Fredriksberg is centrally situated in western Svealand, close to the border between Dalecarlia and Värmland, with most larger towns and cities in the region, such as Borlänge, Karlstad, Örebro, Falun, Karlskoga and Mora on a distance of between 80 and 130 kilometres (50 and 80 mi).

Being one of the most popular destination for foreign visitors to Sweden, the tourism today stands for the main economic revenue for the town.

The townscape of Fredriksberg still today carries many remains of older industrial epochs, which has made the town to a popular target for urban exploration.

Smelteries and trip hammers were built on several locations, not only in Fredriksberg but also in Ulriksberg, Tyfors, Strömsdal and Gravendal, whereas the latter later would become the main actor in the area.

However, during the 19th century the forest processing came to play an increasingly bigger role as one of the town's main industries and a number of sawmills were built in the surroundings of Fredriksberg.

But already by 1916 the Gravendal Industries were overtaken by Hellefors AB (by this time a major player in central Sweden), which by that became the owner of the factories in Fredriksberg.

[8] The county-council-owned laundry were sold by 1998 to the Danish Berendsen group, and were closen in 2003 when the company chose to centralize its Swedish operations to Eskilstuna.

[8] Since the record years during the 1950s Fredriksberg has experienced a drastic population decrease, as a cause of unemployment, urbanisation and strongly streamlined heavy industries.

Cottages and an alpine skiing resort were created in Säfsbyn just east of the town in 1979, as a facility mainly owned labour union interests.

The central parts of the town also hosts the sports ground of Fredriksberg (where Säfsnäs IF plays their home games in football), the main bus terminal, a medical clinic, Folkets hus with cinema, rescue service and fire station.

The southern parts of the town consists mainly out of today's industrial district, with numerous smaller companies and the County Council-owned laundry (which reopened by the beginning of 2009).

There is also a memorial of the town's founder Sebastian Grave, a building museum by the local history association as well as the Fredriksberg Mansion, built in the 18th century.

The Säfsen Resort alpine skiing facility with 16 pistes by Mount Solberget close southeast of the district is also a popular tourist destination.