A closely related species, Badumna longinqua, the grey house spider, has a similar distribution, but has also been introduced to the Americas.

As with most spiders, the males are smaller (10 mm) and have longer legs in relation to their body size.

In both sexes, the carapace and legs are dark brown to black, and the abdomen is charcoal grey with a dorsal pattern of light markings (sometimes indistinct) and a dense covering of fine, velvety hair.

There is a funnel-shaped, silken retreat, usually in the middle or corner of the web, where the spider spends most of its time waiting for prey.

[4] The female constructs several white silk egg sacs, which are secured within the web retreat.

The spiderlings may then disperse or remain in the web of the mother for some time, catching the smaller prey that the larger spider would ignore.