Geomorphologically, the Little Carpathians belong into the Alps-Himalaya System, the Carpathian Mountains sub-system, its province Western Carpathians and its subprovince the Inner Western Carpathians.
Little Carpathians are further divided into four parts (from south to north): Devín Carpathians (), Pezinok Carpathians (), Brezová Carpathians () and Čachtice Carpathians ().