While rendering software often comes with built-in assets like 3D people and accessories that you can drop into your projects to add a little pizazz, sometimes you may want to go outside the box to find that special something.
In these situations, designers and arch viz specialists often turn to the web to find exactly what they're looking for. There are a lot of fantastic free visualization resources online, and here, we have listed and linked to over 40 of the best websites for free 3D models, materials, free 3D textures, 3D objects, sound files, IES profiles, and more!
For your ease of use, we are also providing you with a PDF of these sites for you to download and save (and of course, we are totally fine with you sharing this with your friends, family, colleagues, and anyone else who loves a good infographic. We're particularly proud of this one 😉).
We hope you find this compilation of awesome free 3D visualization resources helpful. There are inevitably more sites out there. If you have a favorite that's not listed below, please email us so we can add it. Enjoy!
Free 3D models
TurboSquid: Access a diverse range of professional 3D models. Thousands available to download. Files formats include max, fbx, obj, c4d, maya.
SketchUp 3D Warehouse: Download and share SketchUp 3D models with fellow users. Millions of models and products available. Filter by file size, polygons, and even popularity, to find the most favored models available.
Archibase Planet: Browse and download free 3D CAD models. Archibase Planet consists of a large community of architects and designers who share their models on the site.
pCon.box: Customize and export furniture-based models. Registration required.
BIMobject: High-quality BIM objects to download from over 2,000 building product manufacturer brands. Various file types and models specifically for Revit, Archicad, Rhino, and SketchUp.
BIMcontent: A 100% free platform that provides free BIM content specifically developed to strict quality control standards. You'll find Revit assets, 3D models, advanced / PBR materials and textures, libraries, and more, all optimized specifically for use in Enscape.
Bimstore: High-quality manufacturer BIM content. Searchable by country, manufacturer, category, top-rated, and more. Forum available. Registration required.
Enscape Asset Library: Insert high-quality models directly into projects. Thousands of low poly, high-performing assets to drag and drop into your model and renderings with an Enscape license.
Modlar: Branded models and BIM content for AEC professionals. Revit, SketchUp, Archicad, and other files available to download. Registration required.
SketchUp Texture Club: Download SketchUp models and vegetation collections. Registration required.
Polantis: Thousands of free CAD and BIM objects. Large range of file formats available. No registration required.
CGAXIS: Choose from free 3D models, including vegetation, decorative accessories, and furniture. Various file formats available, including blender, fbx, obj, V-Ray.
RevitCity: Access user-generated Revit content. Over 20,000 objects. Revit families, project files, material libraries, groups, and more. Plus Revit community forum.
Free 3D: Find and download 3D models and filter by software, file type, and low poly.
3DfindIt: Download 3D CAD models for free. Also searchable by manufacturer.
Free materials & textures
ambientCG: Over 1,000 PBR and seamless materials up to 16k resolution, free to use under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal License. No attribution required, although it is appreciated 😊.
SketchUp Texture Club: Free seamless rendering textures and materials. Large collection of textures categorized under 'Architecture'. Wallpapers, metals, fabrics, and others listed under 'Materials'. Nature elements also available.
Poly Haven: Photo-scanned seamless PBR materials, at least 8k resolution. Free to use under CC0. No registration required to download assets.
Texture Box: PBR and seamless textures for interior and exterior projects. Download directly. A handful are free for non-commercial projects.
cgbookcase: Restriction-free PBR textures that come with all the maps needed to create photorealisic materials. Up to 4k. Filter by resolution, category, and color.
Share Textures: PBR textures up to 4k resolution, with maps included. Free to use under Creative Commons.
Public Domain Textures: Copyright-free textures up to 8k in PNG and JPG. Free to use under the CC0 Creative Commons license.
patternpanda: Seamless textures from 2k to 8k. Maps provided. Photographed high-quality textures. Credit must be given.
Textures.com: Extensive collection of PBR materials. 15 free per day. Small and medium resolution images free to download. Registration required.
3Dassets.one: Browse PBR materials from multiple sites in one place. Filter by provider, type of model, material, HDRI, SBSAR, and license type.
CGAXIS: Free seamless PBR materials with maps available to download once you have registered.
3dtextures.me: Search seamless 3D PBR textures with maps. Free to use under the CC0 license.
Polligon: A small collection of free high-quality textures. Compatible with all major software and renderers.
Texturelabs: Well-organized free textures for personal and commercial use.
Texturer: Unique photographed textures.
Texture Ninja: Very large collection of textures available to download and use under the public domain.
Software to create custom models, materials & textures
Blender: Blender is free, open-source 3D creation software that can be used to create your own custom models and much more.
Material Maker: A procedural materials authoring tool. Can be used to create custom materials and paint 3D models. For Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Materialize: A free open-source standalone tool for creating PBR materials. Create an entire material from a single image or the textures you have.
ShaderMap: Generate seamless material maps from textures and 3D models (non-commercial use). License required for commercial use.
Free IES light profiles
IES Library: Over 300k IES files on file from various manufacturers. Filter available, including manufacturer, light type, lamp, latest files, and most downloaded.
Philips: Search Philip’s catalog of IES profiles and light fixtures and download the latest photometric data.
American Electric Lighting: Download IES profiles and BIM models. You will need to download the files regularly as new products are added and updates made often.
Lithonia: Download individual light files or entire archives.
LA Lighting: Extensive resource for commercial and industrial lighting.
Additional reading: Learn more about lighting in SketchUp and electric lighting best practices for Revit in our supporting articles.
Free skyboxes (HDRIs)
Textures.com: Choose from a selection of HDR spheres, including indoor, nature, city, and industrial scenes.
Texturify: Download 360-degree environment panoramas for free.
Poly Haven: Over 500 indoor and outdoor HDRIs available to download, including skies, sunrises, sunsets, night, nature, and urban panoramas.
CGTrader: Selection of free skyboxes.
HDRI-hub: Free skyboxes. Attribution appreciated.
Additional reading: Here is an in-depth guide covering how to use panoramas in Enscape.
Free sound files
FreeSoundEffects: Over 50,000 free and royalty-free sound effects in wave or mp3 format for personal or educational use. For other use cases, check out the paid professional sounds that come with a license for commercial use.
SoundBible: Free and royalty-free sound clips in wav or mp3 format for personal and educational use. For commercial use, attribution is generally required. Check the conditions of each sound file before use.
freesound: Extensive database of sounds free to use under Creative commons licenses. Check license types before use.
Real-time visualization and virtual reality
Enscape: Our very own real-time visualization tool offers free full-version licenses for educators. Discounted licenses are also available for students and institutions. You can try Enscape for free, for 14 days. Paid licenses are available for professionals.
Your favorite resources
Of course, you may use another tool or website that we haven't featured in this ultimate list of 3D visualization resources, and if this is the case, we'd love to hear all about it! Drop us an email at marketing@enscape3d.com and let us know about your go-to free 3D resources so we can keep this list updated.
*Please note: Attribution may be required when using the free resources mentioned above. Always check the licensing conditions before use.
