The "arrondissement" of Metz is in the west of the Moselle department. It is bordered to the north by the Thionville "arrondissement", to the east by the Forbach-Boulay-Moselle "arrondissement", to the southeast by the Sarrebourg-Château-Salins "arrondissement" and to the south and west by the Meurthe-et-Moselle department.