CSS Box Shadow Generator

What is a CSS Box Shadow Generator?

The CSS box-shadow property adds shadow effects around an element's frame, creating depth and elevation in your interface. The syntax combines horizontal and vertical offsets, blur radius, spread radius, a color, and an optional inset keyword — easy to mistype and hard to fine-tune blindly. A generator lets you dial it in visually.

Our CSS Box Shadow Generator provides sliders for every parameter and a live preview so you can see exactly how the shadow looks as you adjust it, then copy the precise box-shadow declaration.

Understanding the Parameters

• Offset X — moves the shadow left (negative) or right (positive)
• Offset Y — moves the shadow up (negative) or down (positive)
• Blur — how soft and diffuse the shadow edges are
• Spread — grows (positive) or shrinks (negative) the shadow size
• Inset — places the shadow inside the element instead of outside

Tips for Realistic Shadows

Natural shadows are usually soft and subtle. Use a positive Y offset (light coming from above), a generous blur, and a low opacity for a believable elevation effect. A slight negative spread keeps the shadow tight to the element. Very dark, hard shadows often look artificial.

For layered depth, real designs frequently stack multiple shadows. Inset shadows are great for pressed buttons, input fields, and creating a sense of recessed depth.

Why Box Shadows Matter

Shadows communicate hierarchy and interactivity — they make cards float above the page, buttons feel clickable, and modals stand out from the background. Used consistently, they give an interface a polished, tactile, modern feel. This tool generates the CSS entirely in your browser for instant results.

Key Features at a Glance

• Sliders for offset X, offset Y, blur, and spread
• Color picker with adjustable opacity
• Inset toggle for inner shadows
• Live preview shows the shadow in real time
• Copies a ready-to-use box-shadow declaration
• Runs in your browser — free, private, and offline-capable

How the Five Parameters Shape a Shadow

The box-shadow property combines five ingredients, and learning what each one does turns shadow design from guesswork into intent. The horizontal and vertical offsets decide where the shadow falls — together they imply the direction of an imaginary light source. The blur radius softens the shadow's edge, with higher values producing a diffuse, gentle glow and a value of zero producing a hard-edged shape.

Spread grows or shrinks the shadow independently of blur: a positive spread makes the shadow larger than the element, while a negative spread pulls it inward, which is useful for keeping a soft shadow tight beneath a card. The color and its opacity set the mood — a low-opacity dark shadow reads as realistic depth, while a colored, high-opacity shadow becomes a glow or accent. The optional inset keyword flips everything inward to simulate a recessed surface.

Tips for Realistic Depth

• Use a positive Y offset and generous blur to mimic light from above
• Keep opacity low — real shadows are subtle, not solid black
• Stack two or three shadows for layered, natural-looking elevation
• Apply a slight negative spread to keep a soft shadow close to the element
• Use inset shadows for pressed buttons and inset form fields

Why Choose Our CSS Box Shadow Generator?

Our box shadow generator is free with no signup, no limits, and no subscription. It runs entirely in your browser, so the preview and CSS update instantly, work offline, and stay private — nothing is uploaded to a server.

It is one of more than 200 free tools on ToopTools, and you can pin it to your My Workspace, a personalized workspace where you gather the tools you use most into a single dashboard. Next to the gradient and border-radius generators, it lets you craft and copy every part of a polished component's styling in one place.

Common Use Cases

Developers use box shadows to lift cards off the page, make buttons feel clickable, and separate modals and dropdowns from the content behind them. A consistent shadow scale across these elements is a core part of how modern interfaces communicate depth and hierarchy.

Inset shadows have their own set of uses: they make buttons look pressed, give input fields a recessed feel, and add subtle texture to panels. Designers building a component library use this tool to define a small set of reusable elevation levels, then apply them everywhere for a coherent, tactile look.

Is the CSS Box Shadow Generator free?

Yes. It is completely free with no account, no sign-up, and no usage limits. Design and copy as many shadows as you like at no cost.

What is the difference between blur and spread?

Blur controls how soft the shadow's edges are — higher blur means a more diffuse shadow. Spread changes the shadow's size: positive values enlarge it beyond the element, negative values shrink it. They are independent and often used together.

What does the inset keyword do?

Inset places the shadow inside the element instead of outside, making the surface appear recessed or pressed in. It is ideal for active button states, input fields, and creating a sense of inner depth.

Can I add more than one shadow?

Yes. CSS allows multiple comma-separated box-shadows on a single element. Layering several — for example a tight, dark shadow plus a wider, softer one — produces the most natural, realistic depth.

Why do my shadows look harsh or fake?

Usually it is too much opacity or too little blur. Real shadows are soft and light; lower the opacity, increase the blur, and offset mostly downward to imitate overhead lighting for a more believable effect.

Is my shadow design kept private?

Yes. The shadow and its CSS are generated entirely in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. The tool is private and works without an internet connection.

How do I create a CSS box shadow?

Adjust the horizontal and vertical offset, blur, spread, and color sliders, and watch the live preview update. Stack multiple shadows for added depth, then copy the generated box-shadow CSS and paste it onto your element.

Does the CSS box shadow generator work offline?

Yes. The shadow and its CSS are generated entirely in your browser, so once the page has loaded the tool works without an internet connection, and nothing you design is uploaded. You can create shadows privately on your own device.