Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for design of channel raster for narrowband operation. One example method, performed by a base station, generally includes determining, based on one or more conditions, an exact frequency location of one channel of one or more channels to perform narrowband communications with a user equipment. The method also includes transmitting an indication of the one or more conditions to the user equipment. The method further includes communicating with the UE, based at least in part on the exact frequency location of the one channel.