Gradient Color Generator

Create beautiful CSS gradients with live preview. Design linear, radial, and conic gradients with full control over colors, angles, and positions.

Category: color
Use Case: Hero Backgrounds, Button Designs, Card Overlays, Data Visualizations
Privacy: 100% browser-based

Gradient Presets

Start with a curated gradient

Gradient Type

Choose gradient direction and style

135°

Color Stops

2 of 10 stops • Define gradient colors and positions

0%
100%

Live Preview

See your gradient in real-time

Gradient Variations

Explore alternative versions

Original

Reversed

Rotated 90°

Complementary

CSS Output

Copy or download your gradient code

.gradient-element {
  background: -webkit-linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
  background: -o-linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
}

Export as Image

Download gradient as PNG or SVG

Recommended Settings

Gradient Best Practices

  • •Use 2-4 color stops for simple, clean gradients
  • •Keep contrast high for text readability over gradients
  • •Test gradients on different screen sizes and color profiles
  • •Consider accessibility - avoid red-green combinations

Performance Tips

  • •CSS gradients are more performant than gradient images
  • •Use conic gradients sparingly - they can be resource intensive
  • •Limit the number of color stops to improve rendering speed
  • •Cache gradient values in CSS variables for reusability

Pro Tips

  • •Complementary colors create vibrant, eye-catching gradients
  • •Analogous colors create harmonious, subtle gradients
  • •Radial gradients work great for spotlight effects
  • •Conic gradients are perfect for progress indicators and pie charts

Most Popular

linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%)

When to Use This Tool

Hero Section Backgrounds

Create stunning hero backgrounds with vibrant linear gradients. Perfect for drawing attention and setting the tone of your website.

Recommended: Sunset or Ocean preset with 135° angle

Button Hover Effects

Add depth to buttons with subtle gradients. Animate gradient position on hover for interactive micro-interactions.

Recommended: Lavender or Royal preset with low contrast

Card Overlays

Use transparent gradients over images to ensure text readability while maintaining visual interest.

Recommended: Radial gradient from transparent to black

Data Visualizations

Conic gradients are perfect for pie charts, progress circles, and color wheels. Radial gradients work well for heat maps.

Recommended: Conic Rainbow preset or custom data-driven colors

Loading Animations

Animated gradients create engaging loading states. Combine with CSS animations for shimmer effects.

Recommended: Multi-stop gradient with metallic colors

How It Works

1

Select gradient type: Linear (directional), Radial (circular from center), or Conic (rotating around center)

2

Choose a preset to start with curated colors, or keep the default gradient

3

For linear gradients, adjust the angle (0-360°) or use preset directions (to right, to bottom, etc.)

4

For radial gradients, configure shape (circle/ellipse), size, and center position

5

For conic gradients, set the start angle and center position for rotation effect

6

Add, remove, or reorder color stops (minimum 2, maximum 10) to build your gradient

7

Fine-tune each color stop using the color picker, HEX input, or RGB sliders

8

Adjust the position (0-100%) of each color stop to control color distribution

9

Use Reverse to flip the gradient direction or Randomize for color inspiration

10

Preview your gradient on different shapes (square, circle, rectangle) with custom backgrounds

11

Explore variations: reversed, rotated, or complementary color versions

12

Copy CSS code to clipboard or download as CSS file with vendor prefixes

13

Export as PNG or SVG image for use in design tools or as background images

14

Download as JSON to save your gradient settings, or export as CSS/SCSS variables for your project

100% Private

Files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.

Lightning Fast

Powered by Pure JavaScript for optimal performance on modern browsers.

Secure

No data collection, no tracking, no sign-up required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many color stops can I add to a gradient?

You can add between 2 and 10 color stops. Most gradients look best with 2-4 stops for simplicity. Use more stops for complex rainbow effects or multi-color transitions. Each stop has a color and position (0-100%) that you can customize.

What's the difference between linear, radial, and conic gradients?

Linear gradients transition colors along a straight line at a specified angle (0-360°). Radial gradients emanate from a center point in a circular or elliptical shape, creating a spotlight effect. Conic gradients rotate colors around a center point like a color wheel - perfect for pie charts, progress indicators, and creative circular designs.

Can I use these gradients in all browsers?

Modern CSS gradients (linear, radial, conic) are supported in all current browsers. The tool includes vendor prefixes (-webkit-, -moz-, -o-) in the exported CSS for maximum compatibility. Conic gradients have the least support in older browsers (pre-2020), so test them if you need to support legacy browsers.

How do I create a transparent gradient overlay?

Use color stops with alpha transparency in the HEX format (8 digits) or use rgba() colors. For example, start with #ffffff00 (transparent white) and end with #000000ff (solid black). This creates a fade-to-black overlay perfect for ensuring text readability over images.

What are the best practices for gradient color combinations?

For harmonious gradients, use analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel). For vibrant, eye-catching gradients, use complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel). Keep contrast high if you'll place text over the gradient. Test your gradients for color blindness accessibility - avoid problematic combinations like red-green.

Can I animate CSS gradients?

Yes! You can animate gradient position using CSS @keyframes, but you cannot directly animate the gradient colors themselves. Instead, animate the background-position or use pseudo-elements with opacity transitions. For smooth color transitions, consider using CSS custom properties (variables) and animating those values.

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