CSS Box Shadow Generator
Create beautiful CSS box shadows with our free online CSS box-shadow tool. Adjust properties with intuitive controls or choose from popular preset examples. Copy the generated CSS code instantly for your projects.
Custom Box Shadow CSS Maker
Advanced Settings
One-Click Box Shadow Presets
Click any example to apply it instantly
How to Use the CSS Box Shadow Generator
- Choose a Preset (Optional): Click any preset shadow example at the top to instantly apply popular shadow styles.
- Adjust Properties: Use the sliders and inputs to customize horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur radius, spread radius, color, and opacity.
- Watch Live Preview: See your shadow update in real-time in the preview box as you adjust values.
- Toggle Inset: Check the "Inset Shadow" option to create an inner shadow effect instead of an outer shadow.
- Copy CSS Code: Click "Copy CSS" to copy the generated box-shadow property to your clipboard.
- Use in Your Project: Paste the CSS code into your stylesheet or inline styles.
Pro Tip: Combine multiple shadows by manually adding comma-separated box-shadow values in your CSS.
What is CSS Box Shadow?
The CSS box-shadow property adds shadow effects around an element's frame. You can set multiple effects separated by commas. A box shadow is described by X and Y offsets relative to the element, blur and spread radius, and color.
Box shadows are widely used in modern web design to create depth, hierarchy, and visual interest. They help elements appear to float above the page, drawing attention and improving the overall user interface aesthetics.
Basic Syntax:
box-shadow: [inset] h-offset v-offset blur spread color;Example:
box-shadow: 0px 10px 20px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);Box Shadow Properties Explained
Horizontal Offset (h-offset)
The position of the horizontal shadow. Positive values place the shadow on the right side, negative values on the left. Example: 10px moves shadow 10 pixels to the right.
Vertical Offset (v-offset)
The position of the vertical shadow. Positive values place the shadow below the element, negative values above. Example: 15px moves shadow 15 pixels down.
Blur Radius
The amount of blur applied to the shadow. The larger the value, the more blurred the shadow will be. A value of 0 creates a sharp shadow. Example: 20px creates a soft, blurred effect.
Spread Radius
Positive values increase the size of the shadow, negative values decrease it. This property expands or contracts the shadow before blurring. Example: 5px makes the shadow slightly larger.
Color
The color of the shadow. Can be specified in hex, RGB, RGBA, HSL, or named colors. Using RGBA allows you to control opacity. Example: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) creates a semi-transparent black shadow.
Inset (Optional)
Changes the shadow from an outer shadow (default) to an inner shadow. Creates a recessed or engraved effect. Example: inset 0px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)
Common Use Cases
- 1. Card Elements: Add depth to cards, panels, and containers to make them appear elevated above the background
- 2. Buttons: Create hover effects that make buttons appear to lift or press down when interacted with
- 3. Images & Media: Add subtle shadows to photos and videos to separate them from the background
- 4. Navigation Menus: Make dropdown menus and navigation bars stand out with soft shadows
- 5. Form Inputs: Use inset shadows to create recessed input fields that appear to sink into the page
- 6. Modal Dialogs: Apply dramatic shadows to modal windows to create strong focus and depth
- 7. Neumorphism Design: Combine light and dark shadows to create soft, extruded 3D effects as an alternative to an online Neumorphism shadow generator
- 8. Text Emphasis: Apply to text containers to create floating label effects or highlighted sections
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple box shadows on one element?
Yes! You can apply multiple box shadows to a single element by separating them with commas. For example: box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); creates a layered shadow effect.
What's the difference between box-shadow and drop-shadow?
box-shadow follows the rectangular box of an element, including transparent areas. drop-shadow() (a CSS filter) follows the actual shape of the element, respecting transparency. Use drop-shadow for PNG images with transparent backgrounds.
Does box-shadow affect layout or performance?
Box shadows do not affect the layout or positioning of elements—they're purely visual. However, complex shadows with large blur values can impact rendering performance, especially on lower-end devices. For best performance, use moderate blur values and avoid shadows on animated elements.
What browsers support box-shadow?
Box-shadow is supported in all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. It's also supported in Internet Explorer 9+. No vendor prefixes are needed for modern browsers.
How do I create a CSS glow effect?
To create a CSS glow effect, set horizontal and vertical offsets to 0, use a colored shadow (not black), and adjust blur and spread. Example: box-shadow: 0 0 20px 5px rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.5); creates a blue glow.
Can I animate box shadows?
Yes! Box shadows can be animated using CSS transitions or animations. However, animating shadows can be performance-intensive. For better performance, consider animating opacity of a pseudo-element with a shadow instead of animating the shadow directly.
What are negative spread values used for?
Negative spread values make the shadow smaller than the element, creating interesting effects like shadows that only show on certain sides. They're useful for creating more subtle, controlled shadow effects.
Should I use RGBA or hex colors for shadows?
RGBA is recommended because it allows you to control opacity directly in the color value. This makes it easier to adjust shadow transparency. Example: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) is more flexible than a hex color.
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