Free sound effect categories
Search through our extensive free sound effects categories below to find your perfect sounds, or you can use the search bar above. All our SFX are recorded and edited by professional field recordists and sound designers and licensed to you for use in your project. With thousands of SFX in our library and hundreds more added daily, we’re one of the fastest growing SFX libraries online. Whether you’re a filmmaker, game developer, podcaster, need free sound effects for YouTube, TV, radio or any creative project, we have you covered. Don’t forget about our free sound effect packs or our royalty free music.
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- Animal Sounds (2068)
- Alligator and Crocodile (6)
- Bat (10)
- Bear (10)
- Bird (483)
- Camel and Llama (8)
- Cat (46)
- Cow (52)
- Deer and Moose (1)
- Dinosaur (43)
- Dog (493)
- Donkey (34)
- Elephant (7)
- Fish and Aquatic (84)
- Fox (7)
- Frog and Toad (17)
- Horse (140)
- Hyena (1)
- Insect (204)
- Lion Tiger etc (81)
- Misc Animals (4)
- Monkey and Primate (25)
- Pig (123)
- Rhinoceros (4)
- Rodent (70)
- Sheep and Goat (73)
- Slug and Worm (14)
- Snake and Lizard (24)
- Wolf (4)
- Bell Sounds (307)
- Church Bells (42)
- Medium and Large Bells (40)
- Service Bells (39)
- Sleigh Bells (38)
- Small Bells (148)
- Cartoon Sounds (4006)
- Anime (122)
- Ascend (217)
- Boing Spring and Twang (487)
- Bubbles (35)
- Cartoon Animals (157)
- Cartoon Impacts (127)
- Cartoon Voices (578)
- Descend (154)
- Eating and Biting (27)
- Funny (43)
- Kiss (5)
- Misc Cartoon (747)
- Pop (195)
- Running and Walking (196)
- Sequences (2)
- Shake and Flutter (91)
- Slime (186)
- Squelch and Splat (140)
- Swipe and Swoosh (92)
- Weapons (20)
- Whistles (409)
- Whoopee Cushion (36)
- Emergency Sounds (212)
- Communication (44)
- Emergency Vehicles (43)
- Fire Extinguisher (8)
- Misc Emergency (17)
- Prison (24)
- Sirens and Alarms (76)
- Explosion Sounds (364)
- Explosion (261)
- Firework (83)
- Shock Waves (20)
- Fantasy Sounds (891)
- Fairy (40)
- Giants (69)
- Magic (732)
- Miscellaneous Fantasy (48)
- Superhero (21)
- Foley Sounds (36217)
- Balloon (577)
- Basket (120)
- Batteries (66)
- Blankets and Covers (56)
- Bottle (1001)
- Cardboard (1812)
- Cloth Rip (158)
- Clothes (2285)
- Dirt Soil and Mud (189)
- Drink Can (452)
- Foam (111)
- Foley Movements (161)
- Footsteps (5097)
- Gems and Jewels (124)
- Glass and Mirrors (478)
- Liquid (394)
- Luggage (3312)
- Metallic (3831)
- Misc Foley (1271)
- Money (2056)
- Paper and Card (3453)
- Plants and Grass (424)
- Plastic (1030)
- Plastic Bags and Packaging (699)
- Polystyrene (193)
- Purse (242)
- Rock Stone and Debris (2104)
- Rope (114)
- Rubber (71)
- Rubber Band (192)
- Sack (108)
- Sand (28)
- Shopping Cart (32)
- Spectacles (23)
- Tent (217)
- Tins (413)
- Tubs and Containers (1062)
- Umbrella (76)
- Whip Swish and Swoosh (209)
- Whistle (68)
- Wooden (1961)
- Food and Drink Sounds (5045)
- Horror Sounds (3206)
- Atmospheres and Accents (1257)
- Cobwebs (4)
- Coffin (38)
- Ghostly (436)
- Gore and Bone Breaks (522)
- Misc Horror (140)
- Monster and Creature (809)
- Hospital Sounds (181)
- Dentist (10)
- Hospital Ambience (15)
- Machines (33)
- Misc Hospital (123)
- Household Sounds (18072)
- Aerosol (224)
- Appliances (655)
- Baby Accessories (61)
- Bathroom and Toilet (923)
- Bedroom (192)
- Books and Magazines (1983)
- CD DVD and Cassettes (177)
- Cleaning (573)
- Clock (176)
- Cosmetics (249)
- Curtains and Blinds (171)
- Cutlery and Crockery (1406)
- Doorbell (75)
