CSS Gradient Generator: Complete Guide (2026) — Linear, Radial, Mesh & Tailwind

What Can a CSS Gradient Generator Do?

A modern CSS gradient generator removes the need to manually calculate color stops, angles, and positions. With a visual tool, you:

• Pick colors with a color picker (or enter exact HEX/RGB values)
• Drag color stops to adjust positions
• Change the angle or direction visually
• Preview the result in real time
• Copy the CSS output in one click

TooStamply's gradient generator goes further — it supports 5 gradient types, OKLCH color interpolation, easing curves, and exports to CSS, Tailwind v3, Tailwind v4, SCSS, SVG, and PNG.

The 5 Types of CSS Gradients

1. Linear Gradient

The most common type. Colors transition in a straight line.

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);

Parameters:

• Angle: 0deg (top to bottom), 90deg (left to right), 135deg (diagonal)
• Color stops: two or more colors with optional positions

Use cases: Button backgrounds, hero sections, card backgrounds, text gradients.

2. Radial Gradient

Colors transition outward from a central point in a circular or elliptical pattern.

background: radial-gradient(circle at center, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);

Parameters:

• Shape: circle or ellipse
• Position: center, top left, 30% 70%, etc.
• Color stops: two or more colors

Use cases: Spotlight effects, glowing elements, bokeh backgrounds.

3. Conic Gradient

Colors rotate around a central point, like a color wheel.

background: conic-gradient(from 0deg, #667eea, #764ba2, #667eea);

Parameters:

• Starting angle: from 0deg, from 45deg, etc.
• Position: at center, at 30% 50%, etc.
• Color stops: two or more colors

Use cases: Pie charts, donut charts, color wheel displays, creative backgrounds.

4. Mesh Gradient

Multiple overlapping radial gradients create organic, flowing color transitions.

background:
  radial-gradient(ellipse at 20% 30%, #667eea88 0%, transparent 50%),
  radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 70%, #764ba288 0%, transparent 50%),
  radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 50%, #f0932b88 0%, transparent 50%),
  #f8f9fa;

Use cases: Hero section backgrounds, landing page backgrounds, modern SaaS aesthetic.

5. Animated Gradient

A linear gradient with a background-position animation creates a flowing color effect.

.animated-gradient {
  background: linear-gradient(270deg, #667eea, #764ba2, #f0932b, #6ab04c);
  background-size: 400% 400%;
  animation: gradientShift 8s ease infinite;
}

@keyframes gradientShift {
  0% { background-position: 0% 50%; }
  50% { background-position: 100% 50%; }
  100% { background-position: 0% 50%; }
}

Use cases: Hero backgrounds, button hover effects, loading states, attention-grabbing banners.

OKLCH Color Interpolation: Why It Matters

Standard CSS gradients interpolate colors in sRGB space. This produces "grey mud" in the middle of some color transitions (e.g., blue to orange passes through a desaturated grey).

OKLCH interpolation maintains perceptual color quality through the transition:

/* Modern CSS with OKLCH interpolation */
background: linear-gradient(in oklch, oklch(60% 0.2 240), oklch(75% 0.18 30));

TooStamply generates both standard CSS and OKLCH-interpolated gradients. Browser support for OKLCH interpolation is now excellent (Chrome 111+, Firefox 113+, Safari 16.2+).

Gradient Export Formats

How to Use TooStamply's Gradient Generator

Step 1: Choose gradient type

Select Linear, Radial, Conic, Mesh, or Animated from the type tabs.

Step 2: Pick colors

Click any color stop to open the color picker. Enter HEX, RGB, or HSL values, or use the visual picker.

Step 3: Adjust positions

Drag color stops along the gradient bar to position them. Add more stops by clicking the gradient bar.

Step 4: Set direction (linear) or center (radial)

For linear gradients, drag the angle dial or type an exact degree value.

Step 5: Choose interpolation

Select sRGB (standard) or OKLCH (perceptually accurate) interpolation.

Step 6: Apply easing (optional)

Add a cubic-bezier easing curve to create non-linear color progressions.

Step 7: Copy or export

Click Copy CSS to get the CSS code. Or download as SVG or PNG.

Popular Gradient Combinations (2026)

Blue-Purple (most popular in SaaS)

linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea, #764ba2)

Sunset

linear-gradient(135deg, #f093fb, #f5576c)

Ocean

linear-gradient(135deg, #4facfe, #00f2fe)

Emerald

linear-gradient(135deg, #43e97b, #38f9d7)

Midnight

linear-gradient(135deg, #0f0c29, #302b63, #24243e)

Peach

linear-gradient(135deg, #ffecd2, #fcb69f)

All of these are available in TooStamply's pre-built gradient library. Click any to load it into the editor.

CSS Gradient for Tailwind CSS

Tailwind v3 — utility classes

<div class="bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-500 to-purple-600">

Tailwind v3 — custom gradient in config

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      backgroundImage: {
        'hero-gradient': 'linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea, #764ba2)',
      }
    }
  }
}

Tailwind v4 — @theme syntax

@theme {
  --background-image-hero: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea, #764ba2);
}

TooStamply generates both Tailwind v3 and v4 output automatically.

Related Guides

• Tailwind CSS gradient generator — Tailwind-specific gradient guide
• Animated CSS gradient background — keyframe animation guide
• CSS gradient border and text effects — advanced techniques
• OKLCH gradient guide — perceptual color interpolation

Open Free CSS Gradient Generator →