Its territory originally stretched between the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers; from it sprang most of the municipalities between Pittsburgh on the west and Plum and Monroeville on the east.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.8 km2), all land.

Interstate 376 passes through the northern limb of the township, where it has an exit just as it enters eastbound from Churchill Borough, number 81 onto PA 791/Rodi Road/Yellow Belt northbound into Penn Hills.

US Business 22 crosses Thompson Run from Wilkins Township to Monroeville over the Hall Station Bridge.

The Union Railroad, following the Thompson Run valley, passes through the eastern fringe of the township.

Wilkins Township has eight borders, including Penn Hills to the north, Monroeville to the east, Turtle Creek to the southeast, East Pittsburgh to the south, North Braddock to the south-southwest, Chalfant to the southwest, Forest Hills to the west and Churchill to the northwest and north-northwest.