CSS Box Shadow Generator
Design and customize beautiful CSS box shadows with a live visual editor and one-click copy.
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Live Preview
Presets
Shadow Layers
Generated CSS
box-shadow: 5px 5px 15px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
shadow-[5px 5px 15px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25)]
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How to Use the CSS Box Shadow Generator
The CSS box-shadow property is one of the most powerful visual tools in web design. It adds depth and dimension to elements, making flat interfaces feel more tangible and interactive. This generator lets you visually design shadow effects and instantly copy the CSS code — no manual tweaking required.
Start by choosing a preset from the Presets section. Each preset applies a professionally designed shadow that you can use as-is or customize further. The Subtle preset works great for cards and inputs, Medium for dialogs and dropdowns, Elevated for floating action buttons, and Dramatic for hero elements. The Glow preset creates a colored aura effect perfect for buttons and CTAs.
Customize your shadow by adjusting the sliders in the Shadow Layers section. X Offset moves the shadow horizontally, Y Offset moves it vertically, Blur Radius controls softness, and Spread Radius controls size. Use the color picker to set the shadow color and the opacity slider to control transparency. Toggle the Inset switch to create an inner shadow instead of an outer shadow.
For complex effects, add multiple shadow layers with the Add Layer button. Professional designs often combine 2-3 layers: a subtle ambient shadow, a focused directional shadow, and sometimes a highlight or glow. Each layer is independently configurable. Switch between layers by clicking the layer tabs.
The Live Preview section shows your shadow in real time on a customizable card. Change the canvas background and box background colors to test contrast in different contexts. Adjust the border radius to match your actual element shape. When you are satisfied, copy the generated CSS or Tailwind class with one click from the Generated CSS section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CSS box-shadow property?
The box-shadow CSS property adds shadow effects around an element's frame. It takes values for horizontal offset (x), vertical offset (y), blur radius, spread radius, and color. You can also add the 'inset' keyword to create inner shadows. Multiple shadows can be layered by separating them with commas.
Can I create multiple shadow layers?
Yes! Click the '+ Add Layer' button to add additional shadow layers. Each layer has its own independent controls for offset, blur, spread, color, opacity, and inset. Multiple layers are combined in the CSS output, separated by commas. This lets you create complex, realistic shadow effects.
What are the presets available?
The generator includes 6 presets: Subtle (minimal lift), Medium (standard card shadow), Elevated (multi-layer depth effect), Dramatic (deep, strong shadow), Inset (inner shadow), and Glow (colored aura effect). Click any preset to instantly apply it, then customize further to your liking.
Does it generate Tailwind CSS classes?
Yes, the tool generates both standard CSS (box-shadow property) and Tailwind CSS arbitrary shadow classes (shadow-[...] format). Both can be copied to your clipboard with one click. The Tailwind output uses the arbitrary value syntax compatible with Tailwind CSS v3 and v4.
What does the spread radius do?
The spread radius controls the size of the shadow. Positive values make the shadow larger than the element, while negative values make it smaller. A spread of 0 means the shadow is the same size as the element. Negative spread combined with blur creates a subtle, focused shadow effect often used in modern UI design.
How do I create a realistic shadow?
For realistic shadows, use multiple layers: a large, soft shadow for ambient light, and a smaller, sharper shadow for direct light. Keep shadows subtle — use low opacity (10-25%), moderate blur (10-30px), and slight y-offset for natural downward light. The 'Elevated' preset demonstrates this multi-layer technique.