The fur is usually soft, though it may be bristly in A. speciosus, and the tail is moderately haired. The general coloration above is grayish buff, grayish brown, brown mixed with yellow or red, light brown, or pale sand color. The underparts are white or grayish, often suffused with yellow, and the hands and feet are usually white.
Some forms have a reddish yellow chest patch, and A. agrarius has a black middorsal stripe.
The tail may be longer or shorter than the head and body. The tail is not prehensile like that of Micromys, a genus that resembles Apodemus in general appearance. Female Apodemus have six or eight mammae. These mice inhabit grassy fields, cultivated areas, woodlands, and forests. They climb well, though not as well as Micromys, and are more active jumpers.