CSS Gradient Generator
β‘ Runs locallyπ No uploadsπ Free, no sign-up
A CSS gradient is not an image β it is a function that tells the browser to compute every pixel's color with math. linear-gradient(135deg, #4facfe 0%, #00f2fe 100%) means: along a 135-degree axis, interpolate smoothly between two colors from start to end. Radial gradients spread outward from a center point; conic gradients sweep around a center like a color wheel. Each gradient is defined by color stops β a color plus a position percentage β and the browser blends everything in between automatically. This tool turns that syntax into something you can see: drag colors, drag positions, and it writes the equivalent CSS for you in real time.
Three jobs it does well. First, hero sections and landing-page backgrounds: the big colorful backdrops on marketing pages are almost always gradients, and dialing them in visually β then copying the code β is an order of magnitude faster than guessing angles between a design file and the browser. Second, buttons and cards with depth: a 135-degree two-color gradient on a primary button, with a slightly shifted angle on hover, is the cheapest source of the polished look SaaS products love. The preset library (Sunset, Neon, Purple dream and friends) gives you production-ready palettes to start from. Third, design-to-code handoff: a gradient a designer tuned in Figma can be recreated here from its color values and angle in under a minute, with no plugins and no documentation diving.
Four limits worth knowing. First, stop positions may exceed the 0β100% range, and two stops can share the same position β the latter draws a hard edge instead of a blend (for example, red at 50% and blue at 50% gives a clean two-tone split). That is valid CSS, commonly used for striped dividers and segmented progress bars, not a bug. Second, compatibility: linear and radial gradients work in every modern browser, but conic gradients need Chrome 69+, Firefox 83+, Safari 12.1+ or Edge 79+. The tool can emit -webkit- prefixed lines plus a solid-color fallback (background: #4facfe) so ancient browsers degrade to a close-enough flat color. Third, color inputs accept only #RGB or #RRGGBB; an invalid value is rejected and the previous valid color is restored, so the tool never emits broken code. Fourth, a gradient is a background layer β it composes with background-image and background-size, but it has no intrinsic size: to make it cover only half an element, pair it with background-size: 50% 100% and no-repeat.
One practical tip: stop order sets the visual weight. Putting the brightest color at the 100% end makes a block look like it glows upward β great for call-to-action buttons β while starting dark works for nav bars that need to feel anchored. The random-gradient button is the fastest cure for a blank-canvas moment: spin through dozens of combinations, then fine-tune the stop positions on one you like instead of building from zero.
How to use
- Pick the gradient type β linear (adjust the angle), radial (circle or ellipse), or conic (adjust the start angle) β and watch the large preview update live.
- For each color stop, pick a color with the color picker or type a #RRGGBB value, and drag the slider to set its position percentage. Add up to 8 stops; with more than two, each stop can be deleted individually.
- Tick the vendor-prefix option when you need legacy browser support β the tool adds -webkit- lines and a solid-color fallback. Leave it off for a clean two-line output.
- Click Copy CSS to paste the background declaration into your stylesheet, or hit Random gradient / click a preset swatch to explore.
FAQ
The copied CSS has three lines β what does each do?
The first line (background: #4facfe;) is a solid-color fallback for ancient browsers, using your first stop's color. The -webkit- prefixed line targets old Chrome and Safari from around 2013. The third line is the standard syntax every modern browser understands. Browsers apply the last line they understand, so the cascade is progressive enhancement β don't delete any of them.
How are linear-gradient angles measured?
0deg points upward (to top), 90deg points right (to right), increasing clockwise. 135deg runs from top-left to bottom-right and is the default behind most presets. The angle slider keeps the preview and the code in sync, so no mental math is required.
Which browsers fail on conic gradients?
conic-gradient needs Chrome 69+, Firefox 83+, Safari 12.1+ or Edge 79+. All versions of IE β and anything older β ignore the declaration and show your solid fallback color. If legacy browsers matter to your audience, stick to linear or radial gradients.
What happens when two stops share the same position?
You get a sharp edge instead of a smooth blend β for instance, #ff0000 at 50% and #0000ff at 50% produces a clean red/blue split. That's standard CSS behavior, widely used for two-tone stripes and segmented progress bars, not a tool bug.
Can I paste the output into Tailwind or inline styles?
Yes. The output is a standard background declaration that works in stylesheets, <style> tags, and inline style attributes alike. In Tailwind, drop it under any class or use an arbitrary value like bg-[linear-gradient(...)], remembering to replace spaces with underscores per Tailwind's syntax rules.