Box Shadow Generator

Generate beautiful CSS box shadows with ready-to-copy code

Shadow Style

Shadow Color (optional)

Layering

About This Tool

Perfect shadows elevate UI from flat to polished. Our Box Shadow Generator creates realistic, beautiful CSS box-shadow values for cards, modals, buttons, and any element — from subtle elevation effects to dramatic drop shadows. Get multiple shadow styles in one click with full CSS code.

How to Use the Box Shadow Generator

1Choose a shadow style (soft, card, modal, inset, colored, or sharp).
2Optionally specify a shadow color for branded or glowing effects.
3Select single or layered shadows.
4Click Generate Box Shadow to get complete CSS with multiple variations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CSS box-shadow syntax?

`box-shadow: [offset-x] [offset-y] [blur-radius] [spread-radius] [color]`. Multiple shadows are comma-separated. Example: `box-shadow: 0 4px 6px -1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 2px 4px -2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)`. The spread-radius is optional and expands (+) or contracts (-) the shadow.

What are layered box shadows?

Layered shadows stack 2–3 box-shadow values to create more realistic depth. Real objects cast multiple shadow layers — a diffuse ambient shadow plus a tighter directional shadow. Tailwind CSS's shadow system uses this approach. Example: `0 20px 25px -5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1), 0 8px 10px -6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)`.

How do I create a colored glow effect?

Use a colored shadow with no offset and a large blur: `box-shadow: 0 0 20px 4px rgba(232, 75, 46, 0.4)`. For neon effects, combine with a spread: `0 0 10px 2px #00ffff, 0 0 30px 8px rgba(0,255,255,0.3)`. Colored shadows work especially well on dark backgrounds.

What is an inset box shadow?

The `inset` keyword moves the shadow inside the element instead of outside. It's used for: pressed button states (`box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)`), neumorphic UI design, input field depth effects, and inner glow effects.

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