Box Shadow Generator
Design beautiful CSS box shadows with a visual editor. Add multiple layers, adjust every parameter with live preview, and export production-ready CSS, Tailwind, or SCSS.
How It Works
- Adjust shadow parameters using the sliders
- Add multiple shadow layers for depth
- Choose a preset or customize from scratch
- Switch preview shape to match your use case
- Copy the generated CSS, Tailwind, or SCSS code
Features
- Multi-layer shadow support (stack unlimited shadows)
- Live visual preview with transparent grid
- 10 professional presets (Material, Neumorphism, Glow, etc.)
- CSS, Tailwind CSS, and SCSS output formats
- Inset shadow support per layer
- 5 preview shapes (rounded, square, circle, card, button)
- Color picker with hex input
- One-click copy to clipboard
- Keyboard shortcuts: Escape to reset, Ctrl+Enter to copy
What is Box Shadow Generator?
This free online box shadow generator lets you visually design CSS shadows with a real-time preview, then copy production-ready code in CSS, Tailwind CSS, or SCSS format. No sign-up required, no files uploaded, everything runs directly in your browser.
Writing box-shadow values by hand is tedious because you are juggling five parameters (offset X, offset Y, blur, spread, color with opacity) across potentially many layers. This tool gives you sliders and a live canvas so you can see exactly what your shadow looks like on different element shapes before committing to code.
How to Use This Tool
Follow these steps to create custom CSS box shadows with this free online generator:
- Choose a starting point - Click any of the 10 presets (Subtle, Material, Neumorphic, Glow, etc.) or start from the default single-layer shadow.
- Adjust shadow parameters - Drag the sliders for Offset X, Offset Y, Blur Radius, Spread Radius, and Opacity. Pick a shadow color using the color picker or type a hex value directly.
- Add more layers - Click "+ Add Layer" to stack additional shadows for depth and realism. Switch between layers using the tabs above the controls. Toggle the Inset checkbox to create inner shadows on any layer.
- Preview on different shapes - Switch the preview element between Rounded, Square, Circle, Card, and Button to see how your shadow looks on the type of element you are styling.
- Copy the output - Select your preferred format (CSS, Tailwind, or SCSS) from the output tabs, then click "Copy" or press Ctrl+Enter to put the generated code on your clipboard.
Key Features
- Multi-layer shadow stacking - Add unlimited shadow layers and control each independently for realistic depth effects like those used in Material Design and neumorphism.
- Live visual preview - Every slider adjustment instantly updates the preview box on a transparent grid background so you can judge the shadow in isolation.
- 10 professional presets - One-click presets for Subtle, Medium, Large, Material, Soft, Hard, Neumorphic, Glow, Layered, and Inset styles give you a polished starting point.
- Three output formats - Export your shadow as standard CSS (box-shadow property), Tailwind CSS arbitrary value syntax, or SCSS with a reusable variable.
- Five preview shapes - Test your shadow on a rounded rectangle, square, circle, card, or button to match the element you are designing for.
- Inset shadow support - Toggle any layer to inset mode for pressed or embedded effects, commonly used on inputs and toggle controls.
- Keyboard shortcuts - Press Escape to reset all parameters to default. Press Ctrl+Enter to instantly copy the generated code to your clipboard.
- Works fully offline - No server calls, no tracking, no data leaves your device. Bookmark and use anywhere without an internet connection.
Common Use Cases
Frontend developers use this tool when building card layouts, modals, dropdown menus, and floating action buttons that need layered depth. Designers prototyping in the browser use it to experiment with neumorphic and glassmorphism effects without writing CSS by hand. Tailwind CSS users generate arbitrary shadow values that Tailwind does not ship by default. Teams building design systems use it to standardize shadow tokens across elevation levels (small, medium, large) and export consistent SCSS variables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many shadow layers can I add?
There is no hard limit. You can add as many layers as you need. Each layer gets its own tab and independent controls for offset, blur, spread, color, opacity, and inset. Realistic depth effects typically use 2 to 4 layers, while decorative glows may use just one.
What is the difference between blur and spread in box-shadow?
Blur radius controls how soft or diffused the shadow edge is: higher values create a softer, more spread-out gradient. Spread radius expands or contracts the shadow shape itself: positive values make the shadow larger than the element, negative values make it smaller. Combining a large blur with a negative spread is a common technique for creating a floating shadow that does not extend past the element edges.
Can I use the generated Tailwind CSS output directly in my project?
Yes. The tool outputs Tailwind arbitrary value syntax (the square bracket notation) which works in Tailwind CSS v3 and above without any configuration changes. Just paste the generated class into your element's className. For Tailwind v2 or older, use the standard CSS output instead and add it to your custom styles.
How do I create a neumorphic (soft UI) shadow effect?
Click the "Neumorphic" preset to get a starting point. It uses two layers: a dark shadow offset down-right and a subtle light shadow offset up-left. For best results, match the element background to its parent and keep blur values between 10px and 20px. You can also combine one inset layer with one outer layer to create the pressed-button variant.
Is there any performance impact from using multiple box-shadow layers?
In most cases, no. Modern browsers handle 2 to 5 shadow layers with no visible performance cost during rendering. If you are animating box-shadow values (transitioning between states), each layer adds to the repaint cost. For animated elements, consider using a pseudo-element with the shadow and animating its opacity instead, which lets the browser cache the shadow render in a compositing layer.