diff --git a/crates/ruff_cli/src/args.rs b/crates/ruff_cli/src/args.rs
index 0199d2f552..1050aafcbf 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_cli/src/args.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_cli/src/args.rs
@@ -35,11 +35,17 @@ pub struct Args {
 pub enum Command {
     /// Run Ruff on the given files or directories (default).
     Check(CheckArgs),
-    /// Explain a rule.
+    /// Explain a rule (or all rules).
     #[clap(alias = "--explain")]
+    #[command(group = clap::ArgGroup::new("selector").multiple(false).required(true))]
     Rule {
-        #[arg(value_parser=Rule::from_code)]
-        rule: Rule,
+        /// Rule to explain
+        #[arg(value_parser=Rule::from_code, group = "selector")]
+        rule: Option<Rule>,
+
+        /// Explain all rules
+        #[arg(long, conflicts_with = "rule", group = "selector")]
+        all: bool,
 
         /// Output format
         #[arg(long, value_enum, default_value = "text")]
diff --git a/crates/ruff_cli/src/commands/rule.rs b/crates/ruff_cli/src/commands/rule.rs
index 9cd41e7bb2..a16ec4622b 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_cli/src/commands/rule.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_cli/src/commands/rule.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use std::io::{self, BufWriter, Write};
 
 use anyhow::Result;
-use serde::Serialize;
+use serde::ser::SerializeSeq;
+use serde::{Serialize, Serializer};
+use strum::IntoEnumIterator;
 
 use ruff::registry::{Linter, Rule, RuleNamespace};
 use ruff_diagnostics::AutofixKind;
@@ -11,72 +13,106 @@ use crate::args::HelpFormat;
 #[derive(Serialize)]
 struct Explanation<'a> {
     name: &'a str,
-    code: &'a str,
+    code: String,
     linter: &'a str,
     summary: &'a str,
     message_formats: &'a [&'a str],
-    autofix: &'a str,
+    autofix: String,
     explanation: Option<&'a str>,
+    nursery: bool,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Explanation<'a> {
+    fn from_rule(rule: &'a Rule) -> Self {
+        let code = rule.noqa_code().to_string();
+        let (linter, _) = Linter::parse_code(&code).unwrap();
+        let autofix = rule.autofixable().to_string();
+        Self {
+            name: rule.as_ref(),
+            code,
+            linter: linter.name(),
+            summary: rule.message_formats()[0],
+            message_formats: rule.message_formats(),
+            autofix,
+            explanation: rule.explanation(),
+            nursery: rule.is_nursery(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn format_rule_text(rule: Rule) -> String {
+    let mut output = String::new();
+    output.push_str(&format!("# {} ({})", rule.as_ref(), rule.noqa_code()));
+    output.push('\n');
+    output.push('\n');
+
+    let (linter, _) = Linter::parse_code(&rule.noqa_code().to_string()).unwrap();
+    output.push_str(&format!("Derived from the **{}** linter.", linter.name()));
+    output.push('\n');
+    output.push('\n');
+
+    let autofix = rule.autofixable();
+    if matches!(autofix, AutofixKind::Always | AutofixKind::Sometimes) {
+        output.push_str(&autofix.to_string());
+        output.push('\n');
+        output.push('\n');
+    }
+
+    if rule.is_nursery() {
+        output.push_str(&format!(
+            r#"This rule is part of the **nursery**, a collection of newer lints that are
+still under development. As such, it must be enabled by explicitly selecting
+{}."#,
+            rule.noqa_code()
+        ));
+        output.push('\n');
+        output.push('\n');
+    }
+
+    if let Some(explanation) = rule.explanation() {
+        output.push_str(explanation.trim());
+    } else {
+        output.push_str("Message formats:");
+        for format in rule.message_formats() {
+            output.push('\n');
+            output.push_str(&format!("* {format}"));
+        }
+    }
+    output
 }
 
