Design beautiful CSS box-shadows with real-time preview. Multi-layer support, intuitive controls, instant code export.
50+ curated shadow presets for cards, buttons, modals, and more.
Layer reordering, duplication, opacity blending, and group editing.
Export as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS mixins, or design tokens.
AI-powered shadow recommendations based on your design context.
The AI Box Shadow Generator is a free, browser-based tool that lets you create, preview, and export CSS box-shadow properties in seconds — no installation, no signup required. Here's everything you need to know to get the most out of it.
When you open the tool, a default shadow layer is already applied to the preview card. Use the sliders in the controls panel to adjust the Horizontal Offset, Vertical Offset, Blur Radius, and Spread Radius. The preview card updates in real time so you can see exactly what your shadow will look like before copying the code.
The horizontal offset moves the shadow left (negative) or right (positive). The vertical offset moves it up (negative) or down (positive). A value of 0, 10px creates a shadow directly below the element, which is the classic drop-shadow effect commonly used for cards and buttons.
A higher blur radius creates a softer, more diffused shadow. A blur of 0 produces a hard, sharp shadow with crisp edges — great for retro or flat design styles. Most modern UI designs use a blur between 20px and 60px for a natural-looking depth effect.
Spread radius expands (positive) or contracts (negative) the shadow beyond its normal size. Use a positive spread to make a glowing halo effect, or use a negative spread with a large blur to create a realistic, focused shadow underneath an element.
Click + Add Layer to stack additional shadows. Each layer can have unique offsets, blur, spread, color, and opacity. Multi-layer shadows unlock advanced effects like neon glows (combine inner and outer glow), long shadows, and retro 3D depth. Select a layer from the list to edit it, and click the × button to remove it.
Checking the Inset Shadow box makes the shadow appear inside the element rather than outside it. Inset shadows are perfect for creating pressed-button effects, recessed panels, and inner-glow highlights.
The Quick Presets section below the main tool provides 12 common shadow styles. Click any preset button to instantly load that shadow configuration into the editor. You can then fine-tune the values to match your exact design.
Click the Copy CSS button in the Generated CSS panel. The complete box-shadow property — including all layers — is copied to your clipboard and ready to paste into your stylesheet.
Yes! Copy the generated value and use it in your Tailwind config under theme.extend.boxShadow, or use it inline with Tailwind's arbitrary value syntax: shadow-[value].
The box-shadow CSS property is supported by all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No vendor prefixes are needed for modern projects.