CSS Box Shadow Generator — Free Online Tool

What Is CSS Box Shadow Generator?

A free online CSS box shadow generator. Create beautiful box shadows with full control over X/Y offset, blur radius, spread, shadow color, and inset mode. Live preview shows the result on a card, and you can copy the CSS code instantly.

The CSS box-shadow property is one of the most versatile tools in a web designer's toolkit, capable of adding depth, hierarchy, and visual interest to UI elements. CSS Box Shadow Generator provides a visual interface for creating box-shadow CSS code, with full control over every parameter and an interactive preview that updates in real time.

The generator exposes five adjustable parameters through sliders. X Offset moves the shadow horizontally (positive values shift right, negative values shift left). Y Offset moves the shadow vertically (positive values shift down, negative values shift up). Blur Radius controls how soft the shadow edges are — zero produces a sharp drop shadow, while higher values create a softer, more diffuse effect. Spread Radius expands or contracts the shadow size without affecting the blur. The Color Picker sets the shadow color with opacity control via the alpha channel.

A live preview card shows the effect of every adjustment immediately. The preview card is styled with a white background and rounded corners to simulate a real UI component, so you can see exactly how the shadow will look on your actual interface elements. Six preset shadows are included for quick selection: subtle, medium, heavy, blurry, inset, and lifted.

The generated CSS box-shadow code is displayed in a copy-ready format. The output supports the full shorthand syntax including the inset keyword for inner shadows. Multiple box-shadow values can be combined by copying the output and manually pasting multiple declarations. The tool also validates that the syntax is correct, so every copy is a valid CSS declaration.

Real-World Use Cases for CSS Box Shadow Generator

Creating a Subtle Card Shadow for a Dashboard UI

Your dashboard has cards displaying metrics and charts. Use the generator to set X=0, Y=2, Blur=4, Spread=0 with a light gray color at 10% opacity. The resulting shadow creates subtle depth on the cards. Copy the generated CSS and apply it to your card component class.

Designing a Lifted Button Effect for a Landing Page

A call-to-action button needs a lifted appearance. Set X=0, Y=4, Blur=6, Spread=-1 with a darker shadow color. Toggle the inset option off. The result is a button that appears to float above the page surface. Click the "Lifted" preset as a starting point and fine-tune the values.

Creating an Inset Shadow for a Search Input Focus State

A search input field needs an inner glow when focused. Toggle the Inset option on. Set X=0, Y=2, Blur=4, Spread=0 with the primary brand color at 30% opacity. The inset shadow appears inside the input border, signaling focus to the user.

Why Use CSS Box Shadow Generator?

Full control: X/Y offset, blur, spread, color
Inset shadow toggle
Live preview on a card element
6 preset shadows included

How to Use CSS Box Shadow Generator — Step by Step

Adjust X offset, Y offset, blur, and spread using sliders.

Pick a shadow color and toggle inset if needed.

Preview the shadow on the card in real-time.

Copy the generated CSS box-shadow code.

Who Is CSS Box Shadow Generator Best For?

UI design
card styling
button effects
web development

Pro Tips for CSS Box Shadow Generator

1The order of values in box-shadow shorthand is: X-offset Y-offset blur-radius spread-radius color. Inset must come first or last. The generator outputs correct syntax automatically.
2Layered shadows create more realistic depth. Use two shadows: a subtle offset shadow for the main depth and a larger, softer shadow with lower opacity for ambient light. Example: box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.08).
3Avoid using box-shadow on very large elements (full-page containers). The rendering cost for large shadows can impact scroll performance, especially on mobile devices.
4The spread parameter with a negative value creates a shadow that is smaller than the element. Combined with blur, this produces a "vignette" effect where the shadow concentrates around the edges.

CSS Box Shadow Generator — Frequently Asked Questions

What is CSS box-shadow?

box-shadow is a CSS property that adds shadow effects around an element. It accepts X offset, Y offset, blur radius, spread radius, color, and an optional inset keyword.

Can I apply multiple shadows?

Yes, separate multiple shadows with commas: box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);

Will the generated CSS work in all browsers?

The CSS generators produce W3C-standard code that works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Vendor prefixes are included where needed for older browser versions.

Can I copy the generated code directly?

Yes. Each generator provides a copy button that places the code on your clipboard. The code is ready to paste into your project — no cleanup or modification needed.

Is CSS Box Shadow Generator really free to use?

Yes, CSS Box Shadow Generator is completely free with no hidden charges, no usage limits, and no premium tiers. You can use it as often as you need without signing up or providing any personal information.

Ready to Use CSS Box Shadow Generator?

Free online tool — works in your browser, no sign-up required. Start using it right now.

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