The wingspan is 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in).Very nearly allied to P. polytes; both sexes without tail.

Male: forewing with thin marginal spots confined to the edge of the wing; hindwing above with large white area, which always enters the cell and is much broader than the black marginal area; beneath this area is entirely absent or is replaced by rounded white-grey shadowy spots.

Female on both wings with thin marginal spots, which are smaller than in all the polytes-forms-, no indication of nail-head spots at the black distal margin of the forewing;hindwing beneath as in the male with extremely small yellow-grey scales between the veins in the basal area; the white area of the hindwing similar to that of P. pol.

The larva when full-grown green, ventrally at the sides a broad stripe, which also covers the prolegs and is above edged with whitish; from this stripe, besides an anal band, branch off 3 bands of the same colour, which are not interrupted above, on the thorax in addition is placed a transverse band, laterally widened into spectacle-shape.

Papilio ambrax is a member of the polytes species group.