diff --git a/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py
index 0d60f3f6b52..7bc2306d418 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/light/__init__.py
@@ -398,8 +398,8 @@ class Light(ToggleEntity):
         return None
 
     @property
-    def state_attributes(self):
-        """Return optional state attributes."""
+    def capability_attributes(self):
+        """Return capability attributes."""
         data = {}
         supported_features = self.supported_features
 
@@ -410,25 +410,35 @@ class Light(ToggleEntity):
         if supported_features & SUPPORT_EFFECT:
             data[ATTR_EFFECT_LIST] = self.effect_list
 
-        if self.is_on:
-            if supported_features & SUPPORT_BRIGHTNESS:
-                data[ATTR_BRIGHTNESS] = self.brightness
+        return data
 
-            if supported_features & SUPPORT_COLOR_TEMP:
-                data[ATTR_COLOR_TEMP] = self.color_temp
+    @property
+    def state_attributes(self):
+        """Return state attributes."""
+        if not self.is_on:
+            return None
 
-            if supported_features & SUPPORT_COLOR and self.hs_color:
-                # pylint: disable=unsubscriptable-object,not-an-iterable
-                hs_color = self.hs_color
-                data[ATTR_HS_COLOR] = (round(hs_color[0], 3), round(hs_color[1], 3))
-                data[ATTR_RGB_COLOR] = color_util.color_hs_to_RGB(*hs_color)
-                data[ATTR_XY_COLOR] = color_util.color_hs_to_xy(*hs_color)
+        data = {}
+        supported_features = self.supported_features
 
-            if supported_features & SUPPORT_WHITE_VALUE:
-                data[ATTR_WHITE_VALUE] = self.white_value
+        if supported_features & SUPPORT_BRIGHTNESS:
+            data[ATTR_BRIGHTNESS] = self.brightness
 
-            if supported_features & SUPPORT_EFFECT:
-                data[ATTR_EFFECT] = self.effect
+        if supported_features & SUPPORT_COLOR_TEMP:
+            data[ATTR_COLOR_TEMP] = self.color_temp
+
+        if supported_features & SUPPORT_COLOR and self.hs_color:
+            # pylint: disable=unsubscriptable-object,not-an-iterable
+            hs_color = self.hs_color
+            data[ATTR_HS_COLOR] = (round(hs_color[0], 3), round(hs_color[1], 3))
+            data[ATTR_RGB_COLOR] = color_util.color_hs_to_RGB(*hs_color)
+            data[ATTR_XY_COLOR] = color_util.color_hs_to_xy(*hs_color)
+
+        if supported_features & SUPPORT_WHITE_VALUE:
+            data[ATTR_WHITE_VALUE] = self.white_value
+
+        if supported_features & SUPPORT_EFFECT:
+            data[ATTR_EFFECT] = self.effect
 
         return {key: val for key, val in data.items() if val is not None}
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py b/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py
index 1805c6bd74b..ed656061401 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py
@@ -144,6 +144,17 @@ class Entity(ABC):
         """Return the state of the entity."""
         return STATE_UNKNOWN
 
+    @property
+    def capability_attributes(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return the capability attributes.
+
+        Attributes that explain the capabilities of an entity.
+
+        Implemented by component base class. Convention for attribute names
+        is lowercase snake_case.
+        """
+        return None
+
     @property
     def state_attributes(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """Return the state attributes.
@@ -302,7 +313,7 @@ class Entity(ABC):
 
         start = timer()
 
-        attr = {}
+        attr = self.capability_attributes or {}
         if not self.available:
             state = STATE_UNAVAILABLE
         else:
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_entity.py b/tests/helpers/test_entity.py
index 9d05920f78b..cd852f5bfc0 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_entity.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_entity.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import pytest
 
 from homeassistant.helpers import entity, entity_registry
 from homeassistant.core import Context
-from homeassistant.const import ATTR_HIDDEN, ATTR_DEVICE_CLASS
+from homeassistant.const import ATTR_HIDDEN, ATTR_DEVICE_CLASS, STATE_UNAVAILABLE
 from homeassistant.config import DATA_CUSTOMIZE
 from homeassistant.helpers.entity_values import EntityValues
 
@@ -641,3 +641,23 @@ async def test_disabled_in_entity_registry(hass):
     assert entry3 != entry2
     assert ent.registry_entry == entry3
     assert ent.enabled is False
+
+
+async def test_capability_attrs(hass):
+    """Test we still include capabilities even when unavailable."""
+    with patch.object(
+        entity.Entity, "available", PropertyMock(return_value=False)
+    ), patch.object(
+        entity.Entity,
+        "capability_attributes",
+        PropertyMock(return_value={"always": "there"}),
+    ):
+        ent = entity.Entity()
+        ent.hass = hass
+        ent.entity_id = "hello.world"
+        ent.async_write_ha_state()
+
+    state = hass.states.get("hello.world")
+    assert state is not None
+    assert state.state == STATE_UNAVAILABLE
+    assert state.attributes["always"] == "there"