Apple Watch band sizes
Apple Watch bands fit by size group, not by generation: small bands (38, 40 and 41 mm, plus the 42 mm case of 2024 and later) fit each other, and large bands (44, 45 and 46 mm) fit each other and the 49 mm Ultra.
Official page: Apple
| Case size | Small bands (38, 40, 41 mm) | Large bands (44, 45, 46 mm) | 49 mm (Ultra) bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 mmfirst generation, Series 1, 2, 3 | Yes | No | No |
| 40 mmSeries 4, 5, 6, SE (all) | Yes | No | No |
| 41 mmSeries 7, 8, 9 | Yes | No | No |
| 42 mm (2024 and later)Series 10, 11, 12 | Yes | No | No |
| 42 mm (2015 to 2017)first generation, Series 1, 2, 3 | Pages disagreeApple Store lists 42 mm bands with 38, 40 and 41 mm | Pages disagreeApple Support lists 42 mm bands with 44 and 45 mm | Not listed |
| 44 mmSeries 4, 5, 6, SE (all) | No | Yes | Yes |
| 45 mmSeries 7, 8, 9 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 46 mmSeries 10, 11, 12 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 49 mmUltra, Ultra 2, 3, 4 | No | Yes, casual, everyday use only | Yes |
Apple case sizes by generation
Find your generation and case size to see which bands fit.
| Generation | Case sizes | Bands that fit |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch (first generation) | 38 mm or 42 mm | 38 mm case: Fits 38 mm bands (also 40, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)42 mm case: Apple pages disagree on 42 mm bands |
| Apple Watch Series 1 | 38 mm or 42 mm | 38 mm case: Fits 38 mm bands (also 40, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)42 mm case: Apple pages disagree on 42 mm bands |
| Apple Watch Series 2 | 38 mm or 42 mm | 38 mm case: Fits 38 mm bands (also 40, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)42 mm case: Apple pages disagree on 42 mm bands |
| Apple Watch Series 3 | 38 mm or 42 mm | 38 mm case: Fits 38 mm bands (also 40, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)42 mm case: Apple pages disagree on 42 mm bands |
| Apple Watch Series 4 | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 5 | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 6 | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch SE (first generation) | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch SE (second generation) | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | 40 mm or 44 mm | 40 mm case: Fits 40 mm bands (also 38, 41 and 2024+ 42 mm)44 mm case: Fits 44 mm bands (also 45, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 7 | 41 mm or 45 mm | 41 mm case: Fits 41 mm bands (also 38, 40 and 2024+ 42 mm)45 mm case: Fits 45 mm bands (also 44, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | 41 mm or 45 mm | 41 mm case: Fits 41 mm bands (also 38, 40 and 2024+ 42 mm)45 mm case: Fits 45 mm bands (also 44, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | 41 mm or 45 mm | 41 mm case: Fits 41 mm bands (also 38, 40 and 2024+ 42 mm)45 mm case: Fits 45 mm bands (also 44, 46, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | 42 mm or 46 mm | 42 mm case: Fits 42 mm bands (also 38, 40, 41)46 mm case: Fits 46 mm bands (also 44, 45, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | 42 mm or 46 mm | 42 mm case: Fits 42 mm bands (also 38, 40, 41)46 mm case: Fits 46 mm bands (also 44, 45, 49) |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | 42 mm or 46 mm | 42 mm case: Fits 42 mm bands (also 38, 40, 41)46 mm case: Fits 46 mm bands (also 44, 45, 49) |
| Apple Watch Ultra | 49 mm | 49 mm case: Fits 49 mm bands (also 44, 45, 46 for casual use) |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | 49 mm | 49 mm case: Fits 49 mm bands (also 44, 45, 46 for casual use) |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | 49 mm | 49 mm case: Fits 49 mm bands (also 44, 45, 46 for casual use) |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | 49 mm | 49 mm case: Fits 49 mm bands (also 44, 45, 46 for casual use) |
Apple's Identify your Apple Watch page lists the case sizes of every generation and says to check the engraving on the back of the watch.
Official page: Apple
Where Apple's own pages disagree
- 42 mm bands go with 44 mm and 45 mm. Apple Support lists bands for 42 mm, 44 mm and 45 mm cases as compatible with each other. The sentence does not say which 42 mm case (2015 to 2017, or 2024 and later) it means.
Official page: Apple
- 42 mm bands go with 38 mm, 40 mm and 41 mm. The Apple Store band guide lists 38 mm, 40 mm, 41 mm and 42 mm bands as compatible with each other, without naming a generation.
Official page: Apple
Apple's Series 10 announcement says older 41 mm bands fit the new 42 mm case, so the 2024 and later 42 mm case takes small bands. No Apple page we could open says which 42 mm case the support sentence describes, so for the 2015 to 2017 42 mm case the two Apple pages disagree.
Official page: Apple
How the bands attach
Every Apple Watch band slides into the case after you hold down the band release button. Apple says different Apple Watch bands use the same release mechanism.
Official page: Apple
Good to know
- Apple's band guide says the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop are only compatible with Apple Watch SE, Series 4 or later.
Official page: Apple
- On an Ultra, Apple says you might need a smaller Solo Loop size than you are used to.
Official page: Apple
- Apple's Identify your Apple Watch page lists the case sizes of every generation and says to check the engraving on the back of the watch.
Official page: Apple
Common questions
- Do 41 mm Apple Watch bands fit a 45 mm Apple Watch?No
- Do 45 mm Apple Watch bands fit a 46 mm Apple Watch?Yes
- Do 41 mm Apple Watch bands fit a 42 mm Apple Watch?It depends
- Do 44 mm Apple Watch bands fit a 45 mm Apple Watch?Yes
- Do regular Apple Watch bands fit the Apple Watch Ultra?It depends
- Do Apple Watch bands fit a Samsung Galaxy Watch?No
What Apple says, statement by statement
- Apple Support lists bands for 38 mm, 40 mm and 41 mm cases as compatible with each other.
Official page: Apple
- Apple Support lists bands for 46 mm cases as compatible with 44 mm, 45 mm and 46 mm cases.
Official page: Apple
- Apple Support lists bands for 49 mm (Ultra) cases as compatible with 44 mm, 45 mm and 46 mm cases.
Official page: Apple
- When it launched Series 10 (42 mm and 46 mm), Apple said older bands, including 41 mm and 45 mm sizes, are compatible with the new 42 mm and 46 mm cases, and that new 42 mm and 46 mm bands are compatible with older models.
Official page: Apple
- The Apple Store band guide lists 38 mm, 40 mm, 41 mm and 42 mm bands as compatible with each other, without naming a generation.
Official page: Apple
- Apple Support lists bands for 42 mm, 44 mm and 45 mm cases as compatible with each other. The sentence does not say which 42 mm case (2015 to 2017, or 2024 and later) it means.
Official page: Apple
- Bands for 44 mm, 45 mm and 46 mm cases fit the 49 mm Ultra, but Apple says these band sizes should only be worn for casual, everyday use on Ultra.
Official page: Apple