This species belongs to the P. boiei group (Lynch 1971; Prado and Pombal 2008). The body size is 40-62 mm SVL in males, 40-74 mm SVL in females. The head is broader than long and the body is stout with several warts. The snout is rounded in dorsal view. Upper eyelids have an extensive flap. Tympanum indistinct. Males with single internal vocal sac, vocal slits present. Symmetrical fold from tip of the eye horns to sacrum. Inner metatarsal tubercle very large. Hand with supernumerary tubercles. Throat grey. Dorsal surface covered with warts; belly and ventral surface with granulations (Cochran 1955; Prado and Pombal 2008). General dorsal color brown, with a series of bars under the eye (Heyer et al. 1990). The mean body mass is 9.53 g (Rocha et al. 2007). Izecksohn et al. (2005) provided a detailed description of the osteocranium of P. boiei and concluded that this species is very similar to P. appendiculata and P. melanopogon.

The tadpole was described by Izecksohn et al. (1979). At stage 34 the body is elliptical and depressed. Eyes dorsolateral. Oral apparatus ventral, surrounded by a single row of marginal papillae; submarginal papillae present on both sides of oral disc. LTRF 2(2)/3(1). Nares elliptical. Spiracle tube sinistral, directed dorsoposteriorally. The body is light brown, with some dark blotches. The venter is scattered with golden blotches. The dorsal portion of the caudal musculature is scattered with dark brown blotches.
 
The epithet of this species was given in honor of Mr. Boie, a traveler who first collected the specimens used in the description of the species.

The northern population of Proceratophrys boiei, from northern Espírito Santo to Ceará, was given the name P. renalis; this species was formerly under the synonym of P. boiei (Prado and Pombal 2008).