CSS Text Shadow Generator
Create stunning text shadow effects with multiple layers, special effects, and live preview. Perfect for headings, logos, and decorative text.
Quick Presets
Text Shadows (1)
Live Preview
Text Shadow
Generated CSS
text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);Recommended Settings
Design Best Practices
- •Use subtle shadows (2-4px blur) for professional readability
- •Larger offsets create dramatic 3D effects
- •Zero offset with blur creates glow and halo effects
- •Match shadow direction across your design for consistency
Performance Tips
- •Limit to 1-4 shadow layers for optimal performance
- •Avoid applying many shadows to large text blocks
- •Text shadows are GPU-accelerated in modern browsers
- •Use transform: translateZ(0) for hardware acceleration
Pro Tips
- •For readability: dark shadows with medium blur (2-4px)
- •For glow effects: multiple layers with zero offset and increasing blur
- •For 3D depth: stacked shadows with progressive offsets
- •RGBA colors allow transparency - essential for natural shadows
Most Popular
2px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.5) for text over images
When to Use This Tool
Add subtle shadows to text displayed over images or complex backgrounds. A small dark shadow ensures text remains legible regardless of the background.
Recommended: Hero Sections
Use varying shadow intensities to establish importance. Headings with pronounced shadows draw more attention than body text with subtle shadows.
Recommended: Typography Systems
3D text effects with stacked shadows create the illusion of depth. Perfect for logos, hero sections, and decorative headings that need to stand out.
Recommended: Brand Design
Multiple shadows with zero offset and increasing blur create stunning glow effects. Ideal for dark mode designs, gaming interfaces, and modern web aesthetics.
Recommended: Dark Mode UI
Create stroke-like outlines using multiple shadows pointing in all directions. Great for text over photos or when you need strong contrast.
Recommended: Photo Overlays
How It Works
Choose a preset or configure shadows manually
Adjust offset, blur, and color for each shadow layer
Add multiple shadows for complex effects
Test on different text sizes (heading, body, small)
Preview with custom text and background colors
Copy CSS or download as a file
100% Private
Files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Lightning Fast
Powered by Pure CSS for optimal performance on modern browsers.
Secure
No data collection, no tracking, no sign-up required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between text-shadow and box-shadow?
text-shadow applies only to the text characters themselves, while box-shadow applies to the entire element box. text-shadow doesn't support the 'spread' or 'inset' properties that box-shadow has. This makes text-shadow simpler but specifically designed for text styling.
How many shadows can I add?
Technically unlimited, but 1-4 shadows typically provide the best results. More shadows can impact performance, especially on large text blocks. Complex effects like neon glows may use 3-5 shadows, while simple readability enhancements need just one.
Why isn't my shadow visible?
Check the shadow color contrast against your background. A black shadow won't show on a dark background. Also ensure the offset or blur values aren't all zero - at least one must be non-zero to see the shadow. Try increasing the blur radius or adjusting the color opacity.
Can I use text-shadow for accessibility?
Yes! Text shadows can improve readability for users with visual impairments when text is displayed over complex backgrounds. However, ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background even without the shadow, as per WCAG guidelines.
How do I create an outline effect?
Use multiple shadows with zero blur, pointing in all 8 directions (up, down, left, right, and four diagonals). Try the 'Text Outline' preset for a ready-made outline effect. For thicker outlines, increase the offset values equally in all directions.
Do text shadows work on all browsers?
Yes! The text-shadow property has been supported in all modern browsers since CSS3. It works reliably across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera on both desktop and mobile devices. No vendor prefixes are required.