Hownam is a parish bordering England, which lies in the Scottish Borders Council Area, some 8 miles (13 km) east of Jedburgh and 11 miles (18 km) south of Kelso in the Scottish Borders.
It is located in the old county of Roxburghshire, which disappeared following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974.
The parish has an area of 61.2 sq. km (23.6 sq. miles). Hownam has Eckford, Morebattle and Oxnam as its neighbouring Scottish parishes.