Medium size up to 26.5cm TL. Color varies with age and sex. Males are usually Olive brown lacking stripes, but develop swollen red/orange head, during breeding season. Females are striped light and dark starting behind the head and down the back and sides. Smooth scaled, with small legs and stout cylindrical bodies. Hatchlings are dark with 5 lines down the back and sides and sporting a blue tail.

*Similar to the Five Lined skink facial scales are the distinction. Five lined skinks have two postlabial scales on top of each other between the ear and lip scales. These are single or absent on Broad-Headed Skinks.