box-shadow: 4px 4px 16px 0px #9F7AEA;
Box Shadow Generator
CSSDesign CSS box shadows visually with live preview. Adjust offset, blur, spread, color, and inset.
Understanding CSS box shadows
The CSS box-shadow property adds shadow effects around an element's frame. A shadow is described by its horizontal and vertical offsets, blur radius, spread radius, and color. Shadows can be outset (default) or inset, and you can layer multiple shadows on a single element to create depth, glow effects, or complex visual hierarchies. Well-designed shadows are a key part of modern UI design, adding depth and visual hierarchy to cards, buttons, modals, and navigation elements.
Creating realistic shadow effects
Realistic shadows mimic natural light by using soft blur values, subtle colors (like rgba(0,0,0,0.1) instead of solid black), and slight vertical offsets that suggest light coming from above. Layered shadows — combining a tight, subtle shadow with a larger, diffused one — create more natural depth than a single shadow. This technique, popularized by Material Design and modern design systems, gives elements a floating appearance that users intuitively understand as interactive.
Box shadow performance and best practices
Box shadows are rendered by the GPU and perform well in modern browsers, even when animated. However, avoid animating box-shadow directly (it triggers paint operations); instead, use opacity or transform on a pseudo-element with the shadow. For design systems, define shadow tokens at multiple elevation levels (e.g., shadow-sm, shadow-md, shadow-lg) to maintain consistency across your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple shadows to one element?
Yes. CSS supports comma-separated shadow values. This generator lets you add up to 5 shadows and layers them automatically. Multiple shadows create more realistic depth effects.
What is an inset shadow?
An inset shadow appears inside the element instead of outside it, creating a pressed or recessed effect. Toggle the Inset checkbox in this generator to switch between outset and inset shadows.
Does box-shadow affect layout?
No. Box shadows are purely visual and do not affect the element's size or position in the document flow. They also do not trigger scrollbars, even if they extend beyond the element's boundaries.
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