The neck of the beaked cobra can expand like other cobras. The neck can expand up to 12-16 cm wide. The muzzle is not broad, but protruding. Round pupils make the eyes appear large, the body is stout cylindrical, and there is a long tail.

The beaked cobra has a variety of colors. Young individuals are mostly pale yellow or pale green, and the abdomen is usually yellow. Adults are mostly gray, brown, reddish-brown or black, sometimes with 6-9 banding on the body and 2-3 on the tail.