The island municipality is located in northwestern Rogaland county, just off the western coast of Norway.

Utsira is located in the North Sea, about 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of the town of Haugesund.

The official blazon is "Azure, four piles issuant conjoined in cross argent" (Norwegian: I blått et kors dannet ved fire motstøtende sølv spisser).

This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a set of four triangles whose points all meet in the centre, together making a cross shape.

The charge 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 design is meant to symbolize light beams flowing out of the Utsira Lighthouse which was built in the municipality in 1844.

Since 2004 there have been wind turbines built in the municipality and the design of the arms is also seen to represent those with three wings and a tower.

A car ferry operated by Rutebåten Utsira runs four round-trips per day connecting the island to the town of Haugesund on the mainland.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Utsira is made up of 11 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

In periods when there is surplus wind energy, the excess power will be used for generating hydrogen by electrolysis.

Additional to this an energy storing flywheel exists to help out when for a short time more power is needed.

Utsira has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb) with cool/mild summers and chilly winters with lots of rainfall.

The island has significant seasonal lag with February–March typically being the coldest months of the year while August is the warmest.