CSS Shadow Generator
Tune box-shadow visually, preview it live, and copy ready-to-use CSS or Tailwind values.
Live Preview
CSS Output
box-shadow: 0px 12px 28px -10px rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.18); border-radius: 24px;
Tailwind Arbitrary Value
shadow-[0px_12px_28px_-10px_rgba(15\,_23\,_42\,_0.18)] rounded-[24px]
How to use
- Adjust offset, blur, spread, color, and opacity until the preview matches the visual depth you want for the component.
- Check the shadow against the real background color because a shadow that looks balanced on white can feel too heavy on tinted or dark surfaces.
- Verify the final result in the target card, button, or modal so spacing and border radius still look correct after you paste the CSS.
FAQ
What is CSS Shadow Generator used for?
A CSS Shadow Generator helps you create box-shadow values for cards, buttons, modals, and other UI elements without tweaking CSS by hand.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Processing runs locally in your browser.
Does this tool support inset shadows?
Yes. You can switch between regular and inset shadows to style both raised and pressed UI surfaces.
Introduction
A CSS Shadow Generator helps you create depth in an interface without guessing long box-shadow values. It is useful when you want a card, button, or floating panel to feel consistent with the rest of your design system.
What is CSS Shadow Generator?
CSS Shadow Generator is a utility for building box-shadow values by adjusting visual controls such as horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur, spread, color, and opacity.
The main benefit is speed. Instead of editing CSS by trial and error, you can preview the effect immediately and copy the final value once it looks right.
A common mistake is treating shadow as decoration only. In practice, shadow also communicates hierarchy, clickability, and distance from the background.
Key Features
Live preview makes it easier to judge whether the shadow feels soft, sharp, subtle, or too dominant before you copy the code.
Preset-based editing helps when you need a quick starting point for floating cards, glow effects, or inset surfaces.
Direct CSS output reduces cleanup time because the generated value is already formatted for frontend work.
Common Use Cases
- Creating a reusable card shadow token for dashboards, pricing panels, or settings pages.
- Designing button states where hover and pressed effects need different shadow depth.
- Testing whether a modal or popover needs stronger separation from a busy page background.
Best Practices
- Match shadow strength to element size because the same blur can look subtle on a modal and oversized on a small button.
- Recheck shadows on both light and dark themes so contrast and depth still feel intentional.
- Keep radius and shadow style aligned, since soft corners with a harsh shadow often look inconsistent.