- Doors (2129)
- Electronic Equipment (391)
- Furniture (1615)
- Garden (1258)
- Glassware (349)
- Hairbrush (79)
- Heaters and Fires (80)
- Household Room Tones (21)
- Jewelry (240)
- Key and Lock (617)
- Kitchen (1679)
- Matches and Lighters (150)
- Medicine (372)
- Misc Household (999)
- Switches and Sockets (440)
- Telephone (361)
- Torch (23)
- Trash Can (291)
- Water Spray Bottle (64)
- Window (281)
- Human Sounds (5754)
- Audiences and Crowds (455)
- Baby (280)
- Bodily Functions (166)
- Breathing and Snoring (444)
- Burp (216)
- Clapping (80)
- Cough (221)
- Crying (35)
- Drinking and Eating (403)
- Fart (561)
- Hiccup (34)
- Kissing (32)
- Laughing (448)
- Misc Human (339)
- Moaning (44)
- Punch and Slap (147)
- Screaming (343)
- Speaking and Singing (1555)
- Spit (62)
- Vomit (13)
- Yawn (27)
- Impact Sounds (3895)
- Body Impacts (222)
- Glass Breaking and Smashing (360)
- Metal (2120)
- Misc Impacts (317)
- Pots Pans and Crockery (131)
- Rock (294)
- Trees and Branches (166)
- Vehicle Impacts (5)
- Wood Impact Snap and Break (308)
- Industrial Sounds (6462)
- Bucket (212)
- Carts and Trolleys (193)
- Chains (559)
- Construction Site (82)
- Elevator (30)
- Factory and Warehouse (119)
- Farms (55)
- Hand Tools (2562)
- Logging (9)
- Machinery (306)
- Mechanic Workshop (180)
- Misc Industrial (945)
- Nails and Screws etc (261)
- Paint (28)
- Power Tools (683)
- Pressure Washer (67)
- Pump (177)
- Watermill (3)
- Lab Sounds (61)
- Chemical Sounds (61)
- Leisure Sounds (3753)
- Casino and Games Arcade (25)
- Comedy (43)
- Fairground (38)
- Fishing (39)
- Games and Puzzles (1238)
- Kite (18)
- Lilos and Inflatables (112)
- Misc Leisure (91)
- Party (63)
- Remote Controlled Toys (179)
- Toys (1950)
- Multimedia and UI Sounds (9436)
- Beep (176)
- Button Click Sounds (78)
- Game Developer Sound Effects (6777)
- Maximize and Minimize (24)
- Radio Production (68)
- Ringtones (48)
- Rollover (111)
- Signatures and Idents (131)
- UI Alert and Prompt (2081)
- Musical Sounds (610)
- Drums and Percussion (158)
- Guitar (90)
- Loops (9)
- Misc Musical (186)
- Piano and Synthesizer (16)
- Reggae Air Horn (6)
- Strings (72)
- Vinyl and Record Player (10)
- Wind Instruments (65)
- Nature Sounds (3392)
- Blizzard (8)
- Cave (40)
- Earthquake (10)
- Fire (155)
- Forest and Jungle Ambiences (238)
- Hail (4)
- Lake (37)
- Landslide (21)
- Ocean (168)
- Rain (319)
- River and Stream (157)
- Rural Ambience (357)
- Snow and Ice (352)
- Thunder and Lightning (142)
- Volcano (6)
- Water (1152)
- Waterfalls (122)
- Wind (186)
- Office Sounds (4602)
- Calculators (24)
- Chalk and Chalkboards (110)
- Files and Folders (170)
- Filing Cabinets (67)
- Misc Office (117)
- Office Furniture (150)
- Paper Shredder (28)
- Printers and Photocopiers (71)
- Scissors (198)
- Stapler and Hole Punch (175)
- Stationery (3150)
- String (30)
- Typewriter (312)
- Public Place Sounds (1220)
- Airport (123)
- Bank (2)
- Bar and Restaurant (79)
- Beach (14)
- Bus Station (14)
- Castle (62)
- Churches (21)
- City and Urban (348)
- Misc Public Places (95)
- Museum (20)
- Parks (47)
- Playgrounds (23)
- Public Toilet (47)
- School (12)
- Shops and Malls (82)
- Spa (15)
- Suburban (31)
- Swimming Pool (9)
- Tannoy (71)
- Train Station (106)
- Science Fiction Sounds (5778)
- Alarms and Sirens (244)
- Aliens (156)
- Astronaut (4)
- Consoles and Computers (1415)
- Door (64)
- Forcefield and Energy (147)
- Lasers and Weapons (712)
- Machines and Equipment (854)
- Misc Science Fiction (243)
- Robot (1109)
- Sci Fi Atmospheres (183)
- Space (42)
