Europium(III) phosphide forms dark crystals which are stable in air and do not dissolve in water. Like sodium chloride, it crystallizes cubically in the space group Fm3m with cell parameter a = 575.5 nm with four formula units per unit cell. Europium(III) phosphide tends to form europium(II) oxide (EuO) in air, and pure EuP shows Van Vleck paramagnetism. The vapor pressure of EuP is 133-266.6 Pa at 1273 K.
Europium(III) phosphide actively reacts with nitric acid.