The black-lipped pika weighs 200 grams and is about 12 centimeters long. It has a rabbit-like face and large ears.

The color of the black-lipped pika's back coat in summer is from the snout to the base of the tail. Sandy-yellow-brown, lighter in color on the side, close to sandy-yellow-brown. The ventral hair is dirty white, the dorsum of the feet is light yellow, and the ventral surface is light brown. Winter hair is paler than summer hair, the entire body is sandy yellow on the back, dirty white on the ventral surface, and white on the ear margins.