How do I create a realistic shadow?

Use a larger blur radius (10-30px) with low opacity (0.1-0.3) for soft shadows. Layer multiple shadows: a tight dark shadow for definition, and a wider lighter shadow for ambient light. Avoid pure black - use a slightly colored shadow for realism.

What is the inset shadow?

Inset shadows appear inside the element instead of outside. Use box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) for subtle inner shadows. Great for input fields, pressed buttons, and carved-out effects. You can combine inset and outset shadows.

Can I use multiple shadows on one element?

Yes! Separate multiple shadows with commas: box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.1). This creates layered, realistic depth. The generator supports adding multiple shadow layers.

Box Shadow Generator - Create CSS Box Shadows

Preview

Box Shadow Preview

Presets

Offset X: 4px

Offset Y: 4px

Blur: 8px

Spread: 0px

Opacity: 25%

Color

Inset

CSS Code

box-shadow: 4px 4px 8px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);

Generate CSS box-shadow properties with visual controls. Adjust offset, blur, spread, and opacity for perfect shadows.

What is CSS Box Shadow Generator?

CSS box-shadow adds depth, emphasis, and visual hierarchy to elements by rendering drop shadows behind or inside them. The property accepts up to six parameters: horizontal offset (how far right the shadow shifts), vertical offset (how far down), blur radius (how soft the shadow edges appear), spread radius (how much larger or smaller than the element the shadow is), color, and an optional inset keyword for inner shadows. Designers use box-shadow extensively in modern UI design — from subtle elevation on cards and buttons to dramatic neon glow effects on call-to-action elements. The visual nature of shadow design makes a generator far more practical than manually adjusting pixel values in code, since small changes to blur or offset can dramatically alter the perceived depth. This tool provides real-time preview with slider controls, preset shadow styles for common patterns, and generates copy-ready CSS with proper RGBA color notation for opacity control.

How to Use

Adjust sliders for Offset X and Offset Y (shadow position)
Set Blur radius for shadow softness
Adjust Spread for shadow size expansion
Pick color and adjust opacity percentage
Toggle Inset for inner shadows
Click presets for quick starting points
Copy generated CSS to your stylesheet

Why Use This Tool?

Visual shadow design - see changes instantly

Fine-tune all shadow parameters

Presets for common shadow styles

RGBA color with adjustable opacity

Inset shadows for depth effects

Copy-ready CSS code

Tips & Best Practices

Subtle shadows (low opacity) look professional
Card shadows: small offset, moderate blur
Neon effects: no offset, high blur, bright color
Inset shadows create pressed/inset appearance
Negative spread makes tighter shadows
Multiple shadows via multiple values

Frequently Asked Questions

What does each parameter mean?

Offset X/Y: shadow position relative to element. Blur: how soft/fuzzy the shadow edges. Spread: expands or contracts shadow size. Color + Opacity: shadow color and transparency. Inset: shadow appears inside element instead of outside.

How do I make subtle shadows?

Use low opacity (10-15%), small offset (0-4px), moderate blur (4-12px). Preset 'Subtle' or 'Card' show ideal subtle shadow values. Subtle shadows enhance without dominating the design.

What is inset shadow?

Inset shadows appear inside the element, creating a pressed or sunken effect. Useful for buttons (pressed state), input fields, and depth illusions. Toggle 'Inset' checkbox to switch from outer to inner shadow.

How do I create neon/glow effects?

Set offset to 0, high blur (20-50px), spread to 0, and use bright colors at full opacity. The 'Neon' preset demonstrates this. Multiple shadows with different blur values create layered glow effects.

Can I have multiple shadows?

Yes - CSS supports multiple shadows separated by commas: box-shadow: shadow1, shadow2, shadow3. Create layered effects, different colored shadows, or combined inset/outer shadows. Manually add additional values to copied CSS.

Why use RGBA instead of hex?

RGBA allows opacity control separate from color. Hex opacity requires alpha channel (#RRGGBBAA) which has limited support. RGBA is standard for shadow opacity. The tool converts your color to RGBA with adjustable transparency.

Is my design data kept private?

Yes. All shadow generation happens locally in your browser. No CSS values, color choices, or design preferences are ever sent to a server or stored anywhere.

When should I NOT use box-shadow?

Avoid box-shadow for performance-critical animations and scrolling containers — shadows trigger paint operations that can cause jank on lower-end devices. Use the filter: drop-shadow() alternative for irregular shapes, or consider using elevation systems with background colors for mobile-optimized interfaces. Also skip it when you need consistent cross-browser rendering of very complex multi-shadow effects.

Real-world Examples

Creating a Material Design card elevation

Material Design uses layered shadows to indicate elevation. A card at rest uses a subtle shadow, while hovering increases the elevation.

Input

Elevation 1: offset-y: 1px, blur: 3px, opacity: 10%

Output

box-shadow: 0px 1px 3px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);

Designing a neon button glow effect

For a call-to-action button that needs to stand out, create a bright colored glow with no offset and high blur radius.