Nepenthes villosa is endemic to the upper slopes of Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in Sabah, Borneo. It generally grows at 2300-3240 m above sea level, the highest elevation of all Bornean Nepenthes species; only N. lamii from New Guinea is found at greater elevations. On Mount Kinabalu, N. villosa is common along the Mesilau Trail (between Pondok Magnolia and the meeting point with the old summit trail) and almost all the way up to the Laban Rata rest house; a particularly large population has been reported at around 3047 m. On Mount Tambuyukon, an altitudinal inversion has been noted, whereby N. villosa is more common at much lower elevations of 1600-1900 m, being replaced by N. rajah towards the summit. The exposed, uppermost slopes of Mount Tambuyukon can become very hot during the day and this might explain the inability of N. villosa to colonise them. Plants from Mount Tambuyukon generally produce slightly more elongated pitchers.