As its name implies, this species has ears over an inch long. The genus name "Corynorhinus" means "club-nosed". Similar to Townsend's big-eared bat, this species has two lumps on either side of its nose. Rafinesque's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat with a length around and a wingspan of . These bats range in weight from . The bat is gray on the dorsal side and white on the underside. The ears and face are a pinkish-brown color, while the forearm and wing membrane are dark brown.