It derives its name from the Stubaital valley to its east and is located southwest of Innsbruck, Austria.

The range is bounded by the Inn River valley to the north; the Sill River valley (Wipptal) and the Brenner Pass to the east (separating it from the Zillertal Alps); the Ötztal and Timmelsjoch to the west (separating it from the Ötztal Alps), and to the south by tributaries of the Passer River and Eisack.

Important parts of the Stubai Alps show signs of glaciation.

The northern part around the Sellrain valley and the Kühtai is now only lightly glaciated and a popular ski touring destination (Zischgeles, Lampsenspitze, Pirchkogel, Sulzkogel).

In the Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps (AVE) the Stubai are no. 31.