1000+ HD Background Images and Photos

Browse through our collection of stunning background photographs. Our background images are textured, patterned and arranged to perfectly support the content that you choose to add to your website.

Are you looking to launch your online business? Try Shopify for free!

blue water and white cliffs surrounded by trees

Blue Water And White Cliffs Surrounded By Trees


winding tree towers over landscape

Winding Tree Towers Over Landscape


deep beneath the antelope canyon

Deep Beneath The Antelope Canyon


elaborate building interior with light teal walls

Elaborate Building Interior With Light Teal Walls


beach at sunset in teal and orange

Beach At Sunset In Teal And Orange


overcast 59th street bridge

Overcast 59th Street Bridge


a red-orange column of smoke in darkness

A Red-Orange Column Of Smoke In Darkness


blue ink explosion

Blue Ink Explosion


a cluster of curling pink, silver and white like ink in water

A Cluster Of Curling Pink, Silver And White Like Ink In Water


vertical cirtus slices

Vertical Cirtus Slices


abstract image of colored paper creating horizontal lines

Abstract Image Of Colored Paper Creating Horizontal Lines


abstract background of four colored triangles

Abstract Background Of Four Colored Triangles


white blocks spells out stay well repeatedly

White Blocks Spells Out Stay Well Repeatedly


four black microphones lay on a pink background

Four Black Microphones Lay On A Pink Background


side of a white metropolitan building with large windows

Side Of A White Metropolitan Building With Large Windows


fluffy clouds are colored by a setting sun

Fluffy Clouds Are Colored By A Setting Sun


the sun rises and paints the hills in warm light

The Sun Rises And Paints The Hills In Warm Light


two different textures of sand

Two Different Textures Of Sand


a film reel lays tangled against a white background

A Film Reel Lays Tangled Against A White Background


fresh rainfall on green leaves

Fresh Rainfall On Green Leaves


hands reach for each other against a painted wall

Hands Reach For Each Other Against A Painted Wall


a landscape of rust colored sand dunes

A Landscape Of Rust Colored Sand Dunes


stone archway looks out to a tall building with circular roof

Stone Archway Looks Out To A Tall Building With Circular Roof


person dances in door way with a view of the taj mahal

Person Dances In Door Way With A View Of The Taj Mahal


calm water in european city

Calm Water In European City


fog on dark waters edge

Fog On Dark Waters Edge


asphalt highway

Asphalt Highway


perfect yellow flower

Perfect Yellow Flower


beach sunset thailand

Beach Sunset Thailand


pink petals on pink

Pink Petals On Pink


abstract blue

Abstract Blue


long forest path

Long Forest Path


palm trees sky

Palm Trees Sky


beautiful day at the beach

Beautiful Day At The Beach


pink spring tree blossoms

Pink Spring Tree Blossoms


celebrate carnival background

Celebrate Carnival Background


dusty rose

Dusty Rose


red textured wall

Red Textured Wall


mountain magic hour

Mountain Magic Hour


city lights through rain window

City Lights Through Rain Window


ocean water with swimmers

Ocean Water With Swimmers


writing tools

Writing Tools


seaweed washed up on beach

Seaweed Washed Up On Beach


hiking above clouds at sunset

Hiking Above Clouds At Sunset


city landscape at night

City Landscape At Night


green orange and yellow ink

Green Orange And Yellow Ink


beach sunset

Beach Sunset


golden autumn leaves

Golden Autumn Leaves


stream water passing through cliffs

Stream Water Passing Through Cliffs


hiking though giants

Hiking Though Giants


Start a business

Most everything you need to get started — photos, suppliers, and more

Stunning HD background photos for commercial use

What makes background pictures different?

Background photographs are used very differently that regular images for a number of reasons. When selecting a background image - there are specialized criteria to keep in mind. For starters - background pictures won’t fit into a fixed frame they way other photographs would. When a photo is locked into an article or block of text or shown as part of an advertisement - the dimensions are fixed - meaning that selecting a suitable photo really just comes down to aesthetics.

With background images - things work a little differently. To start, backgrounds are not likely to be in a fixed frame and will need to be equally beautiful when viewed on a large fullscreen, widescreen, or a mobile phone screen. It’s for this reason that web developers will often choose an images of a pattern - so that parts of the it can be cut off by web-browsers and other content that may vary in size and shape without looking like the image is misplaced.

If you’re not using a pattern, you’ll want to make sure the image isn’t too focused. Images with a clear subject don't work as well as background images because parts of the subject may be covered.

You may also choose to use background images to create a parallax scrolling effect. Parallax scrolling has been proven to create a better user experience for web users. This is where a web designer or developer might choose to add content in front of a background images that scrolls faster than the background image itself. This effect is used on web-pages to give the illusion of depth to the page and to create a more dynamic viewing experience.

Images used in parallax scrolling tend to be a little bit different from regular background images. They can be patterns and textures as well - but because portions of the image will scroll by at some point, the images can be a bit more focused - as long as the focus is toward the centre of the image.

Remember that background images take a supporting role in web-page design, so it’s best if they’re simple, clean and patterned. Even if the pattern isn’t design-oriented, you’ll want to go with images without a single, clear subject. Photograph-wise, images like city scapes, landscapes, or large images of busy locations with many subjects tend to look best.

Background images for commercial use

Luckily when it comes to getting the perfect background photo - we’ve got your covered. Our collection of HD photos are perfect for editing and can be used as widescreen backgrounds, full screen backgrounds, and desktop backgrounds and will look equally stunning on both Windows and Mac computers at any size (1600 x 1200, 1440, 1280, 1920).

Take a look at our free, downloadable high resolution images - perfect for your next project.

Background images FAQ

What are background images?

Background images are visual elements that are used to enhance the appearance of a website, presentation, or any other design project. They provide a backdrop or setting for the main content.

What types of background images work best for web-page design?

Background images play a supporting role in web-page design, so it is best to choose simple, clean, and patterned images. Even non-design-oriented patterns can work well. Images without a single, clear subject, such as cityscapes, landscapes, or busy locations with multiple subjects, tend to look best.

Can I use your background images for commercial purposes?

Absolutely! Our collection of high-definition (HD) photos is perfect for editing and can be used as widescreen backgrounds, full-screen backgrounds, and desktop backgrounds. They will look stunning on both Windows and Mac computers at any size, including 1600 x 1200, 1440, 1280, and 1920.

Are your background images available for free download?

Yes, we offer a selection of free, downloadable high-resolution images that are ideal for your next project. These images can be used for commercial purposes and are ready to enhance your designs.