[3] The colour of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but usually it is mostly very pale brown-grey or white with some dark brown or black patches.

[2][3] The only other member of the genus Phloeomys, the southern Luzon giant cloud rat (P. cumingi), has a more southerly distribution, generally is smaller (although with some overlap) and it is entirely dark brown;[4] however, the occasional brown Northern Luzon giant cloud rat has been reported in the Mountain Province,[2] and the taxonomic limits between the two Phloeomys are not fully resolved.

[2] The northern Luzon giant cloud rat prefers forest and scrub, but also occurs in degraded habitats such as plantations.

[3] The northern Luzon giant cloud rat is nocturnal and feeds on various types of vegetation.

[6] The northern Luzon giant cloud rat can cause extensive damage to rice crops and are sometimes considered a pest.