Common beech grows up to 30–40 meters in height. Its tree-trunk is up to 1.5 meters wide. They can live up to 500 years.

The bark is grey and smooth. It has simple tree leaves. Common beech blooms when the leaves sprout. The male flowers are in short, dangling, spherical, yellow catkins. The female flowers are small and 2–4 of them are attached to the axil together. The fruit is a three-edged nut, which ripens in October.

Beech is a highly valued wood that is used in the furniture industry.