AscendLab

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CSS Box Shadow Generator

Free browser tool

CSS Box Shadow Generator with Live Preview

Design subtle or strong shadows, preview the result, and copy a production-ready CSS box-shadow value.

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Quick answer

A CSS box shadow generator creates a box-shadow value from offset, blur, spread, color, and opacity.

Use lower opacity and higher blur for softer card shadows, or inset mode for inner shadows.

Best inputs for UI shadows

Start subtle

Most interface shadows work best with low opacity, moderate blur, and small offset.

Test on the real background

A shadow that works on white may look heavy on tinted, dark, or image backgrounds.

Box-shadow values
Each value controls a different part of the visual depth.

Example

A soft card shadow often uses low opacity, high blur, and a small negative spread.

Assumption

The tool generates a single shadow layer for readable, portable CSS.

Limitation

Complex elevation systems may combine multiple shadows and theme tokens.

Common use cases
Use copy-ready shadows when moving from design exploration to CSS implementation.

Card elevation

Create subtle shadows for dashboard panels, pricing cards, and tool surfaces.

Popover depth

Tune larger blur and offset values for menus, modals, and floating panels.

Inset fields

Use inset mode for pressed states, wells, and inner shadow details.

Design systems

Prototype a shadow value before converting it into a named token.

Frequently asked questions

Can I copy the CSS?

Yes. Use Copy CSS to copy the generated box-shadow declaration.

What is spread?

Spread expands or contracts the size of the shadow before blur is applied.

Does it support color opacity?

Yes. The generator outputs an rgba color from the selected hex color and opacity.

Does it upload anything?

No. The preview is local to your browser.

Suggested workflow

UI surface polish path

Pick colors, tune depth, and check readability before copying CSS into an interface.

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