What Is a Box Shadow Generator?
A box shadow generator is a visual tool that creates CSS box-shadow code for you. Instead of guessing values and refreshing your browser dozens of times, you adjust sliders and color pickers to see exactly how your shadow looks—then click to copy the code.
The CSS box-shadow property adds depth to web elements, but remembering the syntax for offsets, blur radius, spread, and color gets tedious. Our generator handles the technical details so you can focus on making beautiful design choices.
Why Our Box Shadow CSS Generator Helps
You'll speed up your workflow dramatically. What used to take 15 minutes of tweaking now takes 30 seconds. The visual preview shows you exactly what you're building as you adjust each value.
Cross-browser compatibility stops being a headache. Our tool generates clean CSS that works everywhere, so you don't waste time debugging vendor prefix issues or rendering quirks.
You get exportable code snippets you can drop directly into your project. Click to copy, paste into your stylesheet, and move on to the next task.
Who Uses This Tool
Front-end developers use our box shadow generator to prototype UI faster. Web designers create depth without writing CSS manually. Beginners learning CSS see how each property affects the final result, which speeds up their education.
Product designers and marketers building quick website mockups add professional polish without diving into code. If you're creating buttons, cards, forms, or any modern web interface, this tool helps.
How CSS Box Shadow Works
The box-shadow property follows this pattern: offset-x offset-y blur-radius spread-radius color inset.
Offset-x and offset-y position the shadow horizontally and vertically. Positive values move right and down; negative values move left and up.
Blur-radius controls softness. Zero creates a hard edge. Higher values make the shadow diffuse and natural.
Spread-radius expands or contracts the shadow size before blur applies. Positive spread makes shadows larger; negative makes them smaller.
Color sets the shadow tone. Use RGBA values to add transparency—most shadows look better with alpha around 0.1 to 0.3.
Inset flips the shadow inside the element, creating a pressed or recessed effect.
Simple and Complex Shadows
Simple shadows use basic offsets and blur:
box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);Complex shadows layer multiple effects:
box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15),
0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);Performance Matters
Performance matters when you add shadows. Browsers handle them well, but excessive blur on many elements slows rendering on low-power devices.
How Our Generator Works
Open the tool and you'll see sliders for every box-shadow property. Move them and watch the preview update instantly. No page refreshes, no guessing.
Pick your shadow color with the color picker. Set transparency by adjusting the alpha channel. See exactly how that RGBA value looks on your element before you commit.
We include presets for common use cases—subtle button shadows, elevated cards, input field insets. Click any preset and customize from there.
Need multiple shadows? Add layers and control each one independently. Our UI keeps complex shadows organized so you don't lose track of which values do what.
When you're done, click the copy button and the CSS goes straight to your clipboard. Paste it into your stylesheet and you're finished.
Step-by-Step: Creating Beautiful Shadows
Step 1 — Start with Your Element
Start with your element. Set the values for size and background color in the preview panel. This helps you see how shadows interact with your actual design.
Step 2 — Adjust Offsets
Adjust vertical and horizontal offsets. Most modern shadows sit below elements—try 0px horizontal and 2-6px vertical for a natural lifted look.
Step 3 — Add Blur for Softness
Add blur for softness. Start around 8-12px for buttons and cards. Higher blur creates a gentle, diffused effect. Lower blur looks sharper and closer to the element.
Step 4 — Control Spread Carefully
Control spread carefully. A small negative spread (-2px) tightens shadows. Positive spread makes them more prominent. Most designs work best with spread between -2px and 2px.
Step 5 — Set Color and Transparency
Set your color and transparency. Black at 10-20% alpha (rgba(0,0,0,0.15)) works for most cases. Match your shadow color to your design's palette for unique effects.
Step 6 — Toggle Inset for Pressed Styles
Toggle inset for pressed styles. Use inset shadows on input fields or toggled button states to create depth that goes into the page instead of lifting off it.
Step 7 — Layer Multiple Shadows
Layer multiple shadows for realism. Combine a close, dark shadow with a distant, soft one. This mimics how real objects cast shadows under multiple light sources.
Step 8 — Copy and Test
Copy the code and test. Paste your CSS and check responsiveness across devices. Shadows that look cool on desktop might need adjustment on mobile.
Real Examples You Can Build Right Now
Example 1: Subtle Button Shadow
.btn {
box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
}This creates a gentle lift perfect for primary buttons. The small vertical offset and moderate blur keep it professional without being dramatic.
Example 2: Elevated Card with Depth
.card {
box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15), 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
}Layering two shadows adds realism. The first creates distance; the second adds definition at the edges.
Example 3: Inset Input Field
.input {
box-shadow: inset 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
}Inset shadows make form fields look pressed into the page, signaling they're interactive and ready for input.
Making Shadows Accessible and Fast
Shadows affect contrast and readability. If your text sits on a shadowed element, test that it still meets WCAG standards. Dark shadows under light text can reduce legibility.
Avoid stacking too many shadows on too many elements. Each shadow adds rendering cost. On older devices or mobile, excessive shadows cause jank during scrolling or animations.
Keep blur radius reasonable—anything over 30px rarely looks better and definitely performs worse. Test your website on mid-range devices to catch performance issues early.
The Honest Take: Pros and Cons
Why Generators Help
You save time and eliminate trial-and-error. Visual control means fewer CSS mistakes. Presets encourage experimentation—you'll try shadow styles you might not have coded manually. Sharing code with your team becomes instant.
Where They Fall Short
Generated CSS sometimes needs optimization for production. If you only use generators, you might not learn how box-shadow actually works. Cross-browser quirks still pop up occasionally and require manual fixes.
We built our tool knowing these trade-offs. Use it to move faster, but take time to understand what the code does. That knowledge makes you a better developer.
Start Creating Stunning Shadows Now
Ready to add depth to your web design? Our box shadow generator gives you professional CSS box-shadow effects in seconds. Adjust, preview, and export—then get back to building great products.
Try the generator now and see how fast you can create shadows that make your UI feel modern and polished.
Your Questions Answered
What does a box shadow generator do?+
It gives you visual controls to create CSS box-shadow effects without writing code manually. Adjust sliders, see the preview, copy the CSS.
How do I create a subtle shadow for buttons?+
Use small offsets (0px horizontal, 2-4px vertical), moderate blur (6-8px), and low transparency (rgba(0,0,0,0.1)). This creates a gentle lift without overpowering your design.
Can I use multiple shadows on one element?+
Yes. Separate each shadow with a comma in your CSS:
box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);Are box shadows expensive for performance?+
Modern browsers handle them well through GPU rasterization. Avoid very large blur values and don't layer many shadows on hundreds of elements. Test on mobile to be sure.
How do I make inset shadows?+
Add the inset keyword before your values:
box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);This flips the shadow inside the element—perfect for input fields or pressed button states.