 /// Explain a `Rule` to the user.
 pub(crate) fn rule(rule: Rule, format: HelpFormat) -> Result<()> {
-    let (linter, _) = Linter::parse_code(&rule.noqa_code().to_string()).unwrap();
     let mut stdout = BufWriter::new(io::stdout().lock());
-    let mut output = String::new();
-
     match format {
         HelpFormat::Text => {
-            output.push_str(&format!("# {} ({})", rule.as_ref(), rule.noqa_code()));
-            output.push('\n');
-            output.push('\n');
+            writeln!(stdout, "{}", format_rule_text(rule))?;
+        }
+        HelpFormat::Json => {
+            serde_json::to_writer_pretty(stdout, &Explanation::from_rule(&rule))?;
+        }
+    };
+    Ok(())
+}
 
-            output.push_str(&format!("Derived from the **{}** linter.", linter.name()));
-            output.push('\n');
-            output.push('\n');
-
-            let autofix = rule.autofixable();
-            if matches!(autofix, AutofixKind::Always | AutofixKind::Sometimes) {
-                output.push_str(&autofix.to_string());
-                output.push('\n');
-                output.push('\n');
-            }
-
-            if rule.is_nursery() {
-                output.push_str(&format!(
-                    r#"This rule is part of the **nursery**, a collection of newer lints that are
-still under development. As such, it must be enabled by explicitly selecting
-{}."#,
-                    rule.noqa_code()
-                ));
-                output.push('\n');
-                output.push('\n');
-            }
-
-            if let Some(explanation) = rule.explanation() {
-                output.push_str(explanation.trim());
-            } else {
-                output.push_str("Message formats:");
-                for format in rule.message_formats() {
-                    output.push('\n');
-                    output.push_str(&format!("* {format}"));
-                }
+/// Explain all rules to the user.
+pub(crate) fn rules(format: HelpFormat) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut stdout = BufWriter::new(io::stdout().lock());
+    match format {
+        HelpFormat::Text => {
+            for rule in Rule::iter() {
+                writeln!(stdout, "{}", format_rule_text(rule))?;
+                writeln!(stdout)?;
             }
         }
         HelpFormat::Json => {
-            output.push_str(&serde_json::to_string_pretty(&Explanation {
-                name: rule.as_ref(),
-                code: &rule.noqa_code().to_string(),
-                linter: linter.name(),
-                summary: rule.message_formats()[0],
-                message_formats: rule.message_formats(),
-                autofix: &rule.autofixable().to_string(),
-                explanation: rule.explanation(),
-            })?);
+            let mut serializer = serde_json::Serializer::pretty(stdout);
+            let mut seq = serializer.serialize_seq(None)?;
+            for rule in Rule::iter() {
+                seq.serialize_element(&Explanation::from_rule(&rule))?;
+            }
+            seq.end()?;
         }
-    };
-
-    writeln!(stdout, "{output}")?;
-
+    }
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/ruff_cli/src/lib.rs b/crates/ruff_cli/src/lib.rs
index 90d705b286..edfb43f5de 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_cli/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_cli/src/lib.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,14 @@ quoting the executed command, along with the relevant file contents and `pyproje
     set_up_logging(&log_level)?;
 
     match command {
-        Command::Rule { rule, format } => commands::rule::rule(rule, format)?,
+        Command::Rule { rule, all, format } => {
+            if all {
+                commands::rule::rules(format)?;
+            }
+            if let Some(rule) = rule {
+                commands::rule::rule(rule, format)?;
+            }
+        }
         Command::Config { option } => return Ok(commands::config::config(option.as_deref())),
         Command::Linter { format } => commands::linter::linter(format)?,
         Command::Clean => commands::clean::clean(log_level)?,
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index a64bef7a50..3575253ed7 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ Usage: ruff [OPTIONS] <COMMAND>
 
 Commands:
   check   Run Ruff on the given files or directories (default)
-  rule    Explain a rule
+  rule    Explain a rule (or all rules)
   config  List or describe the available configuration options
   linter  List all supported upstream linters
   clean   Clear any caches in the current directory and any subdirectories