CSS Gradient Generator

What Is a CSS Gradient?

A CSS gradient is a smooth, programmatic transition between two or more colors, generated by the browser as an image. Instead of loading a picture file, you describe the blend in CSS and the browser paints it, which keeps file sizes at zero, scales crisply to any size, and recolors instantly. Gradients are produced by the linear-gradient(), radial-gradient(), and conic-gradient() functions and are used anywhere an image can go, most often as a background value on a section, button, card, or hero banner.

Each gradient is built from color stops — a color paired with a position along the gradient line, written as a percentage. By default the browser spreads colors evenly, but giving each stop an explicit position lets you control exactly where one color ends and the next begins, including sharp bands or off-center blends. This tool lets you assemble those stops visually, pick the gradient type and direction, and read back the exact CSS to paste into your stylesheet.

How to Use This Gradient Generator

Start by choosing a Type — Linear, Radial, or Conic. For linear and conic gradients, drag the Angle slider to set the direction in degrees; for radial gradients, pick a Shape of circle or ellipse instead. Edit the color stops in the list: use the color swatch or type a hex value, and set each stop's position as a percentage. Click + Add Color Stop to add more (up to ten), or the × button to remove one — you can always keep at least two.

The preview at the top updates live as you make changes, and the generated rule appears in the CSS Code box. Click Copy CSS to grab it, hit Random Gradient for instant inspiration, or click any of the built-in Presets such as Sunset, Ocean, or Aurora to load a ready-made palette.

Real-World Use Cases

• Hero and section backgrounds — give a landing page header a bold, modern backdrop without an image file.
• Buttons and calls to action — add depth to clickable elements with a subtle two-color linear gradient.
• Cards and overlays — layer a gradient over a photo to keep overlaid text readable.
• Data and progress visuals — use conic gradients to build pie-style indicators or color wheels.
• Brand theming and mockups — quickly prototype color palettes and copy the CSS straight into a design system.

Tips for Designing Gradients

• Two or three stops usually look cleaner than many; reach for the simplest blend that achieves the effect.
• Pick colors that are close in hue or brightness for a smooth blend, or far apart for a bold, high-contrast look.
• Set explicit stop positions to push the midpoint off-center or create a sharp band where two colors meet.
• Use the Random Gradient button to explore combinations, then fine-tune the hex values and positions by hand.
• When placing text over a gradient, check contrast at the lightest and darkest points so it stays legible everywhere.

Features

• Three gradient types — linear, radial (circle or ellipse), and conic.
• Adjustable angle — a 0–360° slider controls linear and conic direction.
• Up to ten color stops — add, edit, reposition, and remove stops with hex or color-picker input.
• Live preview — see the gradient render instantly as you change settings.
• Eight built-in presets — Sunset, Ocean, Forest, Candy, Night, Peach, Aurora, and Steel.
• Random generator and one-click copy — generate fresh gradients and copy the CSS rule instantly.
• 100% client-side — your data never leaves your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between linear, radial, and conic gradients?

A linear gradient blends colors along a straight line at a chosen angle, a radial gradient radiates them outward from a center point as a circle or ellipse, and a conic gradient sweeps them around a center point like the slices of a pie chart.

How do I use the generated gradient on text?

Apply the gradient as a background on the text element, then add background-clip: text and -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent so the gradient shows through the letter shapes instead of behind them.

Are CSS gradients supported in all browsers?

Linear and radial gradients have excellent support across every current browser. Conic gradients work in all modern browsers but are not supported in Internet Explorer 11, so provide a solid-color fallback if you must support it.

How many color stops can I add?

The tool supports between two and ten color stops. The remove button is disabled once you are down to two, since a gradient needs at least two colors to blend between.

What do the stop positions mean?

Each position is a percentage along the gradient line, from 0% at the start to 100% at the end. Changing a position moves where that color sits, letting you weight the blend toward one side or create a hard edge between colors.

Is my work saved or sent anywhere?

No. The gradient is built and previewed entirely in your browser with JavaScript, and the CSS is generated locally. Nothing is uploaded, so the tool is private and works offline.