CSS Box Shadow Complete Guide 2026

Add depth to buttons, dimension to cards, and sophistication to your UI with box-shadow. In 2026 web design, shadows aren't just decoration—they're a core UX element.

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box-shadow Basic Syntax

box-shadow: offset-x offset-y blur spread color;

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Basic Examples

Simple Shadow

/* Basic drop shadow */
.card {
  box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

/* Stronger shadow */
.card-elevated {
  box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
}

Directional Shadows

/* Bottom right */
.shadow-br { box-shadow: 4px 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); }

/* Top left */
.shadow-tl { box-shadow: -4px -4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); }

/* All directions */
.shadow-all { box-shadow: 0 0 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); }

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Multiple Shadows

Combine multiple shadows with commas.

/* Soft layered shadow */
.soft-shadow {
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.07),
    0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.07),
    0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.07),
    0 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.07);
}

/* Realistic shadow */
.realistic {
  box-shadow:
    0 2.8px 2.2px rgba(0,0,0,0.02),
    0 6.7px 5.3px rgba(0,0,0,0.028),
    0 12.5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.035),
    0 22.3px 17.9px rgba(0,0,0,0.042),
    0 41.8px 33.4px rgba(0,0,0,0.05),
    0 100px 80px rgba(0,0,0,0.07);
}

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Inset Shadows

Use the inset keyword to create inner shadows.

/* Basic inset */
.inset-shadow {
  box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
}

/* Pressed button effect */
.pressed-button {
  box-shadow:
    inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.3),
    inset 0 -1px 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
}

/* Input field focus */
.input:focus {
  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1),
              0 0 0 3px rgba(59,130,246,0.3);
}

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Design Trend Examples

1. Material Design Shadows

/* Elevation 1 */
.md-1 { box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.24); }

/* Elevation 2 */
.md-2 { box-shadow: 0 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.15), 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); }

/* Elevation 3 */
.md-3 { box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15), 0 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.10); }

/* Elevation 4 */
.md-4 { box-shadow: 0 15px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.15), 0 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); }

/* Elevation 5 */
.md-5 { box-shadow: 0 20px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); }

2. Neumorphism

/* Neumorphism background */
.neumorphism {
  background: #e0e5ec;
  box-shadow:
    9px 9px 16px rgba(163,177,198,0.6),
    -9px -9px 16px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
}

/* Neumorphism pressed */
.neumorphism-pressed {
  background: #e0e5ec;
  box-shadow:
    inset 6px 6px 10px rgba(163,177,198,0.6),
    inset -6px -6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
}

/* Neumorphism button */
.neumorphism-button {
  background: linear-gradient(145deg, #cacfd6, #f0f5fc);
  box-shadow:
    5px 5px 10px #a3b1c6,
    -5px -5px 10px #ffffff;
}

3. Glassmorphism

.glassmorphism {
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
  box-shadow:
    0 8px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1),
    inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
}

4. Neon Effects

/* Neon glow */
.neon-blue {
  box-shadow:
    0 0 5px #00f,
    0 0 10px #00f,
    0 0 20px #00f,
    0 0 40px #00f;
}

.neon-pink {
  box-shadow:
    0 0 5px #ff00ff,
    0 0 10px #ff00ff,
    0 0 20px #ff00ff,
    0 0 40px #ff00ff;
}

/* Animated neon */
@keyframes neon-pulse {
  0%, 100% { box-shadow: 0 0 5px #0ff, 0 0 20px #0ff; }
  50% { box-shadow: 0 0 10px #0ff, 0 0 40px #0ff, 0 0 60px #0ff; }
}

.neon-animated {
  animation: neon-pulse 2s infinite;
}

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Colored Shadows

Brand Color Shadows

/* Blue shadow */
.shadow-blue {
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.4);
}

/* Purple shadow */
.shadow-purple {
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.4);
}

/* Gradient-like multi-color */
.shadow-gradient {
  box-shadow:
    -10px 0 30px rgba(255, 0, 128, 0.3),
    10px 0 30px rgba(0, 128, 255, 0.3);
}

Hover Effects

.card {
  box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
  transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease;
}

.card:hover {
  box-shadow: 0 20px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
  transform: translateY(-5px);
}

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Practical Components

Card Component

.card {
  background: white;
  border-radius: 12px;
  padding: 24px;
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.1),
    0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
  transition: box-shadow 0.2s;
}

.card:hover {
  box-shadow:
    0 10px 15px -3px rgba(0,0,0,0.1),
    0 4px 6px -2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}

Buttons

.button {
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 8px;
  box-shadow: 0 4px 14px rgba(59,130,246,0.4);
  transition: all 0.2s;
}

.button:hover {
  box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(59,130,246,0.5);
  transform: translateY(-2px);
}

.button:active {
  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(59,130,246,0.4);
  transform: translateY(0);
}

Modal/Popup

.modal {
  background: white;
  border-radius: 16px;
  box-shadow:
    0 25px 50px -12px rgba(0,0,0,0.25),
    0 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}

/* Dark mode */
.modal-dark {
  background: #1f2937;
  box-shadow:
    0 25px 50px -12px rgba(0,0,0,0.5),
    0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
}

Input Fields

.input {
  border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;
  border-radius: 8px;
  padding: 12px 16px;
  transition: all 0.2s;
}

.input:focus {
  outline: none;
  border-color: #3b82f6;
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(59,130,246,0.2);
}

.input-error {
  border-color: #ef4444;
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(239,68,68,0.2);
}

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Performance Optimization

Using will-change

.animated-shadow {
  will-change: box-shadow;
  transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease;
}

/* Remove after animation */
.animated-shadow:not(:hover) {
  will-change: auto;
}

Alternative: filter drop-shadow

/* Shadow for irregular shapes */
.drop-shadow {
  filter: drop-shadow(0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1));
}

/* Apply to PNG images */
.icon {
  filter: drop-shadow(2px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.3));
}

box-shadow vs filter

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Tailwind CSS

<!-- Basic shadows -->
<div class="shadow-sm">Small shadow</div>
<div class="shadow">Default shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-md">Medium shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-lg">Large shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-xl">Extra large shadow</div>
<div class="shadow-2xl">2XL shadow</div>

<!-- Colored shadow -->
<div class="shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/50">Blue shadow</div>

<!-- Hover -->
<div class="shadow hover:shadow-xl transition-shadow">Hover effect</div>

<!-- Inset -->
<div class="shadow-inner">Inner shadow</div>

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FAQ

Q1: Shadow gets clipped?

A: Parent has overflow: hidden, or there's no space for the shadow to extend.

/* Solution */
.parent {
  overflow: visible; /* or remove */
  padding: 20px; /* space for shadow */
}

Q2: Performance issues?

A: Complex box-shadows on many elements can cause performance degradation.

• Minimize multiple shadows
• Use will-change appropriately
• Simplify shadows during scroll

Q3: Shadow looks weird on rounded corners?

A: box-shadow automatically follows border-radius. If there's an issue, check browser compatibility.

Q4: Recommended shadow colors?

A:

• Light mode: rgba(0,0,0,0.1) to rgba(0,0,0,0.2)
• Dark mode: rgba(0,0,0,0.3) to rgba(0,0,0,0.5)
• Colored shadows: 30-50% opacity of background color

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Conclusion

box-shadow key points:

1. Basic syntax: offset-x, offset-y, blur, spread, color
2. Multiple shadows: Layer with commas
3. Inset: Inner shadows
4. Trends: Neumorphism, glassmorphism, neon
5. Performance: will-change, avoid excessive shadows

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