Dipterocarpus cuspidatus grows as a medium-sized tree up to 50 metres (160 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 metres (4 ft). The bark is rust-brown. The fruits are roundish, up to 2 cm (1 in) long. Its habitat, now endangered, is mixed dipterocarp forest on low hills from sea-level to 100 metres (300 ft) altitude. D. cuspidatus is endemic to Malaysia's Sarawak state in Borneo.