Butler lahir di Singapura dari ayah yang keturunan Inggris-Belanda dan Ibunya keturunan Cina-MalaysiaIndonesia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2017/04/22/ross-butler-13-reasons-why-star/#2ABRX7SqxkqH/|title='This '13 Reasons Why' star could be the Asian leading man Hollywood needs|website=www.mashable.com/2017/04/22/ross-butler-13-reasons-why-star/#K.AsOT1v4kqt}}</ref> Dia dibesarkan oleh ibunya di [[McLean, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/rossbutler/status/621417946615672836|title=Ross Butler on Twitter|newspaper=Twitter|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mochimag.com/article/one-watch-qa-actor-ross-butler|title=Interview With Ross Butler, An Actor to Watch|website=www.mochimag.com|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref>
Butler masuk di SMA Langley, lulus tahun 2008 sebelum masuk di [[Universitas Negeri Ohio]], tapi keluar setahun kemudian. Dia pindah ke [[Los Angeles]] dan mulai mengambil kelas akting.
