What is the CSS Box Shadow Generator?
The box-shadow property in CSS allows you to cast a shadow from the frame of an element. Our CSS Box Shadow Generator is an interactive developer tool that lets you visually tweak shadow parameters without having to reload your browser or guess the numeric values. It provides real-time feedback and instantly generates the exact CSS code you need for both standard and inset shadows.
How to Create CSS Shadows
Craft perfect shadows in a matter of seconds by following these steps:
Position the Shadow
Use the X and Y offset sliders to determine the horizontal and vertical position of the shadow relative to the element.
Adjust Blur & Spread
Increase the blur radius for a softer shadow, and adjust the spread to make the shadow larger or smaller than the element itself.
Set Color & Copy
Pick a shadow color and adjust its opacity using the slider. Once your shadow looks perfect in the preview, click "Copy CSS" to grab the code.
Key Features
Live Visual Preview
See how your shadow looks on a standard UI element in real-time. No more guessing how blur and spread interact.
RGBA Color Support
The tool automatically converts your HEX color choices and opacity settings into a clean RGBA format for seamless transparency.
One-Click Presets
Access beautifully designed starting points—from subtle elevation shadows to large, diffused drops—with a single click.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between blur and spread?
Blur dictates how soft or sharp the shadow's edges are. A value of 0px creates a hard, solid shadow. Spread defines how much the shadow expands or shrinks compared to the original element's size.
What is an inset shadow?
An inset shadow appears inside the frame of the element rather than outside of it. It's often used to create sunken effects, pressed buttons, or inner cut-outs in UI design.
Can I add multiple shadows to one element?
Yes, CSS supports multiple shadows separated by commas (e.g., box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.5), inset 1px 1px 2px white;). This generator produces single shadows, which you can easily combine in your stylesheet.
Why use RGBA instead of HEX for shadows?
Shadows inherently require transparency to blend naturally with the background behind them. RGBA allows you to declare a specific color along with an alpha channel (opacity) directly in the CSS rule.
Does box-shadow affect the element's layout size?
No, box-shadows do not trigger layout recalculations and do not take up space in the document flow. They simply render visually on top of or beneath surrounding elements.