The seat comprises mostly working-class residential suburbs south of Wigan and to the west of Leigh.

[5][circular reference] 1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Abram, Ashton-Golborne, Bryn, Lightshaw, Orrell, Winstanley, and Worsley Mesnes.

1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan wards of Abram, Ashton-Golborne, Bryn, Ince, Orrell, Winstanley, and Worsley Mesnes.

2024–present: Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for 2024 general election, the boundaries of the constituency were expanded slightly by adding small areas (as they existed on 1 December 2020) of the Atherleigh ward (part of polling district LCA) and the Leigh West ward (polling district LDA).

[6] Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023,[7][8] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan from the 2024 general election: Makerfield consists of the western and central section of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester.