Box Shadow Generator
Design CSS box shadows visually with sliders for offset, blur, spread, and color. Multi-layer support with live preview.
About This Tool
The CSS Box Shadow Generator is a free, browser-based visual
designer that lets you create complex box-shadow
values without writing CSS by hand. Instead of guessing pixel
values and refreshing your page, you adjust sliders and
immediately see the result on a live preview element. Once you
are happy with the shadow, copy the generated CSS and paste it
straight into your stylesheet.
The box-shadow property is one of the most
versatile visual effects in CSS. It accepts horizontal and
vertical offsets to position the shadow, a blur radius that
controls softness, a spread radius that expands or contracts
the shadow shape, a color with optional alpha transparency,
and an inset keyword that moves the shadow inside
the element. Combining these parameters lets you create
everything from subtle depth cues and material-design
elevations to glowing borders and neumorphic interfaces.
This tool supports up to five independent shadow layers. Multiple layers are a key technique for realistic shadows: a tight, dark layer for contact shadow, a larger, lighter layer for ambient occlusion, and perhaps a colored glow for accent. Each layer has its own set of controls, so you can fine-tune every aspect independently. Layers can be collapsed to save space, reordered visually, and deleted when no longer needed.
All processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is
sent to any server, and there are no third-party scripts
involved. The generated CSS uses standard
rgba() color values for broad browser
compatibility, and the output is clean, production-ready code
that works in every modern browser.
How to Use
- The tool starts with one shadow layer using sensible defaults. Adjust the Offset X, Offset Y, Blur, and Spread sliders to shape the shadow.
- Use the Color picker and Opacity slider to set the shadow color and transparency.
- Check the Inset checkbox to create an inner shadow instead of an outer one.
- Click Add Layer to add more shadow layers (up to 5). Each layer can be collapsed or deleted independently.
- Watch the Live Preview update in real time as you change any setting.
- Review the Generated CSS code below the preview, then click Copy CSS (or press Ctrl+Shift+C) to copy it to your clipboard.
- Click Reset to restore the default single-layer shadow.
FAQ
What is the CSS box-shadow property?
The box-shadow CSS property adds one or more shadow effects around an element's frame. Each shadow is described by horizontal and vertical offsets, optional blur and spread radii, a color, and an optional inset keyword. Multiple shadows are separated by commas and rendered back-to-front, with the first shadow on top.
Why use multiple shadow layers?
Real-world lighting produces multiple shadow effects at different distances and intensities. By layering shadows you can simulate realistic depth: a tight dark shadow for contact, a softer spread for ambient light, and a colored glow for emphasis. This technique is used in Material Design, neumorphism, and modern UI frameworks to create convincing elevation effects.
Is the generated CSS cross-browser compatible?
Yes. The box-shadow property is supported in all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No vendor prefixes are needed. The generated code uses rgba() color values, which are universally supported. According to Can I Use, box-shadow has over 98% global browser support.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The Box Shadow Generator runs entirely in your browser. All slider values and color choices stay on your machine. There are no server requests, no data collection, and no third-party scripts. The CSS is generated locally using JavaScript and never leaves your device.
Related Tools
CSS Layout Generator
Visually build Flexbox and CSS Grid layouts with live preview and generated CSS code.
Color Converter
Convert colors between HEX, RGB, HSL formats with contrast checker and palette generator.
CSS Gradient Generator
Create linear, radial, and conic CSS gradients visually with color stops, angle control, and live preview.
Code Minifier
Minify and beautify JavaScript, CSS, and HTML code with size comparison stats.
Flexbox Playground
Experiment with all CSS Flexbox properties visually. Configure container and item settings with live preview and generated CSS code.
CSS Variable Generator
Design color theme systems with CSS custom properties. Auto-generate shade scales, semantic tokens, and dark mode variants.
CSS Transition Generator
Generate CSS transition properties visually with property, duration, timing function, and delay controls. Live preview and presets.