The municipality is located on the Haugalandet peninsula on the northern side of the Boknafjorden, just east of the towns of Kopervik and Haugesund.

Other villages in the municipality include Dueland, Førre, Grinde, Hervik, Hindaråvåg, Nedstrand, Skjoldastraumen, Susort, Tysvær, and Yrke.

The Frekasund Bridge on the E39 highway connects the mainland of Tysvær to the island municipality of Bokn to the south.

On 1 January 1965, the following areas were merged into a newly enlarged municipality of Tysvær:[6] On 1 January 1969, the small Sponevik farm area (population: 6), just north of the village of Skjoldastraumen, was transferred from the neighboring Vindafjord municipality to Tysvær.

The official blazon is "Azure, a heron argent issuant" (Norwegian: På blå grunn ein oppveksande sølv hegre).

This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is the top of a grey heron.

The heron has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Tysvær is made up of 29 representatives that are elected to four year terms.