The sand lizard is slightly larger than the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara, formerly Lacerta vivipara), and often greenish in color. The length of the sand lizard from the snout to the cloacal opening is usually less than 9 cm. The tail is longer than the body, sometimes almost twice as long as the the body, so that the total length can reach up more than 20 cm. The body structure of the sand lizard is stockier than the common lizard's.

Coloring is very variable: especially during the breeding season, the sides of males can be green or greenish. The upper part of the back is brown and between the green sides and the brown back, there are often light brown areas that form a light streak from the neck to the end of the tail. Females and young individuals are brownish or greyish throughout. Both males and females have have dark dots, spots or eyespots on the back and sides. The ventral side is lighter than the back and less patterned. In particular, a brown female sand lizard can be difficult to quickly distinguish from a common lizard.

Sand lizard – Lacerta agilis