How to Get Cloth in Rust?

William Westerlund / December 18, 2025 / 4 min read

When I first dove into Rust, one of the resources that really stood out to me was cloth. Whether you’re crafting clothing, bandages, or even rockets, cloth is essential. Let me walk you through how I efficiently gather cloth in the game.

All Reliable Methods for Getting Cloth in Rust

MethodHow It WorksNotes / Tips
Harvesting Hemp PlantsFind green hemp plants in grassy areas and harvest them. Each plant gives raw hemp.Convert raw hemp into cloth in your inventory. No workbench required.
Killing Hemp RatsAttack hemp rats found near livestock and farm areas. They drop raw hemp when killed.Best done with a bow or gun to conserve resources.
Recycling ItemsRecycle items like tarps, tents, sleeping bags, bandages, or clothes at a Recycler.This gives cloth and other components. Great for surplus or scavenged items.
Looting Crates & BarrelsCheck crates, barrels, and loot boxes in monuments, outposts, or abandoned bases. Some contain cloth directly or recyclable items.Always loot cautiously; some monuments are high-risk.
Trading with Other PlayersExchange scrap, metal, or other resources for cloth.Helpful if hemp is scarce or you want a fast supply.

Harvesting Hemp Plants

via MeatFlute_

My go-to method for cloth is harvesting hemp plants. These green beauties are scattered all over the map, especially near forests and rivers. Here’s how I make the most of them:

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Find Hemp Plants

Look for tall, green plants with distinct leaves. They’re easy to spot during the day.

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Use the Right Tool

Use a hatchet or pickaxe to gather hemp efficiently and maximize yield.

Harvesting Tips

Collect hemp when fully grown for best results and respect respawn timers for a steady supply.

Hunting Animals for Hemp

Another reliable source to get cloth in Rust is hunting animals, particularly hemp rats. These critters drop hemp when defeated, providing a steady flow of cloth.

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Tracking Hemp Rats

Set up near livestock areas where hemp rats are more frequent to maximize hunting opportunities.

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Efficient Hunting

Use a bow or rifle to hunt quickly while conserving ammunition and maximizing efficiency.

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Processing Drops

Collect and process hemp drops immediately to maximize your cloth gains from hunts.

Recycling and Looting

via Rustoria

Sometimes, cloth can be found by recycling or looting existing structures and containers.

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Recycling Components

Recycle items like bandages or tents to reclaim cloth and reduce resource waste.

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Looting Crates

Check crates and barrels in monuments and outposts. Many contain cloth or items that can be broken down into cloth.

Trading with Other Players

Don’t underestimate the power of the Rust community. Trading can be a game-changer when you’re low on cloth.

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Bartering Essentials

Trade excess resources like scrap or metal fragments for cloth when needed to maintain your supplies.

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Building Alliances

Form alliances with other players to improve trading opportunities and secure resource-rich areas.

Automating Cloth Production

via Gamever

Once you’re a bit more established, automating cloth production can save you tons of time. Here’s how I set up efficient hemp farms:

a. Choosing the Right Location

I start by selecting a suitable location for my hemp farm. Ideally, it should be:

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Accessible

Close to the base to minimize travel time and make daily farm management easier.

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Resource-Rich

Located near water and forests to ensure easy access to hemp plants and other materials.

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Secure

Preferably within a fortified area to protect the farm from raids and theft.

b. Building Farming Plots

Next, I set up farming plots to cultivate hemp, for the grand purpose of getting cloth in Rust. Here’s the step-by-step process:

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Crafting Farming Plots

Use the Workbench to craft farming plots. Making several plots expands production capacity efficiently.

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Placing the Plots

Arrange plots in a grid layout for organized management and efficient farming operations.

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Sowing Hemp Seeds

Plant hemp seeds in each plot, giving them enough space to grow. Seeds come from harvested plants or other players.

c. Watering and Maintenance

Hemp plants require regular watering to thrive. Here’s how I manage it:

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Water Supply

Set up water sources like barrels or irrigation systems near farming plots. Connect them with pipes to automate watering.

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Regular Check-ups

Periodically inspect plants to ensure healthy growth. Remove weeds or debris that might hinder development.

d. Harvesting Hemp

Once the hemp plants are fully grown, it’s time to harvest:

Harvest Timing

Schedule harvesting during low-traffic times to avoid attracting unwanted attention from other players.

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Tools and Efficiency

Using a hatchet speeds up harvesting. Gather all hemp before plants reset to maximize your yield.

Other Methods for Getting Cloth in Rust

If you want, you can also get cloth in unusual ways:

Cactus Method

Cacti spawn in desert or arid biomes. Players can harvest them for cloth using tools such as a hatchet, pickaxe, or spear.

This method is easy to access and has minimal competition. However, the yield is lower than hemp plants or hemp rats, making it more suitable for early-game cloth collection.

Outpost Glove Loop

At the Outpost, players can move in a circular pattern around animal spawn points, such as hemp rats or deer, to repeatedly collect cloth.

This technique allows fast and repeatable farming. The method works best on low-population servers but carries high PvP risk due to the busy location.

Summary

Gathering cloth in Rust doesn’t have to be a grind if you approach it strategically. By combining harvesting, hunting, recycling, trading, and especially automating your cloth production through well-organized hemp farms, I’ve managed to maintain a steady supply of cloth for all my crafting needs.

FAQs

1. What is the fastest way to get cloth in Rust?

The fastest method is harvesting hemp plants, which are commonly found in grassy areas and near roads. Each hemp plant yields cloth directly.

2. Can you get cloth without farming hemp?

Yes. Cloth can also be obtained by recycling items like tarps, sewing kits, and ropes at a Recycler, or by killing animals and harvesting them.

3. Does recycling clothes give cloth in Rust?

Most basic clothing items can be recycled into cloth, making looting and recycling an effective alternative if hemp is scarce.

4. Is farming hemp worth it long-term?

Absolutely. Hemp farming provides a steady, renewable supply of cloth and is ideal for crafting armor, medical items, and components.

5. Where are the best places to find hemp plants?

Hemp commonly spawns in grass biomes, along roads, and near rivers. Exploring early-game areas often yields plenty of plants.

author avatar
William Westerlund
William brings 7 years of experience writing for multiple gaming blogs. He has more than 10,000 hours played in CS:GO (CS2) and have played around in other games such as TF2 and Rust. Through his experience playing the game at a high level and dealing with skins for many years, he provides first-hand insight into the topics covered on the Tradeit.gg blog.

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Discover the best method for gathering cloth in Rust. Harvest hemp plants using the right tools and timing for optimal results.
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