diff --git a/docs/rules/require-top-level-describe.md b/docs/rules/require-top-level-describe.md
index 7b314401e..389b8dbdb 100644
--- a/docs/rules/require-top-level-describe.md
+++ b/docs/rules/require-top-level-describe.md
@@ -47,6 +47,34 @@ describe('test suite', () => {
 });
 ```
 
+You can also enforce a limit on the number of describes allowed at the top-level
+using the `maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes` option:
+
+```json
+{
+  "jest/require-top-level-describe": [
+    "error",
+    {
+      "maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes": 2
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
+
+Examples of **incorrect** code with the above config:
+
+```js
+describe('test suite', () => {
+  it('test', () => {});
+});
+
+describe('test suite', () => {});
+
+describe('test suite', () => {});
+```
+
+This option defaults to `Infinity`, allowing any number of top-level describes.
+
 ## When Not To Use It
 
 Don't use this rule on non-jest test files.
diff --git a/src/rules/__tests__/require-top-level-describe.test.ts b/src/rules/__tests__/require-top-level-describe.test.ts
index b97d20a0b..0b072532f 100644
--- a/src/rules/__tests__/require-top-level-describe.test.ts
+++ b/src/rules/__tests__/require-top-level-describe.test.ts
@@ -112,3 +112,72 @@ ruleTester.run('require-top-level-describe', rule, {
     },
   ],
 });
+
+ruleTester.run(
+  'require-top-level-describe (enforce number of describes)',
+  rule,
+  {
+    valid: [
+      'describe("test suite", () => { test("my test") });',
+      'foo()',
+      'describe.each([1, true])("trues", value => { it("an it", () => expect(value).toBe(true) ); });',
+      dedent`
+        describe('one', () => {});
+        describe('two', () => {});
+        describe('three', () => {});
+      `,
+      {
+        code: dedent`
+          describe('one', () => {
+            describe('two', () => {});
+            describe('three', () => {});
+          });
+        `,
+        options: [{ maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: 1 }],
+      },
+    ],
+    invalid: [
+      {
+        code: dedent`
+          describe('one', () => {});
+          describe('two', () => {});
+          describe('three', () => {});
+        `,
+        options: [{ maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: 2 }],
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'tooManyDescribes', line: 3 }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: dedent`
+          describe('one', () => {
+            describe('one (nested)', () => {});
+            describe('two (nested)', () => {});
+          });
+          describe('two', () => {
+            describe('one (nested)', () => {});
+            describe('two (nested)', () => {});
+            describe('three (nested)', () => {});
+          });
+          describe('three', () => {
+            describe('one (nested)', () => {});
+            describe('two (nested)', () => {});
+            describe('three (nested)', () => {});
+          });
+        `,
+        options: [{ maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: 2 }],
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'tooManyDescribes', line: 10 }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: dedent`
+          describe('one', () => {});
+          describe('two', () => {});
+          describe('three', () => {});
+        `,
+        options: [{ maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: 1 }],
+        errors: [
+          { messageId: 'tooManyDescribes', line: 2 },
+          { messageId: 'tooManyDescribes', line: 3 },
+        ],
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+);
diff --git a/src/rules/require-top-level-describe.ts b/src/rules/require-top-level-describe.ts
index 73509c0f3..3377df5ce 100644
--- a/src/rules/require-top-level-describe.ts
+++ b/src/rules/require-top-level-describe.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
 import { TSESTree } from '@typescript-eslint/experimental-utils';
 import { createRule, isDescribeCall, isHook, isTestCaseCall } from './utils';
 
-export default createRule({
+const messages = {
+  tooManyDescribes:
+    'There should not be more than {{ max }} describe{{ s }} at the top level',
+  unexpectedTestCase: 'All test cases must be wrapped in a describe block.',
+  unexpectedHook: 'All hooks must be wrapped in a describe block.',
+};
+
+export default createRule<
+  [Partial<{ maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: number }>],
+  keyof typeof messages
+>({
   name: __filename,
   meta: {
     docs: {
@@ -10,15 +20,26 @@ export default createRule({
         'Require test cases and hooks to be inside a `describe` block',
       recommended: false,
     },
-    messages: {
-      unexpectedTestCase: 'All test cases must be wrapped in a describe block.',
-      unexpectedHook: 'All hooks must be wrapped in a describe block.',
-    },
+    messages,
     type: 'suggestion',
-    schema: [],
+    schema: [
+      {
+        type: 'object',
+        properties: {
+          maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes: {
+            type: 'number',
+            minimum: 1,
+          },
+        },
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      },
+    ],
   },
-  defaultOptions: [],
+  defaultOptions: [{}],
   create(context) {
+    const { maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes = Infinity } =
+      context.options[0] ?? {};
+    let numberOfTopLevelDescribeBlocks = 0;
     let numberOfDescribeBlocks = 0;
 
     return {
@@ -26,6 +47,20 @@ export default createRule({
         if (isDescribeCall(node)) {
           numberOfDescribeBlocks++;
 
+          if (numberOfDescribeBlocks === 1) {
+            numberOfTopLevelDescribeBlocks++;
+            if (numberOfTopLevelDescribeBlocks > maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes) {
+              context.report({
+                node,
+                messageId: 'tooManyDescribes',
+                data: {
+                  max: maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes,
+                  s: maxNumberOfTopLevelDescribes === 1 ? '' : 's',
+                },
+              });
+            }
+          }
+
           return;
         }