American plaice are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, although the eastern Atlantic populations are thought to be a subspecies. In the western Atlantic, they range from southern Greenland and Newfoundland and Labrador down to New England. In the eastern Atlantic, they are found from the northern coasts of Finland and Russia to the English Channel. They can tolerate deep water and can be found at depths of up to several thousand metres, however they are primarily found on continental shelves, mostly above 300 metres. They are considered a cold water species, but have a fairly wide temperature tolerance, ranging from about -1.5° Celsius to above 5° Celsius.

Like other flatfish, American plaice are laterally compressed, with a body that is fairly oval-shaped and marked with a relatively straight lateral line. They have a large mouth, a rounded tail and a body covered with small, rough scales. Their coloration varies from brown to reddish-brown, sometimes with darker patches or spots, and is pale white on their underside. They may grow as large as 50 centimetres, but they are typically around 30 centimetres. Females generally live 17-20 years.