This species is found in all reef and near-reef environments. Porites astreoides dominates on the shallow exposed fore reef where other massive species are rare, and it is found on the deep reef and in the back reef; depths range from 0.2-70 m, with the highest abundance from 1-15 m (Goreau and Wells 1967, Lang 2003). Also present in subtidal rocky environments and seagrass beds. They commonly inhabit disturbed reef surfaces (and are often the first to recolonize areas following disturbance), and are also common in areas of high sedimentation and high turbidity.