The district is named after the town of Braintree, where the council is based.

The district also includes the towns of Halstead and Witham and surrounding rural areas.

The neighbouring districts are Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford, Uttlesford, South Cambridgeshire, West Suffolk, and Babergh.

Much of the district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

The council has its headquarters at Causeway House on Bocking End in Braintree.