--- title: "CSS Box Shadow Generator" description: "Generate CSS box shadows visually with live preview. Adjust offset, blur, spread, color, and layers. Copy production-ready CSS instantly." url: https://findutils.com/design/box-shadow-generator/ category: design --- # CSS Box Shadow Generator Generate CSS box shadows visually with live preview. Adjust offset, blur, spread, color, and layers. Copy production-ready CSS instantly. **Use this tool:** [CSS Box Shadow Generator](https://findutils.com/design/box-shadow-generator/) ## Programmatic access - REST id `box-shadow-generator`: POST https://api.findutils.com/api/tools/box-shadow-generator/execute (reference: https://findutils.com/api/box-shadow-generator/) - MCP tool `box_shadow_generator` on https://mcp.findutils.com (reference: https://findutils.com/mcp/box-shadow-generator/) ## Why use box shadows? Box shadows add depth and dimension to UI elements. They help create visual hierarchy, draw attention to important components, and make interfaces feel more tangible and modern. ## Tips for Better Box Shadows - Use multiple layered shadows instead of one heavy shadow for more natural depth. Combine a tight, dark shadow with a wide, light one. - Avoid pure black shadows. Use dark gray or a tinted color with reduced opacity for a softer, more realistic look. - Match your shadow direction consistently across the page to simulate a single light source, which creates visual coherence. - For Material Design style elevation, increase both blur and offset proportionally. Level 1 uses 2px offset and 4px blur, while level 5 uses 10px offset and 20px blur. - Test your shadows in both light and dark mode. Shadows that look great on white backgrounds may need adjustments on dark surfaces. - Your input stays in the browser and is never uploaded to FindUtils. The page itself is not request-free: like the rest of the site it loads advertising and analytics scripts. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What are the box-shadow parameters? Box-shadow has: horizontal offset (X), vertical offset (Y), blur radius, spread radius, color, and optional inset. Positive X moves shadow right, positive Y moves it down. ### What is an inset shadow? An inset shadow appears inside the element instead of outside. It creates a pressed or recessed effect, commonly used for input fields and buttons. ### Can I add multiple shadows? Yes! Click 'Add Shadow' to layer multiple shadows on one element. Multiple shadows can create depth, realistic effects, or decorative borders. ### What's the difference between blur and spread? Blur makes the shadow softer and more diffuse. Spread expands or contracts the shadow size. Combine both for natural-looking shadows. ### How do I create a realistic shadow? For realistic shadows: use subtle offsets (2-8px), moderate blur (8-24px), minimal spread, and semi-transparent black or gray colors (rgba with 0.1-0.3 opacity). ### How do I create a shadow on only one side of an element? To create a one-sided shadow, set the spread to a negative value equal to the blur radius, then use the offset to push the shadow in the direction you want. For example, a bottom-only shadow uses 0 horizontal offset, a positive vertical offset, some blur, and a negative spread. ### What is the performance impact of box shadows? Box shadows are rendered by the browser's compositor and generally have minimal performance impact. However, animating box-shadow directly can cause repaints. For smooth hover transitions, consider animating opacity on a pseudo-element with a pre-rendered shadow instead. ### Do box shadows work in all browsers? Yes. The box-shadow property is supported in all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No vendor prefixes are needed. It has had full cross-browser support since around 2012. ### How do box shadows differ from drop shadows in CSS? Box-shadow applies to the rectangular box model of an element, including its border-radius. The CSS filter drop-shadow follows the actual shape of the content, including transparent areas in images. Use box-shadow for UI elements and drop-shadow for non-rectangular shapes like icons. ### Can I use box shadows with CSS variables for theming? Absolutely. Define your shadow values as CSS custom properties like --shadow-color and --shadow-blur, then reference them in your box-shadow declaration. This makes it easy to switch between light and dark themes by changing a few variable values. ## Related Tools - [Gradient Generator](https://findutils.com/design/gradient-generator/) - [Color Palette Generator](https://findutils.com/design/color-palette-generator/) - [Contrast Checker](https://findutils.com/design/contrast-checker/) - [Glassmorphism Generator](https://findutils.com/design/glassmorphism-generator/) - [Color Converter](https://findutils.com/design/color-converter/) - [CSS Minifier](https://findutils.com/developers/css-minifier/) - [SVG Path Visualizer](https://findutils.com/design/svg-path-visualizer/) - [Favicon Generator](https://findutils.com/design/favicon-generator/)