The neighboring provinces are (clockwise, from the north) Tak, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Ratchaburi.

The province is in the west of Thailand, 129 km from Bangkok, and covers a total area of approximately 19,483 km2 (7,522 sq mi).

Archaeological remains found in Kanchanaburi date back to the 4th century, with evidence of trade with surrounding regions at that time.

[9] In 1982, many human and elephant skeletons and swords were found in Phanom Thuan district, leading to speculation that this site might even have been the site of the famous battle of King Naresuan against the Burmese crown prince, most commonly assigned to the Don Chedi district in nearby Suphanburi province.

Eventually, more than 100,000 people (16,000 allied POWs and 90,000 local Asian labourers) died from horrific working conditions.

As of 26 November 2019 there are:[12] one Kanchanaburi Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 49 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province.

Kanchanaburi and Tha Ruea Phra Thaen have town (thesaban mueang) status.

The non-municipal areas are administered by 72 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations – SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

[13][14][15] Kanchanaburi province is the site of Klity Creek,[16] a waterway heavily polluted by the practices of the Lead Concentrate Company.