Wireless communication devices are adapted to facilitate scalable synchronization channels in a wireless communications system. According to one example, a wireless communication device may identify a reference synchronization channel including a reference bandwidth and a reference numerology, where the reference numerology includes a reference subcarrier spacing and a reference cyclic prefix. The reference synchronization channel may be scaled according to a type of communication, resulting in a scaled synchronization channel including a scaled bandwidth and a scaled numerology compatible with the communication type. According to another example, a wireless communication device may determine a communication type employed by the device for wireless communications, and may search for a particular scaled synchronization channel based on the determined communication type. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.