This relatively large armadillo has a head-body length of 40–50 cm, a tail of 20–25 cm, and proportionally long ears of 3.5–4.1 cm. It weighs 3–7 kg. Its carapace is pale yellow, tan, or reddish tan, sparsely covered with white hair, and typically has six movable bands. There are 2–4 openings for the pelvic glands in the dorsal midline of the pelvic shield.

Euphractus sexcinctus is present in a wide area of South America, from southern Suriname and adjacent Brazil to Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and north-central Argentina.

This species occurs in open areas, savannas, shrubland and dry, semi-deciduous forest. It can be found in secondary forests, and may also occur in primary Amazonian forest. It adapts well to habitat modifications and has been observed in timber plantations, sugar cane plantations, pasturelands, and areas with subsistence agriculture and agroindustrial activities.

This is a diurnal species, but it is occasionally active at night. It is mainly solitary, but apparently more gregarious than other armadillo species. It can have simple burrows or complex burrow systems with up to five entrances. A single individual can use multiple burrows. Home ranges have been estimated to be between 1.1–96.4 hectares for males and 0.1–18.8 hectares for females, although some estimates are as large as 957.9 hectares. Only limited information is available on population densities; they have been estimated at 1.3 individuals per km² in Bolivia and 14 individuals per km² in Brazil.  

The six-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species that can chew hard items, for example to crack open palm nuts. It is more aggressive than other armadillo species.