</>
+
+Expected precision:    2
+Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
+Received difference:   <red>0.22999999999999998</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(1.23).toBeCloseTo(1.2249999) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
+
+Expected: <green>1.2249999</>
+Received: <red>1.23</>
+
+Expected precision:    2
+Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
+Received difference:   <red>0.005000099999999952</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(3.141592e-7).toBeCloseTo(3e-7, 8) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
+
+Expected: <green>3e-7</>
+Received: <red>3.141592e-7</>
+
+Expected precision:    8
+Expected difference: < <green>5e-9</>
+Received difference:   <red>1.4159200000000025e-8</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(56789).toBeCloseTo(51234, -4) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
+
+Expected: <green>51234</>
+Received: <red>56789</>
+
+Expected precision:    -4
+Expected difference: < <green>5000</>
+Received difference:   <red>5555</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(Infinity).toBeCloseTo(-Infinity) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: <green>-Infinity</>
@@ -491,7 +546,7 @@ Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:   <red>Infinity</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: false} expect(Infinity)toBeCloseTo( 1.23) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: false} expect(Infinity).toBeCloseTo(1.23) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: <green>1.23</>
@@ -502,21 +557,43 @@ Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:   <red>Infinity</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(-Infinity)toBeCloseTo( -Infinity) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(-Infinity).toBeCloseTo(-Infinity) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>-Infinity</>
 "
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(0)toBeCloseTo( 0) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>0</>
 "
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(0)toBeCloseTo( 0.001) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0.000004, 5) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
+
+Expected: not <green>0.000004</>
+Received:     <red>0</>
+
+Expected precision:        5
+Expected difference: not < <green>0.000005</>
+Received difference:       <red>0.000004</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0.0001, 3) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
+
+Expected: not <green>0.0001</>
+Received:     <red>0</>
+
+Expected precision:        3
+Expected difference: not < <green>0.0005</>
+Received difference:       <red>0.0001</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0.001) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>0.001</>
@@ -527,7 +604,18 @@ Expected difference: not < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:       <red>0.001</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(1.23)toBeCloseTo( 1.225) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(0).toBeCloseTo(0.1, 0) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
+
+Expected: not <green>0.1</>
+Received:     <red>0</>
+
+Expected precision:        0
+Expected difference: not < <green>0.5</>
+Received difference:       <red>0.1</>"
+`;
+
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(1.23).toBeCloseTo(1.225) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>1.225</>
@@ -538,7 +626,7 @@ Expected difference: not < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:       <red>0.004999999999999893</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(1.23)toBeCloseTo( 1.226) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(1.23).toBeCloseTo(1.226) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>1.226</>
@@ -549,7 +637,7 @@ Expected difference: not < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:       <red>0.0040000000000000036</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(1.23)toBeCloseTo( 1.229) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(1.23).toBeCloseTo(1.229) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>1.229</>
@@ -560,7 +648,7 @@ Expected difference: not < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:       <red>0.0009999999999998899</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(1.23)toBeCloseTo( 1.234) 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(1.23).toBeCloseTo(1.234) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 Expected: not <green>1.234</>
@@ -571,80 +659,25 @@ Expected difference: not < <green>0.005</>
 Received difference:       <red>0.0040000000000000036</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() {pass: true} expect(Infinity)toBeCloseTo( Infinity) 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
-
-Expected: not <green>Infinity</>
-"
-`;
-
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() accepts an optional precision argument: [0, 0.000004, 5] 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(2.0000002).toBeCloseTo(2, 5) 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
 
-Expected: not <green>0.000004</>
-Received:     <red>0</>
+Expected: not <green>2</>
+Received:     <red>2.0000002</>
 
