CSS Box Shadow Generator Online
Build layered CSS box-shadow values with a live preview and copyable code, right in your browser.
The CSS Box Shadow Generator runs entirely in your browser. The shadow layers and generated CSS you create never leave your device and nothing is uploaded to ArrayKit.
Open the CSS Grid Generator
About CSS Box Shadow Generator
The CSS Box Shadow Generator builds a box-shadow CSS declaration by letting you stack any number of shadow layers, each with its own offset, blur, spread, color, and inset toggle. A live preview box updates instantly as you adjust values, so you can see exactly how the shadow reads before you copy the code. Layer a soft ambient shadow under a tight contact shadow for realistic depth, or combine an inset and outset layer for a pressed-button look. It is built for front-end developers, designers, and anyone styling cards, buttons, or modals who wants a precise box-shadow value without hand-tuning pixel offsets in a stylesheet. Everything runs locally in your browser — no CSS or design details are uploaded anywhere.
Features
- Stack unlimited shadow layers, each with independent x, y, blur, spread, and color
- Toggle any layer between a drop shadow and an inset shadow
- Live preview box shows the combined effect of every layer as you edit
- Color picker plus a text field so you can type hex, rgb, or rgba values directly
- Copy-ready box-shadow: ...; CSS declaration generated instantly
- Add or remove layers to build simple soft shadows or complex layered depth
- Negative spread and offset values are supported for tucked-in shadows
- Runs entirely in your browser with no shadow or design data sent anywhere
How to use the CSS Box Shadow Generator
- Adjust the x, y, blur, and spread of the first shadow layer
- Pick a color and toggle Inset if you want the shadow to sit inside the box
- Click Add layer to stack another shadow for extra depth
- Copy the generated box-shadow CSS from the code panel
Example
Input
x0 y4 blur8 rgba(0,0,0,.2)
Output
box-shadow: 0px 4px 8px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
A single soft drop shadow rendered as a ready-to-paste CSS declaration.
Common errors & troubleshooting
- The box-shadow looks too harsh or box-like instead of soft. — Increase the blur value relative to the offset — a larger blur with a modest y-offset produces a softer, more natural-looking shadow.
- An inset layer is not visible on the preview box. — Inset shadows only appear inside the element's padding box, so make sure the layer's offset and blur are large enough to be visible against the preview's background.
- Multiple layers make the shadow value hard to read in the stylesheet. — That is expected — box-shadow accepts comma-separated layers, and the CSS Box Shadow Generator keeps each layer on the same line by design; format it with a linter if you want one layer per line.
- A negative spread value seems to shrink the shadow to nothing. — A negative spread pulls the shadow's edges inward before blur is applied, so pair it with a larger blur to keep the shadow visible — this is common for tight contact shadows.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the CSS Box Shadow Generator produce?
- It produces a complete box-shadow CSS declaration built from one or more layers you configure, each with its own offset, blur, spread, color, and inset setting, ready to paste into a stylesheet.
- Can the CSS Box Shadow Generator create multiple stacked shadows?
- Yes. Click Add layer to stack as many shadow layers as you need — CSS box-shadow supports comma-separated layers, and the tool joins them for you in the correct order.
- What is an inset box-shadow?
- An inset box-shadow renders inside the element's box instead of behind it, which is useful for pressed-button effects or subtle inner borders. Toggle Inset on any layer to switch it.
- Does the CSS Box Shadow Generator support rgba and hex colors?
- Yes. Type any valid CSS color — hex, rgb(), or rgba() — into a layer's color field, or use the color picker for hex values; rgba lets you control shadow opacity independently.
- Does the CSS Box Shadow Generator upload my design values?
- No. All shadow layers and the generated CSS stay in your browser. Nothing about your design is uploaded to ArrayKit or any server.
- How do I get a soft, realistic shadow instead of a hard edge?
- Use a larger blur value relative to the offset, and consider layering a small tight shadow with a larger soft one — this two-layer approach mimics how shadows look in real lighting.
Related tools
All ArrayKit tools