Web & SEO

CSS Text Shadow Generator — Free 2026

Create stunning CSS text shadows with a visual editor. Adjust offsets, blur, color and opacity in real time, then copy the code.

H-Offset: 2px

V-Offset: 2px

Blur Radius: 5px

Opacity: 80%

Shadow Color

Sample Text

Generated CSS

How It Works

Adjust shadow properties
Preview the effect
Copy the CSS code

Understanding CSS Text Shadows

The CSS text-shadow property is a powerful tool for adding depth, emphasis, and visual flair to typography on the web. Unlike box-shadow, which wraps around an element's rectangular frame, text-shadow follows the precise contours of each character, creating effects that range from subtle embossing to dramatic neon glows. This generator lets you experiment with every parameter in real time.

Common Text Shadow Effects

Some of the most popular text shadow techniques include drop shadows for readability on images (a dark, slightly blurred shadow behind light text), neon glow effects (bright colors with large blur values and zero offset), letterpress or embossed text (a 1px white shadow below dark text on a mid-tone background), and retro 3D text (multiple layered shadows with incrementing offsets). For matching element shadows, try our CSS box shadow generator.

Best Practices

Use text shadows sparingly — they are most effective as subtle enhancements rather than dominant design elements. For body text, keep blur values low and opacity moderate to maintain readability. Reserve dramatic effects for headings and display text. Always test on both light and dark backgrounds to ensure the shadow enhances rather than obscures the text. Pair your shadow effects with colors from our color palette generator for cohesive designs.

Browser Support

The text-shadow property enjoys excellent browser support across all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and their mobile counterparts. It has been supported since IE10 and requires no vendor prefixes. Performance is generally excellent for simple shadows, though multiple large-blur shadows on extensive text blocks may impact rendering speed on lower-powered devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CSS text-shadow?

The CSS text-shadow property adds one or more shadow effects to text. It accepts four values: horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur radius, and color. Unlike box-shadow, text-shadow follows the shape of individual characters and does not support spread radius or the inset keyword.

How do I add multiple text shadows?

Separate multiple text-shadow values with commas. Each shadow is rendered in the order listed, with the first shadow on top. This technique creates effects like 3D text, neon glows, and retro outlines. Example: text-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #000, 0 0 10px #0ff, 0 0 20px #0ff;

Does text-shadow affect performance?

Text shadows are GPU-accelerated in modern browsers and have minimal performance impact for simple use cases. However, applying many large-blur shadows to large blocks of text can cause rendering slowdowns, especially on mobile devices. Keep blur values reasonable and limit the number of shadow layers for best performance.

What is the difference between text-shadow and box-shadow?

text-shadow applies shadows that follow the shape of individual text characters, while box-shadow creates a rectangular shadow around the element's box model. box-shadow supports spread radius and the inset keyword, which text-shadow does not. Use text-shadow for typographic effects and box-shadow for cards, buttons, and container elements.