The area of the district is 2,032 square kilometers (785 sq mi).

44% of the district is in agricultural production, 32% is forested, and about 10% is a dense network of lakes, swamps, and rivers.

Kostromskoy District surrounds the regional city of Kostroma, and is 270 km northeast of Moscow.

Kostromskoy District was formally created in 1928 out of Kostroma Uyezd.

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Kostromskoy District is one of the twenty-four in the oblast.