Creating background patterns can be a bit of a pain in the butt if you don't have the patience to do it properly... That's why finding professional sources for pre-made background patterns can be a huge time saver. In the collection below, we have carefully gathered 12 websites where you can download awesome background patterns. We'll also share over 100 background patterns that you can use in your own projects!

Patterns, Patterns, and More Patterns!

Today we're bringing you over 100 background patterns to use in your own web designs. We're going to start each "source site" with a quick intro, and then list off 10 of our favorite patterns from each site. One thing to pay attention to is the file formats... These come in a couple different formats, including:

• Illustrator Files (drag and drop into your web designs)
• .PAT Files (drop these files into your Photoshop or Fireworks "Presets/Patterns" folder)
• .PNG, .JPG, or .GIF files (you can make these into patterns from Photoshop or Fireworks, or just use them directly in your HTML docs).

From straight edged grid-like patterns to wild and funky multi-colored sets, we've got something for everyone here!

Graphic River

Graphic River is a site dedicating to allowing designers to sell their design elements to other designers for a few bucks. All of the following files cost a few bucks, but having used quite a few of them myself, I can say they are worth digging around for the couch-cushion money. Here are just a few of our favorites:

• Seamless Metal Patterns
• Seamless Kraft Patterns
• Patterns Mega Pack
• Transparent Patterns
• Seamless Patterns
• Carbon Metal Pattern
• Metal Effect Patterns
• Hexagon Pattern
• Tileable Pattern Set
• Gray Ornate Patterns

Brusheeezy

Brusheezy is another fantastic resource site. All of the files here are free, and they come in a variety of different file formats. Here are our favorites:

• Flowers Pattern Pack
• Seamless Charcoal Demask Pattern
• Pink Pattern Pack
• Customize Pattern Pack
• Arabic Patterns
• Flowery Pattern Pack
• Seamless Wood Patterns
• Photoshop Patterns Pack
• Early Bird Special Pattern
• Grungy Retro Patterns

Webtreats

WebTreats offers some of the highest quality sets in this mix... we love their attention to detail and the fact their patterns are created with web designers in mind. Check out some of our favs:

• Washed Grunge Patterns
• Minty Grunge Patterns
• Washed Seamless Patterns
• Tileable Grunge Patterns
• Seamless Patterns
• Grungy Faded Retro Patterns
• Olive Green Patterns
• Seamlesee Paper Patterns
• Abstract Grunge Patterns
• Retro Grunge Patterns

Vector Valley

Vector Valley has a great selection of unique patterns... from floral victorian damask to hot-pink shape gradients. Here's just a few that we like:

• Seamless Retro Patterns
• Xmas Pattern
• 4 Vector Patterns
• Pattern Pack 4
• Pattern Pack 2
• Floral Pattern Pack
• Colored Vector Patterns
• Organic Shapes Patterns
• Redmillion Pattern Pack
• Colored Pattern Pack

Ava7 Patterns

Ava7 offers some neat ways of sorting through their library - you can actually sort by shape, color, and other settings - all of this makes it pretty easy to find a pattern that suits your fancy. here are just a few of our picks:

• Pattern Pack 1
• Pattern Pack 2
• Pattern Pack 3
• Pattern Pack 4
• Pattern Pack 5
• Pattern Pack 6
• Pattern Pack 7
• Pattern Pack 8
• Pattern Pack 9
• Pattern Pack 10

Pattern8

• Autumn Leaves Patterns
• Plaid Pastel Patterns
• Halloween Skulls Patterns
• Camouflage Patterns
• Earthy Floral Patterns
• Grungy Fleur De Lis Patterns
• Funky Retro Patterns
• Grungy Stripes Patterns
• Grungy Organic Patterns
• Antique Engraved Patterns

Din Pattern

• Pumpkin Pattern Set
• Salem Pattern Set
• Beachy Accent Pattern Set
• Grunge Pattern Set
• Royal Lobsterific Pattern Set
• Karachi Pattern Set
• Alexandria Pattern Set
• Sapphire Pattern Set
• Transmit Pattern Set
• Banana Pattern Set

Deviant Art

DeviantArt is a community site where designers and artists can share their work... it might seem like an unlikely place to find great web design resources, but their outstanding browsing interface and huge library of contributions actually makes it a pretty great place to get started in any hunt for quality patterns. Here's just a few samples:

• Floral Pattern Set
• Broken Heart Pattern Set
• Shirt Pattern Set
• Pixel Art Pattern Set
• Scrapbooking Pattern Set
• Concrete Pattern Set
• Pattern Pack
• Gold Damask Pattern Set
• Grunge Pattern Set
• Damask Pattern Set

ColorBurned

ColorBurned has a nice collection of some of the funkier pattern sets that we've seen in a while. If you're looking for something that's a little outside of the normal beaten path, check these out:

• Valentines Day Vector Patterns
• Seamless Heart Pattern
• Seamless Textured Spade Pattern
• Seamless Plaid Patterns
• Heart Pattern
• Vector Halftone Patterns
• Impressive Polka Patterns
• Seamless Polka Pattern
• Argyle Patterns
• Plaid Swatches Patterns

Flickr

Flickr is another place that most people probably don't think of as a source of web design patterns... but a closer inspection reveals that quite a few people are sharing their home-brew patterns on the site. Check out some of our favs:

• Psychadelic Hypno Pattern
• Multi Colors Shapes
• Octagonal
• Cracked Earth
• Tech Flowers
• Tectured Flowers
• Pattern Set
• Multi Colored Shapes
• Bokeh Dots
• Textured Flowers

Pattern Head

• Zebra Stripes Vector Patterns
• Geometric Goodness Vector Patterns
• Intricate Lace Vector Pattern
• Abstract Gears Vector Pattern
• Vintage Velvet Vector Pattern
• Twisted Floral Vector Pattern
• Gears and Cogs Vector Pattern
• Skulls Vector Patern
• Plaid Vector Pattern
• Autumn Leaves Vector Pattern