diff --git a/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.html b/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.html
index 7570d82e9a02..9eca2d0bcd0e 100644
--- a/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.html
+++ b/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.html
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
   <div class="mat-calendar-controls">
     <button mat-button type="button" class="mat-calendar-period-button"
             (click)="currentPeriodClicked()" [attr.aria-label]="periodButtonLabel"
-            [attr.aria-describedby]="_buttonDescriptionId"
-            aria-live="polite">
-      <span [attr.id]="_buttonDescriptionId">{{periodButtonText}}</span>
+            [attr.aria-description]="periodButtonDescription" aria-live="polite">
+      <span [attr.id]="_buttonDescriptionId" aria-hidden="true">
+        {{periodButtonText}}
+      </span>
       <svg class="mat-calendar-arrow" [class.mat-calendar-invert]="calendar.currentView !== 'month'"
-           viewBox="0 0 10 5" focusable="false">
+           viewBox="0 0 10 5" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true">
            <polygon points="0,0 5,5 10,0"/>
       </svg>
     </button>
diff --git a/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.spec.ts b/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.spec.ts
index 7c8ed1260d35..bdb08e8586c5 100644
--- a/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/datepicker/calendar-header.spec.ts
@@ -191,10 +191,16 @@ describe('MatCalendarHeader', () => {
     });
 
     it('should label and describe period button for assistive technology', () => {
-      const description = periodButton.querySelector('span[id]');
+      expect(calendarInstance.currentView).toBe('month');
+
+      periodButton.click();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(calendarInstance.currentView).toBe('multi-year');
       expect(periodButton.hasAttribute('aria-label')).toBe(true);
-      expect(periodButton.hasAttribute('aria-describedby')).toBe(true);
-      expect(periodButton.getAttribute('aria-describedby')).toBe(description?.getAttribute('id')!);
+      expect(periodButton.getAttribute('aria-label')).toMatch(/^[a-z0-9\s]+$/i);
+      expect(periodButton.hasAttribute('aria-description')).toBe(true);
+      expect(periodButton.getAttribute('aria-description')).toMatch(/^[a-z0-9\s]+$/i);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/material/datepicker/calendar.ts b/src/material/datepicker/calendar.ts
index 616c769d8c72..f6b219c212d6 100644
--- a/src/material/datepicker/calendar.ts
+++ b/src/material/datepicker/calendar.ts
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export class MatCalendarHeader<D> {
     this.calendar.stateChanges.subscribe(() => changeDetectorRef.markForCheck());
   }
 
-  /** The label for the current calendar view. */
+  /** The display text for the current calendar view. */
   get periodButtonText(): string {
     if (this.calendar.currentView == 'month') {
       return this._dateAdapter
@@ -82,28 +82,25 @@ export class MatCalendarHeader<D> {
       return this._dateAdapter.getYearName(this.calendar.activeDate);
     }
 
-    // The offset from the active year to the "slot" for the starting year is the
-    // *actual* first rendered year in the multi-year view, and the last year is
-    // just yearsPerPage - 1 away.
-    const activeYear = this._dateAdapter.getYear(this.calendar.activeDate);
-    const minYearOfPage =
-      activeYear -
-      getActiveOffset(
-        this._dateAdapter,
-        this.calendar.activeDate,
-        this.calendar.minDate,
-        this.calendar.maxDate,
-      );
-    const maxYearOfPage = minYearOfPage + yearsPerPage - 1;
-    const minYearName = this._dateAdapter.getYearName(
-      this._dateAdapter.createDate(minYearOfPage, 0, 1),
-    );
-    const maxYearName = this._dateAdapter.getYearName(
-      this._dateAdapter.createDate(maxYearOfPage, 0, 1),
-    );
+    const [minYearName, maxYearName] = this._getMinMaxYearNames();
     return this._intl.formatYearRange(minYearName, maxYearName);
   }
 
+  /* The aria desciprtion of the current calendar view. */
+  get periodButtonDescription(): string {
+    if (this.calendar.currentView == 'month') {
+      return this._dateAdapter
+        .format(this.calendar.activeDate, this._dateFormats.display.monthYearLabel)
+        .toLocaleUpperCase();
+    }
+    if (this.calendar.currentView == 'year') {
+      return this._dateAdapter.getYearName(this.calendar.activeDate);
+    }
+
+    const [minYearName, maxYearName] = this._getMinMaxYearNames();
+    return this._intl.formatYearRangeLabel(minYearName, maxYearName);
+  }
+
   get periodButtonLabel(): string {
     return this.calendar.currentView == 'month'
       ? this._intl.switchToMultiYearViewLabel
@@ -192,6 +189,30 @@ export class MatCalendarHeader<D> {
       this.calendar.maxDate,
     );
   }
+
+  private _getMinMaxYearNames(): [string, string] {
+    // The offset from the active year to the "slot" for the starting year is the
+    // *actual* first rendered year in the multi-year view, and the last year is
+    // just yearsPerPage - 1 away.
+    const activeYear = this._dateAdapter.getYear(this.calendar.activeDate);
+    const minYearOfPage =
+      activeYear -
+      getActiveOffset(
+        this._dateAdapter,
+        this.calendar.activeDate,
+        this.calendar.minDate,
+        this.calendar.maxDate,
+      );
+    const maxYearOfPage = minYearOfPage + yearsPerPage - 1;
+    const minYearName = this._dateAdapter.getYearName(
+      this._dateAdapter.createDate(minYearOfPage, 0, 1),
+    );
+    const maxYearName = this._dateAdapter.getYearName(
+      this._dateAdapter.createDate(maxYearOfPage, 0, 1),
+    );
+
+    return [minYearName, maxYearName];
+  }
 }
 
 /** A calendar that is used as part of the datepicker. */
diff --git a/src/material/datepicker/datepicker-intl.ts b/src/material/datepicker/datepicker-intl.ts
index 6e82b95d714f..7140b5750fd1 100644
--- a/src/material/datepicker/datepicker-intl.ts
+++ b/src/material/datepicker/datepicker-intl.ts
@@ -51,8 +51,13 @@ export class MatDatepickerIntl {
   /** A label for the 'switch to year view' button (used by screen readers). */
   switchToMultiYearViewLabel: string = 'Choose month and year';
 
-  /** Formats a range of years. */
+  /* Formats a range of years (used only for visuals). */
   formatYearRange(start: string, end: string): string {
     return `${start} \u2013 ${end}`;
   }
+
+  /** Formats a range of years (used by screen readers). */
+  formatYearRangeLabel(start: string, end: string): string {
+    return `${start} to ${end}`;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/datepicker.md b/tools/public_api_guard/material/datepicker.md
index 8ac9e6557fbd..9596f814e42a 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/datepicker.md
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/datepicker.md
@@ -290,6 +290,8 @@ export class MatCalendarHeader<D> {
     nextClicked(): void;
     nextEnabled(): boolean;
     // (undocumented)
+    get periodButtonDescription(): string;
+    // (undocumented)
     get periodButtonLabel(): string;
     get periodButtonText(): string;
     get prevButtonLabel(): string;
@@ -525,7 +527,9 @@ export class MatDatepickerIntl {
     calendarLabel: string;
     readonly changes: Subject<void>;
     closeCalendarLabel: string;
+    // (undocumented)
     formatYearRange(start: string, end: string): string;
+    formatYearRangeLabel(start: string, end: string): string;
     nextMonthLabel: string;
     nextMultiYearLabel: string;
     nextYearLabel: string;