At 55°47′4″N 4°25′24″W (55.784°, -4.423°) Neilston is in Scotland's Central Lowlands.
The community is 430 feet (131 m) above sea level, 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Barrhead town centre, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Paisley, 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Newton Mearns and 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Glasgow.
The River Levern flows to the west of the town and under the iconic Crofthead Mill.
The river itself has its source at nearby Long Loch.
It flows eastwards through Neilston towards Barrhead, before flowing into the White Cart Water.

The topography of the areas around Neilston are varied.
To the east, the land is relatively flat, but to the south and west it is steeper, rising to heights of 400 feet (122 m) to 900 feet (274 m) above the level of the River Clyde.
The highest points in the surrounding areas are Neilston Pad and the Corkendale-law, at about 853 feet (260 m) and 900 feet (274 m) above sea level, respectively.
Neilston Pad is characterised by a craggy face on its eastern side.
Between these hills is the valley of the River Levern.
In this valley is the A736 to Barrhead.
The soil in the eastern parts of Neilston is a dry loam, occasionally intermixed with gravel.
The soil in the hills near Neilston is considered to be largely infertile, whilst to the south and southwest there is an expansive moorland which extends as far as Darvel and Strathaven.
The local geology is represented by basalt.
The surrounding landscape is dominated by Duncarnock, the resistant core of an ancient and long extinct volcano, known locally as 'the Craigie'.

Neilston experiences a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters.
Regular but generally light precipitation occurs throughout the year.
There is also a spring nearby.

Neilston's town centre is characterised by its mixture of 19th and 20th century detached cottages, single and two-story buildings.
Several mansion houses were built for the owners of former mills and factories.
Many of Neilston's dwellings are painted in whites or ivories.
In his book Ordnance Survey of Scotland (1884), Francis Hindes Groome remarked that Neilston "presents an old-fashioned yet neat and compact appearance", a view echoed by Hugh McDonald in Rambles Round Glasgow (1910), who stated that Neilston "is a compact, neat, and withal somewhat old-fashioned little township", although continued that it has "few features calling for special remark".
It is frequently described as a quiet dormitory village, although some sources from around the turn of the 20th century describe Neilston as a town.
Neilston is not contiguous with any other settlement, and according to the General Register Office for Scotland, does not form part of Greater Glasgow, despite being very close.

The Killoch Burn and glen, on the other side of the Levern northwest of Neilston are associated with witches, because at low water the numerous pot-holes or rock-cut basins have worn into one another, giving the area an unusual shape.
Locals named some of these the witch's floor, hearth, cradle, water-stoup and grave.
At 55°47′4″N 4°25′24″W (55.784°, -4.423°) Neilston is in Scotland's Central Lowlands. The community is 430 feet (131 m) above sea level, 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Barrhead town centre, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Paisley, 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Newton Mearns and 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Glasgow. The River Levern flows to the west of the town and under the iconic Crofthead Mill. The river itself has its source at nearby Long Loch. It flows eastwards through Neilston towards Barrhead, before flowing into the White Cart Water.
The topography of the areas around Neilston are varied. To the east, the land is relatively flat, but to the south and west it is steeper, rising to heights of 400 feet (122 m) to 900 feet (274 m) above the level of the River Clyde. The highest points in the surrounding areas are Neilston Pad and the Corkendale-law, at about 853 feet (260 m) and 900 feet (274 m) above sea level, respectively. Neilston Pad is characterised by a craggy face on its eastern side. Between these hills is the valley of the River Levern. In this valley is the A736 to Barrhead. The soil in the eastern parts of Neilston is a dry loam, occasionally intermixed with gravel. The soil in the hills near Neilston is considered to be largely infertile, whilst to the south and southwest there is an expansive moorland which extends as far as Darvel and Strathaven. The local geology is represented by basalt. The surrounding landscape is dominated by Duncarnock, the resistant core of an ancient and long extinct volcano, known locally as 'the Craigie'.
Neilston experiences a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. Regular but generally light precipitation occurs throughout the year. There is also a spring nearby.
Neilston's town centre is characterised by its mixture of 19th and 20th century detached cottages, single and two-story buildings. Several mansion houses were built for the owners of former mills and factories. Many of Neilston's dwellings are painted in whites or ivories. In his book Ordnance Survey of Scotland (1884), Francis Hindes Groome remarked that Neilston "presents an old-fashioned yet neat and compact appearance", a view echoed by Hugh McDonald in Rambles Round Glasgow (1910), who stated that Neilston "is a compact, neat, and withal somewhat old-fashioned little township", although continued that it has "few features calling for special remark". It is frequently described as a quiet dormitory village, although some sources from around the turn of the 20th century describe Neilston as a town. Neilston is not contiguous with any other settlement, and according to the General Register Office for Scotland, does not form part of Greater Glasgow, despite being very close.
The Killoch Burn and glen, on the other side of the Levern northwest of Neilston are associated with witches, because at low water the numerous pot-holes or rock-cut basins have worn into one another, giving the area an unusual shape. Locals named some of these the witch's floor, hearth, cradle, water-stoup and grave.
Neilston