CSS Gradient Generator — Linear, Radial, Conic + Tailwind & PNG Export
CSS Gradient Generator
Copy the code and paste it into your stylesheet. No signup, no upload — everything runs in your browser.
What is a CSS gradient?
A CSS gradient is a smooth blend between two or more colors, generated by the browser as an image — no image file needed. You use it anywhere CSS accepts an image: element backgrounds, buttons, hero sections, overlays and text. The three functions are linear-gradient (colors along a straight line), radial-gradient (colors radiating from a center point) and conic-gradient (colors sweeping around a center like a color wheel). Every modern browser supports all three, and because gradients are code, they stay sharp at any screen size and cost almost nothing to download.
Linear, radial and conic — when to use each
Linear gradients are the workhorse: hero backgrounds, buttons, cards and section dividers. The angle sets the direction — and CSS angles surprise beginners: 0deg points up, 90deg points right, 180deg points down. Radial gradients suit glows, spotlights and vignettes behind a headline. Conic gradients make pie charts, color wheels, checkered patterns and conic borders. Most real designs use two stops; a third stop in the middle adds richness, and hard stops (two stops at the same position, e.g. red 50%, blue 50%) create a crisp two-tone split with no blend at all.
Color stops, positions and opacity
Each color stop pairs a color with a position from 0% to 100%. Stops you leave out get spaced automatically, but explicit positions give you control: cluster stops near one end for a fast transition, or spread them evenly for a slow fade. You can also use rgba colors for transparency — a gradient from rgba(0,0,0,0.7) to transparent is the standard way to darken a photo behind white text. Our generator supports up to 6 stops; drag the idea, not the syntax: pick colors, set positions, copy the code.
Text gradients and animated gradients
Text gradients use the same gradient as a background, clipped to the text with background-clip: text and transparent fill color — switch to the Text tab above for the exact snippet. Animated gradients animate background-position while the background is stretched to 300% size, producing a slow flowing color shift with pure CSS and no JavaScript; tick the animated checkbox above for the full keyframes block. Keep animations subtle (6–10 seconds, ease timing) so they feel premium rather than distracting.
Common gradient mistakes
First, low contrast: light text on a light gradient fails readability — test your gradient with real text, not just the swatch. Second, muddy midpoints: blending saturated complementary colors in sRGB passes through gray (blue-to-yellow turns gray-green in the middle); adding a middle stop fixes it. Third, forgetting fallbacks: older email clients and very old browsers ignore gradients, so put a solid background-color first — the browser uses it only if the gradient fails. Fourth, banding on large screens: very subtle gradients can show visible steps; adding a touch of noise or a third stop usually hides it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CSS gradient generator?
It is a visual tool that builds linear-gradient, radial-gradient and conic-gradient code for you. You pick colors and positions on screen instead of writing the syntax by hand, then copy the finished CSS into your stylesheet.
What is the difference between linear, radial and conic gradients?
Linear blends along a straight line at an angle. Radial blends outward from a center point in a circle or ellipse. Conic sweeps colors around a center point like a color wheel. Each suits different designs: linear for backgrounds, radial for glows, conic for wheels and charts.
How do I add more colors to a gradient?
Add more color stops. Each stop is a color plus a position percentage. Two stops give a simple blend; three or more give richer, multi-color gradients. This generator supports up to 6 stops.
How do I make gradient text in CSS?
Set the gradient as the background, then add background-clip: text with transparent text color. Use the Text tab above — it generates the complete snippet including the -webkit- prefix most browsers still need.
How do I animate a gradient?
Stretch the background to 300% size and animate background-position with @keyframes. Tick the animated checkbox above and the tool generates the full animation block for you.
Do CSS gradients work in all browsers?
Yes — linear and radial gradients work in every modern browser, and conic gradients work in all current versions. For very old browsers, include a solid background-color before the gradient as a fallback.
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