Shutonia variabilis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae, the turrids and allies.

The shell contains eight whorls, of which about 2 (if normal) form a smooth, slightly inflated, reddish-brown protoconch.

The subsequent whorls are subangular, concave in their upper part and separated by a conspicuous waved suture.

The part of the last whorl below the keel shows more or less conspicuous spirals, which vary from regular flat lirae to more irregular riblike ones.

The columellar margin is nearly straight, only slightly concave above, ending in a rather long, narrow siphonal canal, covered with a thin layer of enamel.