SEOlust logo SEOlust
CSS & Design Generators

CSS Box-Shadow Generator

Design CSS box-shadows visually with live preview — control offset, blur, spread, opacity, color, and inset, then copy production-ready CSS. Free.

All tools

💡 How to use

  • Drag the sliders to shape the shadow — offset moves it, blur softens it, spread grows it.
  • Lower the opacity for subtle, modern shadows; enable Inset for inner shadows.
  • Copy the box-shadow CSS and paste it onto any element.

Free CSS Box-Shadow Generator

Design CSS box-shadows visually and copy the code instantly. Drag sliders for offset, blur, spread, opacity, and color, toggle inset shadows, and see a live preview — then paste production-ready box-shadow CSS into your project. No sign-up, all in your browser.

What is the CSS box-shadow property?

The box-shadow property adds a shadow around an element's frame, giving your interface depth and a sense of elevation. A single declaration controls the shadow's horizontal and vertical offset, how far it blurs, how much it spreads, its color, and whether it sits inside or outside the element. It is the standard way to make buttons, cards, modals, and dropdowns feel layered and tactile.

Understanding the box-shadow values

Each value in a box-shadow controls one aspect of the effect:

  • Horizontal offset — moves the shadow left (negative) or right (positive).
  • Vertical offset — moves the shadow up (negative) or down (positive).
  • Blur radius — higher values create a softer, more diffuse shadow.
  • Spread radius — grows (positive) or shrinks (negative) the shadow's size.
  • Color and opacity — a low-opacity dark color usually looks most natural.
  • Inset — draws the shadow inside the element for an inner, pressed-in look.

How to use the box-shadow generator

It takes just a few seconds:

  • Drag the offset sliders to position the shadow.
  • Adjust blur and spread to control softness and size.
  • Lower the opacity for a subtle, modern feel, and pick a shadow color.
  • Toggle Inset for inner shadows, then click Copy CSS and paste it in.

Tips for realistic, modern shadows

The most natural shadows are soft and subtle: keep opacity low (often 8–20%), use a small vertical offset, and a generous blur. Real light comes from above, so a downward shadow usually looks right. For a premium, layered effect, designers often stack two or more shadows — a tight, darker one plus a larger, lighter one — which you can do by combining multiple box-shadow values separated by commas.

Common uses for box-shadow

Box-shadows appear all over modern interfaces:

  • Cards and panels that need to lift off the background.
  • Buttons that should look clickable, with a deeper shadow on hover.
  • Dropdowns, tooltips, and modals that float above the page.
  • Inset shadows for inputs, wells, and pressed states.

Pro tip

Match your shadow color to your background hue instead of pure black — a slightly tinted shadow blends more naturally into a colored UI. Pair this generator with our CSS Gradient Generator to design cohesive, polished components fast.

FAQ

Is this Box-Shadow Generator free?
Yes. It is completely free, runs entirely in your browser, and needs no account or sign-up.
How do I create a CSS box-shadow?
Set the horizontal and vertical offset, blur, spread, color, and opacity using the sliders, watch the live preview, then copy the generated box-shadow CSS and paste it onto your element.
What does the spread value do?
Spread changes the size of the shadow. A positive spread makes the shadow larger than the element, while a negative spread pulls it in smaller, which is useful for tight, subtle shadows.
What is an inset box-shadow?
An inset shadow is drawn inside the element instead of outside, creating an inner or 'pressed-in' look. It is commonly used on inputs, wells, and active button states.
How do I add multiple shadows to one element?
You can list several shadows in one box-shadow property, separated by commas. Stacking a tight dark shadow with a larger soft one creates a realistic, layered depth effect.
Why does my shadow look harsh or fake?
Usually the opacity is too high or the blur too low. Real shadows are soft and faint — try a low opacity (around 10–20%), a larger blur, and a small offset.
Does box-shadow work in all browsers?
Yes. box-shadow is supported in every modern browser, including all current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.

Related tools

Pro tip: pair this tool with CSS Loader & Spinner Generator and CSS Flexbox Generator for a faster SEO workflow.

  • CSS Loader & Spinner Generator — Create pure-CSS loading spinners and animations — spinner, dual-ring, pulse, and dots styles with adjustable …
  • CSS Flexbox Generator — Build flexbox layouts visually — set direction, justify, align, wrap, and gap with a live preview, then copy …
  • CSS Gradient Generator — Create CSS gradients visually and copy the code in one click — linear, radial, and conic gradients with unlim…
  • CSS Text-Shadow Generator — Add shadows and glow effects to text visually — adjust offset, blur, opacity, and color with a live preview a…
  • CSS Border-Radius Generator — Round element corners visually and copy the CSS — control each corner, make circles and pill shapes, or gener…