40 Amazing and Free Texture Sets

Graphics • ResourcesSteven Snell • May 30, 2014 • 6 minutes READ

Textures are found everywhere around us. Whether it is grunge textures like stone, tree bark, and sand, or textures from some man-made item, like concrete, a brick wall, or a metal grate, textures are simply everywhere. Web and graphic designers often want to incorporate elements of nature and the world around us into their design work, and textures are typically an important aspect of being able to accomplish this.

While textures can be created from scratch in Photoshop, photographs and scanned images often give a more realistic feel. And since textures are everywhere, there is no shortage of subjects. Creating your own textures by photographing or scanning various objects and surfaces is a great way to take your designs to the next level. Even aside from the time requirement, you might want a texture that you simply don’t have access to (for example, you need a desert texture and you live in the middle of a large city).

Fortunately, there are plenty of high-quality textures that are available for designers to use in their own work. In this post, we’ll showcase 40 amazing and free grunge texture sets that will collectively provide you with hundreds of textures to use in your own projects. The textures shown here include wood, paper, grunge, concrete, stone, and much more.

Each set includes multiple textures. As always when you are using free resources, be sure to read the terms specified by the creator in order to be sure that you are using it in accordance with the terms.

Grunge Textures:

Wrinkled Grunge Textures

Taking a high-resolution photo of crumpled tissue paper and improving it with the extra layers that feature paint and vintage paper, Dustin Schmieding was managed to recreate this fantastic set of grunge textures.

Peeling Paint Textures

The bundle by Vandelay’s team includes several outstanding textures created from photos of paint peeling on metal and concrete. Each one has a rough, scratchy surface presented in high resolution.

Grungy Lamp Post Textures

The textures released by Design Instruct’s team have such a high quality that they look incredibly realistic. Delivered in whopping 1987×3000 resolution, each stock easily meets expectations of the most demanding designers.

Colorful and Peeling Rust Textures

When it comes to peeling paint textures, as a rule, we are accustomed to seeing subdued two-tone stocks. However, this is not a case of freebie created by Dustin Schmieding. His set is full of colors.

Rusted Scratched Metal Textures

Rusted and scratched – this is all you need to know about this fantastic set of textures. Every item of Rafi’s free pack is a highly detailed photo that was carefully treated in the Photoshop.

Rusty Metal Textures

Delivered in the big resolution, 2500px x 1600px, each texture of this bundle has characteristic rust stains and beautiful color paint spots. Grab them and use in your personal projects right away.

Grunge Nebulae Textures

Franz Jeitz, an author of this amazing set, was managed to create textures that look not just grunge and brutal but also futuristic. Beautiful color combinations, rust stains and fog-like effect produce a powerful impact.

Grunge Stone Textures

Created by Steven Snell this pack of eight high-quality stocks will surprise you with its organic feel. Along with stains and scuffs, the images feature moss that makes everything look even more natural and rustic.

Paper Textures:

Stained Paper Textures

The author of the set has opted in favor of heavily stained design. The textures are impregnated with watercolor paints looking almost wet. Each one comes in a high resolution and JPEG format.

Antique Postcard Textures

If you want to establish a retro atmosphere in your design, then freebie by the team of Valleys in the Vinyl was created specifically for you. The bundle comprises ten vintage New Year postcards presented in an enormous 2700×4000px size.

Aged Comic Book Textures

This freebie is a real treasure. To find this kind of stock is almost impossible. Nevertheless, here it is. The pack includes pages from comic books that were popular in the 60s and 70s. This is pure old-school stuff.

Old Paper Textures

In comparison to the previous freebie, this one may look a bit ordinary; nonetheless, it is still a valuable tool.  The bundle comprises five high-resolution paper textures that look clean and neat.

Tea-Stained Paper Textures

Callum Chapman kindly gives away fourteen high-quality tea-stained paper textures. Each one ships in a big resolution to meet the needs of the majority. Use them to create stained backgrounds for grunge designs.

Brown Paper Textures

This one belongs to one of the most talented graphic designers in the internet expanses, Chris Spooner. So, it is no surprise that each texture in this bundle boasts of high quality, precise attention to details and original look.

Plain Brown Paper Textures

As the nameplate states, the package includes only brown paper textures that unlike the others alike have a smooth and uniform surface. They are versatile and quite neutral so that you can use them in different projects.

Cardboard Textures

Ten royalty-free cardboard textures are hidden inside this small freebie released by the team of Webfx. The high resolution of each stock makes it easily convey the density inherent to the material.

Wood Textures:

Damaged Wood Textures

Each image in the pack feels rustic, crude and unrefined. The textures were made from the photos of old, almost dilapidated telephone poles, and wooden light posts. Each one is available in large resolution and JPG format.

Wood Textures

Unlike the previous set of wooden textures, this one includes images that look polished, sleek and well groomed; even though some of them have scratches. 2000px size gives you room for experiments.

Stone Textures:

Stone Textures

This is a small bundle of rock textures that will delight you with an organic feel. Each one is based on a photo of stone tiles or walls. Use them to add a touch of concrete to your designs.

Pebble Textures

This is another fantastic freebie by Design Instruct’s team in our collection. The pack consists of five pixel-perfect textures that feature nothing more than just a bunch of scattered smooth rocks. Each one bears an authentic marine charm.

Brick Textures:

Old Brick Wall Textures

Brick & Tile Textures

Brick Textures

Concrete Textures:

Concrete Textures

Rough Concrete Textures

Cracked Concrete Textures

Miscellaneous Textures:

Autumn Leaves Textures

Film Burn Textures

Cloud Textures

Spray Paint Textures

Vintage Wallpaper Textures

Creased Fabric Textures