Platax boersii was first formally described in 1853 by the Dutch physician, herpetologist and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with its type locality given as Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

[4] Platax boersii adults have a smoothly rounded profile on the head, similar to that of the orbicular batfish (P. orbicularus) but differ in their golden sheen and the absence of small black spots.

The juveniles resemble those of P.teira in their possession of extremely elongated dorsal and anal fins but differ in their silvery sheen and overall paler colour.

The adults of this species, with a length exceeding 18 cm (7.1 in), are yellowish-silver in colour with a scattering of small dark spots on the body.

[6] Schools are found along drop offs in tall structures of corals but solitary fish are more typical inshore.