Balch Springs is located in southeast Dallas County. The city is approximately 16 miles southeast of downtown Dallas and approximately 34 miles southeast of Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. The city shares its northeast border with the City of Mesquite and its south and west border with the City of Dallas.

Hickory Creek, part of the Trinity River tributary system, flows south through the City.

Interstate 635 runs through Balch Springs from north to south bisecting the city into two nearly equal halves. Interstate 20 runs along the south border on the east side of the city and U.S. 175 along the south border on the west side of the city.

The city is also served by major thoroughfares, including Bruton Road, Lake June Road, Elam Road, Seagoville Road providing east and west access into Dallas and Mesquite. Major thoroughfares running north and south are Peachtree Road and Hickory Tree Road on the west side of I-635 and Shepherd Drive, Pioneer Road and Beltline Road on the east side of I-635. These roads provide access throughout the City itself and into Mesquite and Dallas.

Balch Springs is served by two school districts. A boundary line divides the city into two approximately equal halves. The line runs diagonally across the city from northeast to southeast from Peachtree Road to Elam Road along Shepherd Lane and finally cutting east to continue south down Pioneer Road. The southwest area of the city is serviced by Dallas Public Schools, while the area north and east of the boundary line is served by the Mesquite Independent School District.