Explore summer deals on Google Pixel and Fitbit, now until 06/14.Shop deals

Design unique, custom bands for Google Fitbit Air

Design unique, custom bands for Google Fitbit Air
Design your very own unique, custom accessory bands for the
Google Fitbit Air
using Google design guidelines.
Key Takeaways
  • Express your unique, personal style while keeping your wellness journey on track.
  • Create custom band prototypes using dimensions, tolerances, and specifications from Google design guidelines. (Note: These recommendations and the available 2D drawings may change and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth below).
  • Share your interest with the Made for Google program to collaborate on certified accessories and earn the official badge.
Designing a look that is uniquely yours.

The Google Fitbit Air is designed to be our most accessible, discreet, and versatile wellness tracker. The core device is an ultra-lightweight sensor for continuous health tracking, allowing the band to become the defining visual and tactile expression of the device. This design architecture offers freedom for creators, brands, and developers to build unique bands and housing solutions that match any style or occasion.

Designing for comfort and accuracy.

Health and fitness sensing is the most critical foundation of the Google Fitbit Air. To comfortably wear your band while maintaining the integrity of the optical sensors – which enables continuous biometric tracking – your designs must respect the tracker’s core mechanical requirements.

First, sensor clearance is vital. We recommend that the optical heart rate and SpO2 sensors on the base of the tracker remain entirely unobstructed and maintain flush, consistent skin contact. To get the best performance while a user is moving, your band should be designed to maintain a steady, gentle pressure against the skin in the sensing area.

Second, secure retention keeps the device safe. The tracker uses a tension-based snap-in mechanism. Your enclosure should follow the provided CAD tolerances to ensure the sensor remains securely locked in place during rigorous movement, while still being easy to remove when swapping bands. The sleeve holder needs to be flexible enough to let users easily pop the sensor in and out. Designers can use a special insert to help achieve this balance of flexibility and security.

Choosing skin-friendly materials.

Since Google Fitbit Air is designed to be worn all day and night, the materials you choose need to feel great against the skin. When you are designing your custom bands, comfort and skin safety are just as important as how the band looks.

To help prevent any skin irritation or allergic reactions, it is best to use materials that are gentle and thoroughly tested for continuous contact with the skin. This means choosing high-quality, safe textiles, leathers, and metals. You will want to avoid common skin irritants, such as certain types of nickel or natural latex proteins that can cause reactions. It is also important to make sure that any adhesives or coatings you use are completely cured and dry so they do not cause irritation.

For a detailed list of the chemical limits, environmental standards, and testing requirements your materials should meet, please refer to the technical specifications section at the end of this guide.

Following the rules of the design road.

When sharing or selling custom bands, make sure packaging and marketing follow the rules below and our

Brand Guidelines
. Use referential phrases like “compatible with Google Fitbit Air” or “for use with Google Fitbit Air.” Do not make the Google or Fitbit Air names part of the product name.

Keep branding distinct, and do not copy or closely resemble official Google partnership bands. This ensures unique designs stand out on their own merits.

Get the Google design guidelines.
To help you get started on your design, the Google Fitbit Air
2D CAD drawings
of the sensor (or “pebble”) and “sleeve” are available to all creators and developers. These CAD drawings include crucial mating dimensions, tolerances, and mating force specifications – including attach and detach force – to help you build a high-quality accessory band.
Work more closely with Google.

Certified accessories can also receive the official Made for Google badge to promote their product, designating formal compatibility to Google’s high performance standards with the Fitbit Air. If you are a brand looking to go through our official certification process and want to be part of our certified partner ecosystem, we’d love to collaborate! We warmly encourage anyone interested in the Made for Google Program to reach out to our team through our

contact form here
. As an added benefit, Made for Google partners can also engage pre-launch on upcoming devices, for accessory availability at launch.

Technical specifications.
The Tracker Architecture
  • Sensor Clearance: The optical heart rate and SpO2 sensors on the base of the tracker must remain entirely unobstructed and maintain flush, consistent skin contact.
  • Sensor Pressure: For optimal PPG performance in motion, it’s important to design accessories for sustained contact pressure in the sensing region. Recommend pressure for best performance is 35 mmhg (0.68psi) minimum for nominal wear.
  • Secure Retention: The tracker utilizes a tension-based snap-in mechanism. Your enclosure must strictly adhere to the provided CAD tolerances to ensure the device remains securely locked in place during rigorous movement while being easily removable by the user when swapping bands.
  • Regulatory Compliance: The accessories must meet all storage, transportation, import, regulatory compliance and certifications requirements to ship into and be made available for sale in the countries for retail sales.
  • Compliance Testing: Developers should not assume their Accessory is compliant as a result of the Accessory attaching to the Device. If available, developers should validate their design and implementation using applicable test procedures for all supported features.
Material Recommendations.

All homogeneous materials in the accessories should comply with the Google Restricted Substances Specification, 990-00012-00. This includes key restrictions in the following areas:

  • Beryllium-free, <1000 ppm beryllium
  • Halogen-free, Bromine <900 ppm, Chlorine <900 ppm, and <1500 ppm Br and Cl
  • Brominated Flame Retardants shall not be used (non-detect, or <900 ppm Bromine)
  • Chlorinated Flame Retardants shall not be used (non-detect, or <900 ppm Chlorine)
  • Phthalates, <1000 ppm
  • PVC-free, Non-detect (<900 ppm chlorine)
  • RoHS Compliant – EU Directive 2011/65/EC
  • Compliant with REACH – EC 1907/2006 and amendments
  • Lead-free copper and brass alloys (<1000 ppm)
  • Nickel, <0.28 µg/cm²/week leach rate on exterior surfaces (e.g., aluminum anodizing)
  • Facilities in China must use materials that meet Chinese National VOC standards (including GB 30981-2020, GB 38508-2020, GB 33372-2020, and GB 38507-2020)

No intentional use of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for textiles and leather

Biocompatibility.

We encourage innovative textiles and materials, but all surfaces designed for continuous skin contact should pass rigorous dermatological testing to prevent irritation. Google recommends performing a dermal toxicological assessment on all materials used in the construction of the exterior surface of a device that comes in prolonged contact with the user’s skin during use (e.g. enclosure, materials, paints, coatings, textiles, display surfaces, straps, lanyards, etc.). Some additional materials and / or substances may be restricted to ensure safety.

Example requirements/best practices:

  • Nickel leach rate of surfaces in prolonged skin contact must be <0.28 µg/cm²/week
  • Natural latex containing allergenic natural latex proteins is banned in prolonged skin contact applications
  • Acrylate based adhesives and coatings must be fully cured, with cure conditions and process controls verified
Google apps