 Expected precision:        5
-Expected difference: not < <green>0.000005</>
-Received difference:       <red>0.000004</>"
+Expected difference: not < <green>5e-6</>
+Received difference:       <red>2.0000000011677344e-7</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() accepts an optional precision argument: [0, 0.0001, 3] 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
-
-Expected: not <green>0.0001</>
-Received:     <red>0</>
-
-Expected precision:        3
-Expected difference: not < <green>0.0005</>
-Received difference:       <red>0.0001</>"
-`;
-
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() accepts an optional precision argument: [0, 0.1, 0] 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
-
-Expected: not <green>0.1</>
-Received:     <red>0</>
-
-Expected precision:        0
-Expected difference: not < <green>0.5</>
-Received difference:       <red>0.1</>"
-`;
-
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: [0, 0.01] 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
-
-Expected: <green>0.01</>
-Received: <red>0</>
-
-Expected precision:    2
-Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
-Received difference:   <red>0.01</>"
-`;
-
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: [1, 1.23] 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
-
-Expected: <green>1.23</>
-Received: <red>1</>
-
-Expected precision:    2
-Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
-Received difference:   <red>0.22999999999999998</>"
-`;
-
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: [1.23, 1.2249999] 1`] = `
-"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
-
-Expected: <green>1.2249999</>
-Received: <red>1.23</>
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo {pass: true} expect(Infinity).toBeCloseTo(Infinity) 1`] = `
+"<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
-Expected precision:    2
-Expected difference: < <green>0.005</>
-Received difference:   <red>0.005000099999999952</>"
+Expected: not <green>Infinity</>
+"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise empty isNot false received 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise empty isNot false received 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <red>received</> value must be a number
@@ -653,7 +686,7 @@ Received has type:  string
 Received has value: <red>\\"\\"</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise empty isNot true expected 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise empty isNot true expected 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <green>expected</> value must be a number
@@ -661,7 +694,7 @@ exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise empty isNot true expected
 Expected has value: <green>undefined</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise rejects isNot false expected 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise rejects isNot false expected 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>rejects<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <green>expected</> value must be a number
@@ -670,7 +703,7 @@ Expected has type:  string
 Expected has value: <green>\\"0\\"</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise rejects isNot true received 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise rejects isNot true received 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>rejects<dim>.</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <red>received</> value must be a number
@@ -679,7 +712,7 @@ Received has type:  symbol
 Received has value: <red>Symbol(0.1)</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise resolves isNot false received 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise resolves isNot false received 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>resolves<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <red>received</> value must be a number
@@ -688,7 +721,7 @@ Received has type:  boolean
 Received has value: <red>false</>"
 `;
 
-exports[`.toBeCloseTo() throws: Matcher error promise resolves isNot true expected 1`] = `
+exports[`.toBeCloseTo throws: Matcher error promise resolves isNot true expected 1`] = `
 "<dim>expect(</><red>received</><dim>).</>resolves<dim>.</>not<dim>.</>toBeCloseTo<dim>(</><green>expected</><dim>, </>precision<dim>)</>
 
 <bold>Matcher error</>: <green>expected</> value must be a number
diff --git a/packages/expect/src/__tests__/matchers.test.js b/packages/expect/src/__tests__/matchers.test.js
index e7b683898e43..a4cbb0800e9b 100644
--- a/packages/expect/src/__tests__/matchers.test.js
+++ b/packages/expect/src/__tests__/matchers.test.js
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ describe('.toContain(), .toContainEqual()', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe('.toBeCloseTo()', () => {
+describe('.toBeCloseTo', () => {
   [
     [0, 0],
     [0, 0.001],
@@ -1118,8 +1118,10 @@ describe('.toBeCloseTo()', () => {
     [1.23, 1.226],
     [1.23, 1.225],
     [1.23, 1.234],
+    [Infinity, Infinity],
+    [-Infinity, -Infinity],
   ].forEach(([n1, n2]) => {
-    it(`{pass: true} expect(${n1})toBeCloseTo( ${n2})`, () => {
+    it(`{pass: true} expect(${n1}).toBeCloseTo(${n2})`, () => {
       jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2);
 
       expect(() =>
@@ -1128,48 +1130,45 @@ describe('.toBeCloseTo()', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  [[0, 0.01], [1, 1.23], [1.23, 1.2249999]].forEach(([n1, n2]) => {
-    it(`throws: [${n1}, ${n2}]`, () => {
+  [
+    [0, 0.01],
+    [1, 1.23],
+    [1.23, 1.2249999],
+    [Infinity, -Infinity],
+    [Infinity, 1.23],
+    [-Infinity, -1.23],
+  ].forEach(([n1, n2]) => {
+    it(`{pass: false} expect(${n1}).toBeCloseTo(${n2})`, () => {
+      jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2);
+
       expect(() =>
         jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2),
       ).toThrowErrorMatchingSnapshot();
-
-      jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2);
     });
   });
 
-  [[Infinity, Infinity], [-Infinity, -Infinity]].forEach(([n1, n2]) => {
-    it(`{pass: true} expect(${n1})toBeCloseTo( ${n2})`, () => {
-      jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2);
+  [[3.141592e-7, 3e-7, 8], [56789, 51234, -4]].forEach(([n1, n2, p]) => {
+    it(`{pass: false} expect(${n1}).toBeCloseTo(${n2}, ${p})`, () => {
+      jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2, p);
 
       expect(() =>
-        jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2),
+        jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2, p),
       ).toThrowErrorMatchingSnapshot();
     });
   });
 
