Found mainly in the northern parts of Europe East to Siberia and north-east Asia.

The distribution of this species is Holarctic: This small snail lives on water plants in freshwater.

It favours sunny clean and silent shallow water zones with moderately rich vegetation.

It is often found in undisturbed waters which are eutrophic but with a rich oxygen contents, Gyraulus laevis is also as a pioneer species (in lake margins that are in the process of becoming land) For terms see gastropod shell.

The colour is horn brown and the surface is shiny, irregularly striated and with no spiral sculpture.