- Spacecraft and Vehicles (525)
- Steampunk (92)
- Sound Design Sounds (5402)
- Air and Hiss (67)
- Cinematic (1845)
- Drones (190)
- Electricity (33)
- Electromagnetic Field (21)
- FM Synthesis (83)
- Glitches (171)
- Hits and Noises (2050)
- Soundscapes (109)
- Sweeps and Transitions (275)
- Whoosh (558)
- Sport Sounds (2040)
- Air Horn (23)
- Baseball (37)
- Basket Ball (65)
- Bowling (15)
- Boxing and Martial Arts (107)
- Cricket (45)
- Darts (5)
- Football and Rugby (67)
- Golf (57)
- Gym and Workout (305)
- Gymnastics (22)
- Hockey (13)
- Misc Sport (200)
- Motor Racing (92)
- Netball (17)
- Paintball (2)
- Racket Sports (235)
- Roller Skates (28)
- Skateboard (141)
- Snooker and Pool (171)
- Soccer (226)
- Surfing (70)
- Swimming (64)
- Winter Sports (46)
- Technology Sounds (966)
- Camera (202)
- CB Radio (190)
- Computers (195)
- Hard Drive (14)
- Headphones and Speakers (41)
- Misc Technology (180)
- Radio (92)
- Video Games and Consoles (52)
- Vehicle Sounds (5322)
- Airplane (687)
- ATV (14)
- Bicycle (490)
- Boat (307)
- Bus (26)
- Cable Car (12)
- Car (2681)
- Drone (71)
- Helicopter (35)
- Misc Vehicles and Transport (30)
- Motorcycle (313)
- Scooter (18)
- Space Shuttle (11)
- Traffic (197)
- Train (183)
- Truck (109)
- Van (139)
- Warfare Sounds (2662)
- Artillery (16)
- Battle Axe (29)
- Battles (12)
- Bombs (67)
- Bow and Arrow (239)
- Cannon (15)
- Flame Thrower (29)
- Gun (1010)
- Knife (442)
- Misc Warfare (141)
- Missiles (108)
- Spears (11)
- Sword (473)
- Tank (66)
- Taser (6)
- Throwing Star (12)
Why use ZapSplat.com?
We add hundreds more free sound effects every week for instant download and work with some of the best professional sound designers and libraries to bring you fresh, exciting new content. All our sounds are 100% legal to use, recorded by ourselves or our contributors. We own the copyrights or are authorised to distribute them meaning you can use our audio with absolute confidence. We take great pride in the quality of the sounds in our library and check every single one to make sure they meet our strict quality guidelines.
Why do we offer free sound effects to download?
What’s the catch? That’s something we get asked a lot. There isn’t one. Back in 2015, when ZapSplat founder Alan started the library, he was struggling to find professional quality sounds and music for free, so decided to create a library that did just that. Offering a vast library of free sounds and music helps everyone, from hobbyists, aspiring creatives and students right through to major production companies and broadcasters. We’re monetised through upgrades, which helps us grow the library and pay for the things required to run it, but ZapSplat will always be predominately a free sound effects library.
What type of projects or platforms can I use the sound effects in?
Our free sound effects can be used in everything from games and apps, YouTube and streaming platforms such as Twitch, by filmmakers and videographers, websites and blogs, commercials, TV, radio and podcasts, social media, including Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, in art and exhibitions… in fact you can pretty much use our sounds in any creative project, even for broadcast. All our sounds are royalty free.
Simple Licensing for all our sounds and music
All our sound effects and music are royalty free, which means while we or our contributors retain all copyrights, we grant you a license to use them in your work and you can use our sounds for free without having to pay any royalties or other fees.