-  [[Infinity, -Infinity], [Infinity, 1.23], [-Infinity, -1.23]].forEach(
-    ([n1, n2]) => {
-      it(`{pass: false} expect(${n1})toBeCloseTo( ${n2})`, () => {
-        jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2);
+  [[0, 0.1, 0], [0, 0.0001, 3], [0, 0.000004, 5], [2.0000002, 2, 5]].forEach(
+    ([n1, n2, p]) => {
+      it(`{pass: true} expect(${n1}).toBeCloseTo(${n2}, ${p})`, () => {
+        jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2, p);
 
         expect(() =>
-          jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2),
+          jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2, p),
         ).toThrowErrorMatchingSnapshot();
       });
     },
   );
 
-  [[0, 0.1, 0], [0, 0.0001, 3], [0, 0.000004, 5]].forEach(([n1, n2, p]) => {
-    it(`accepts an optional precision argument: [${n1}, ${n2}, ${p}]`, () => {
-      jestExpect(n1).toBeCloseTo(n2, p);
-
-      expect(() =>
-        jestExpect(n1).not.toBeCloseTo(n2, p),
-      ).toThrowErrorMatchingSnapshot();
-    });
-  });
-
   describe('throws: Matcher error', () => {
     test('promise empty isNot false received', () => {
       const precision = 3;
diff --git a/packages/expect/src/matchers.ts b/packages/expect/src/matchers.ts
index c9ee95c4f670..c461fee88464 100644
--- a/packages/expect/src/matchers.ts
+++ b/packages/expect/src/matchers.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 } from 'jest-matcher-utils';
 import {MatcherState, MatchersObject} from './types';
 import {
+  printCloseTo,
   printExpectedConstructorName,
   printExpectedConstructorNameNot,
   printReceivedArrayContainExpectedItem,
@@ -129,8 +130,9 @@ const matchers: MatchersObject = {
   ) {
     const matcherName = 'toBeCloseTo';
     const secondArgument = arguments.length === 3 ? 'precision' : undefined;
+    const isNot = this.isNot;
     const options: MatcherHintOptions = {
-      isNot: this.isNot,
+      isNot,
       promise: this.promise,
       secondArgument,
       secondArgumentColor: (arg: string) => arg,
@@ -160,18 +162,14 @@ const matchers: MatchersObject = {
             ? ''
             : `Received:     ${printReceived(received)}\n` +
               '\n' +
-              `Expected precision:        ${stringify(precision)}\n` +
-              `Expected difference: not < ${printExpected(expectedDiff)}\n` +
-              `Received difference:       ${printReceived(receivedDiff)}`)
+              printCloseTo(receivedDiff, expectedDiff, precision, isNot))
       : () =>
           matcherHint(matcherName, undefined, undefined, options) +
           '\n\n' +
           `Expected: ${printExpected(expected)}\n` +
           `Received: ${printReceived(received)}\n` +
           '\n' +
-          `Expected precision:    ${stringify(precision)}\n` +
-          `Expected difference: < ${printExpected(expectedDiff)}\n` +
-          `Received difference:   ${printReceived(receivedDiff)}`;
+          printCloseTo(receivedDiff, expectedDiff, precision, isNot);
 
     return {message, pass};
   },
diff --git a/packages/expect/src/print.ts b/packages/expect/src/print.ts
index aa03601398d8..10aac847cf75 100644
--- a/packages/expect/src/print.ts
+++ b/packages/expect/src/print.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,34 @@ export const printReceivedArrayContainExpectedItem = (
       ']',
   );
 
+export const printCloseTo = (
+  receivedDiff: number,
+  expectedDiff: number,
+  precision: number,
+  isNot: boolean,
+): string => {
+  const receivedDiffString = stringify(receivedDiff);
+  const expectedDiffString = receivedDiffString.includes('e')
+    ? // toExponential arg is number of digits after the decimal point.
+      expectedDiff.toExponential(0)
+    : 0 <= precision && precision < 20
+    ? // toFixed arg is number of digits after the decimal point.
+      // It may be a value between 0 and 20 inclusive.
+      // Implementations may optionally support a larger range of values.
+      expectedDiff.toFixed(precision + 1)
+    : stringify(expectedDiff);
+
+  return (
+    `Expected precision:  ${isNot ? '    ' : ''}  ${stringify(precision)}\n` +
+    `Expected difference: ${isNot ? 'not ' : ''}< ${EXPECTED_COLOR(
+      expectedDiffString,
+    )}\n` +
+    `Received difference: ${isNot ? '    ' : ''}  ${RECEIVED_COLOR(
+      receivedDiffString,
+    )}`
+  );
+};
+
 export const printExpectedConstructorName = (
   label: string,
   expected: Function,