It is one of ten constituencies in the West Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

The Renfrewshire North and West constituency overlaps with the Inverclyde council area and uses the following electoral wards: BBC profile:[2] The northern boundaries of this constituency hug the Clyde River and take in the historic town of Renfrew, the pre-1975 centre of local government for the county of Renfrewshire.

The constituency has within its boundaries Bishopton, home to the now defunct WWII-built Royal Ordnance factory.

The land it stood on became the focus of controversy in 2008 when Renfrewshire Council granted planning permission for a housing development.

Renfrew's Braehead on the south of the water is a well-developed commercial enterprise featuring a large shopping centre and leisure facilities.