Box Shadow Generator
Generate CSS box-shadow with live preview.
- Reading time:
- 2 min
- Last updated:
- Price:
- Free, no signup
Type or paste text to see the result.
What the Box Shadow Generator does
Design a drop shadow with sliders — offset, blur, spread, color, opacity — and watch it update on a live preview box. The exact CSS is written for you: box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.15) appears as you drag.
Multiple layers are supported, so you can build the soft, realistic shadows that take a card from flat to floating.
Why the Box Shadow Generator is useful
Box-shadow values are nearly impossible to visualize from numbers alone. Is blur 8 or 16? Negative spread or positive? A visual tool replaces the edit-save-refresh loop with immediate feedback.
Good shadows are subtle and usually layered; bad ones are the single most common tell of amateur design. Seeing the result as you tune it is how you learn the difference.
Also known as: box shadow generator, css shadow, free box shadow generator, online box shadow generator, box shadow generator online free, box shadow generator tool, best box shadow generator tool.
How to use the Box Shadow Generator
- 1
Adjust the sliders
Set horizontal and vertical offset, blur, spread and opacity.
- 2
Pick the shadow color
Choose the color and see it against the preview background.
- 3
Copy the CSS
Take the box-shadow rule into your stylesheet.
Key features
- Live preview on a sample element
- Full control: offset, blur, spread, color, opacity
- Inset shadow option
- Copy-ready CSS output
Benefits
- Stop guessing shadow values
- Design subtle, professional depth
- Get exact CSS in seconds
Real-life use cases
Lifting a card grid
A developer tunes a soft 2px-offset, 10px-blur shadow for product cards and applies it site-wide.
Styling a modal
A designer builds a stronger, darker shadow for dialog boxes so they clearly sit above the page.
Creating a pressed effect
A developer uses an inset shadow to make a button look physically pressed.
Tips for the best results
- Lower opacity and higher blur reads as softer and more realistic than a hard dark shadow.
- Shadows should suggest one light source — keep the offset direction consistent across your site.
- Two layered shadows (one tight, one diffuse) look better than one heavy shadow.
Conclusion
Drag the sliders until it floats, then copy the rule.
Frequently asked questions
What do the values mean?
- In order: horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur radius, spread radius, color. Positive offsets push right and down.
What is an inset shadow?
- A shadow drawn inside the element's edges instead of outside — used for pressed or recessed effects.
Can I layer multiple shadows?
- Yes, CSS accepts comma-separated shadows, and layering a tight shadow with a diffuse one gives realistic depth.
What opacity should I use?
- For subtle UI shadows, 10–20% black is the usual range. Anything above 30% starts looking heavy.
Does the CSS work in all browsers?
- Yes, box-shadow is universally supported without prefixes.
Can I copy just the value without the property name?
- The output includes the full rule; take whichever part you need.
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Keep exploring
Browse the full tools directory, filter by category, or read guides on the Text Tools Hub blog.