[2] It is located on the South Fork of the Eel River, 21 miles (34 km) by road northwest of Laytonville,[5] at an elevation of 984 ft (300 m).

Leggett is in northwestern Mendocino County, in the valley of the South Fork Eel River.

California State Route 1 has its northern terminus at US 101 in Leggett and leads southwest 27 miles (43 km) to Westport on the Pacific Ocean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Leggett CDP covers an area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all of it land.

[2] The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and cool, very wet winters receiving abundant rainfall, due to its location in the coastal ranges and proximity to the ocean, allowing the collection of heavy amounts of moisture.

There were 78 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km2), of which 23 (41.8%) were owner-occupied, and 32 (58.2%) were occupied by renters.

[15] Federally, Leggett is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.