Rangers players celebrate Steve Davis' opening goal at Ibrox
Second-half goals by Steve Davis and Nacho Novo extended Rangers' home record to 21 matches undefeated.
Motherwell started with three strikers but generally failed to create enough chances from which they could profit.
In 57 minutes Kris Boyd rose to flick on a long ball into the path of Kenny Miller, who passed to the advancing Davis to shoot past Graeme Smith.
Substitute Novo bundled the ball over with 15 minutes to go and Well's David Clarkson grabbed a late consolation.
Motherwell made the short trip from Lanarkshire having lost narrowly away to Nancy in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.
The hero for the Claret and Amber then was keeper Smith and the highlight of the first half was his save from Miller on 32 minutes.
Kirk Broadfoot, operating at left-back with Sasa Papac suspended, was in an advanced position when he cut inside to play a low ball into the Scotland striker on the edge of the box.
Miller spun his marker and hammered a low right-foot shot at goal which Smith brilliantly parried round his left-hand post.
Though frustrated on that occasion, Miller was the most impressive player in the opening exchanges, with the fine playing surface and pleasant weather creating the perfect conditions to test the Steelmen for fatigue.
Having done well to control a clipped pass from Steve Davis, Miller blasted over the bar in three minutes when DaMarcus Beasley was in a more advantageous position.
Midway through the first half Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan was booked for a brutal challenge on Miller as the striker skinned him on his way into the box.
Davis' resultant free-kick was a waste as Smith gathered his flighted ball with ease.
The only other attacking incident of note came when Boyd played an intelligent ball into the box which wrong-footed Mark Reynolds.
Miller latched on to it but Smith had advanced from his goals at pace to narrow the angle and Miller clipped it wide.
Mark McGhee opted for an ambitious team selection, with John Sutton, Chris Porter and David Clarkson carrying the potential for goals.
However, the home keeper Neil Alexander, a surprise inclusion for the dropped Allan McGregor, didn't have a save to make until the start of the second half when he rushed to gather at the feet of Clarkson.
Motherwell put more pressure on the home side in the second half. Jamie Murphy came on for John Sutton in 57 minutes and made an immediate impact with his forceful, positive play.
With Rangers a solitary goal to the good, Motherwell almost equalised in 69 minutes.
David Clarkson found time and space in the box and cracked a right-footed swerving shot which Neil Alexander palmed round the post.
Novo's close-range goal, therefore, was met with a loud cheer of relief.
Davis drove at Motherwell with intent on the right and passed to Miller, whose ball across the face of goal eluded the despairing Smith but not the eager Spaniard, who had replaced Beasley just four minutes previously.
Rangers' American star offered pace and movement, but only once, with a rasping left-foot shot, did he threaten to score and on that occasion the impressive Smith was behind the ball.
Two goals to the good, the home fans thought the points were safe, but they were left biting their nails at the end.
Porter crossed from the right into the box with just three minutes to go and Clarkson was sharp enough to nip ahead of the home defence to volley beyond Alexander.
Rangers, though, hung on to take the three points and maintain their impressive home record.
The last time Walter Smith's side lost in domestic competition at Ibrox was when David Murphy scored for Hibs in the Easter Road side's 1-0 win in October last year.
Rangers manager Walter Smith on Kenny Miller: "The way he works for the team is terrific and he just needs that goal.
"But, as long as he keeps up that level of performance, nobody will have any complaints."
Smith on the decision to drop Allan McGregor in favour of Neil Alexander: "We've got a big squad and we have to keep everybody on their toes.
"If we think a position needs freshened up then we'll do it, everyone in the team needs to realise that.
"Allan McGregor was fantastic for us last season and was a big part of what we achieved."
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee: "I feel embarrassed. That was the worst performance by us since I've been at the club.
"We were inert in every department. We didn't pass the ball and up front we had three big lads but they were muscled off the ball.
"The only bright element was young Jamie Murphy coming on. He was brilliant in the last 20 minutes and I can't ignore him any longer. Jamie will play against Hamilton in the cup on Wednesday."
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