Free CSS Box Shadow Generator

Visually design realistic drop shadows and inner shadows. Adjust offsets, blur, spread, color & inset in real time. Copy clean, cross-browser CSS instantly — no signup needed.

/* Generated on cssgen.org */
box-shadow: 0px 10px 15px -3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);

How to Use This Free CSS Box Shadow Generator

Adjust the sliders for horizontal/vertical offset, blur radius, spread radius, opacity, and color.
Toggle Inset for inner shadows.
Watch the live preview update instantly.
Click Copy CSS and paste into your project.

Perfect for cards, buttons, modals, hero sections, and modern neumorphic designs.

Understanding the CSS Box-Shadow Property

The box-shadow property adds depth and realism to any element. Our free online generator removes the guesswork so you can focus on design instead of syntax.

For the complete technical reference, see the official MDN Web Docs on box-shadow.

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Box Shadow Properties Explained

Horizontal Offset (X) — Moves shadow left/right
Vertical Offset (Y) — Moves shadow up/down
Blur Radius — Softens the edges (higher = softer)
Spread Radius — Grows or shrinks the shadow before blurring
Color + Opacity — Use rgba() or hsla() with low opacity (0.05–0.15) for natural results
Inset — Creates inner/pressed shadow effect

Beautiful Box Shadow Examples (Ready to Copy)

Here are popular, modern box-shadow combinations you can use immediately:

Soft Floating Card

box-shadow: 0 10px 15px -3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);

Heavy Lift Shadow

box-shadow: 25px 25px 50px -12px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.25);

Inset / Pressed

box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);

Multi-Layer Depth

box-shadow: 0 10px 15px -3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1), 0 4px 6px -4px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);

Pro Tips for Modern UI Design

Subtle is better — Real shadows use very low opacity (0.05–0.15) and never pure black.
Negative spread + large blur = beautiful floating cards (most popular modern effect).
Multiple shadows create realistic depth. Stack 2–3 shadows with different blur/spread values.
Performance — Box shadows are cheap; you can safely use 3–4 layers on most elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between box-shadow and drop-shadow?

The CSS box-shadow property creates a rectangular shadow around an element's bounding box. The CSS filter: drop-shadow() function conforms to the actual shape of the element, making it perfect for transparent PNGs or SVGs.

How do I create an inner shadow in CSS?

To create an inner shadow, simply add the inset keyword. Our tool does this instantly with the checkbox.

Can I add multiple shadows to a single element?

Yes! Separate each shadow with a comma. This is the secret to realistic, high-end UI depth.

What is the CSS box-shadow syntax?

box-shadow: [inset] offset-x offset-y blur-radius spread-radius color;

How do I apply a box shadow to a card or button?

Target the element and paste the code our generator gives you.

Is the box-shadow property supported in all browsers?

Yes — fully supported in every modern browser since 2010. No prefixes needed.

What is the difference between blur radius and spread radius?

Blur softens edges. Spread grows or shrinks the shadow size before blurring. Negative spread is excellent for floating effects.

Looking for More CSS Tools?

Text Shadow Generator • Neumorphism Generator • Border Radius Generator

Why Designers & Developers Love Our CSS Box Shadow Generator

⚡ Real-time visual preview
✅ Clean, production-ready code
🔥 Updated for 2026 browser standards
📱 Fully responsive & mobile friendly
🆓 100% free — no account or limits