Dipterocarpus fagineus grows as a medium-sized tree up to 45 metres (150 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 metre (3 ft). Bark is greyish brown. The fruits are roundish to ellipsoid, up to 1 cm (0.4 in) long. The specific epithet fagineus is from the Latin meaning "like a beech". Habitat is mixed dipterocarp forest on hills. D. fagineus is found in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.