Creating Glassmorphism Effects in CSS

Glassmorphism creates beautiful, frosted glass effects.Here's how to implement it properly.

The Core Effect

The glass effect relies on three CSS properties:

.glass-card {
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
}

Understanding Each Property

Background Transparency

Use RGBA or HSLA with low alpha values. 0.05 to 0.2 works best.

Backdrop Filter

The blur() function creates the frosted effect. Values between 8px and 20px are most common.

Border

A subtle border adds definition. Use white with low opacity for light mode, adjust for dark mode.

Dark Mode Variation

.dark .glass-card {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
}

Adding Depth

Layer multiple glass elements for depth:

.glass-primary { backdrop-filter: blur(20px); }
.glass-secondary { backdrop-filter: blur(10px); }
.glass-subtle { backdrop-filter: blur(5px); }

Browser Support

Backdrop-filter has good support but needs a fallback:

@supports not (backdrop-filter: blur(10px)) {
  .glass-card {
    background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9);
  }
}

Performance Considerations

Backdrop-filter can be expensive. Use sparingly and test on lower-end devices.

Conclusion

Glassmorphism is elegant when used thoughtfully. Pair it with clean layouts and quality backgrounds for maximum impact.