CSS Clip Path Generator
Looking for an easy way to create complex shapes with CSS? Our free CSS Clip Path Generator lets you visually design and export clip-path code for polygon, circle, ellipse, and path() functions. Whether you need a diagonal cut, a star shape, a speech bubble, or any custom polygon, you can drag handles on a live canvas, tweak coordinates, and copy production-ready CSS instantly. No need to memorize syntax or calculate points by hand — our tool handles the math so you can focus on design. Perfect for landing pages, hero sections, image masks, and creative layouts. Try it now and see your shapes come to life in real time!
What Is
The CSS clip-path property lets you define a visible region on any HTML element — everything outside the region is clipped away. It's one of the most powerful tools in modern CSS for creating non-rectangular layouts. Unlike overflow: hidden which only clips to the box, clip-path supports complex geometry including polygons with arbitrary vertex counts, circles with adjustable radii, ellipses at any angle, and even SVG-based paths via the path() function. Common clip-path values: • polygon() — define a closed shape with a list of x,y points. Example: polygon(50% 0%, 100% 50%, 50% 100%, 0% 50%) creates a diamond. • circle() — draws a circle with a radius and optional position. Example: circle(40% at 50% 50%). • ellipse() — draws an ellipse with two radii. Example: ellipse(60% 30% at 50% 50%). • inset() — clips a rectangular region with optional border-radius. Example: inset(10% round 8px). • path() — uses an SVG path string for maximum flexibility. Browser support is excellent — all modern browsers (Chrome 55+, Firefox 54+, Safari 9+, Edge 79+) support the standard syntax with the -webkit- prefix no longer required. The clip-path property works on images, divs, headings, SVG elements, and more. Combined with CSS animations, you can create smooth morphing effects between shapes. Our generator takes the pain out of writing clip-path syntax. Instead of guessing percentages, you drag control points on a visual canvas and the tool outputs clean, prefixed CSS. You can also import existing clip-path values to edit them, switch between coordinate units (percentages or pixels), and export the result as a ready-to-paste code block.
How to Use
- Open the CSS Clip Path Generator in your browser. A blank canvas with a sample element will appear.
- Choose a shape preset from the toolbar — triangle, hexagon, star, arrow, diamond, or select 'Custom' to start from scratch.
- Drag the control points on the canvas to reshape the polygon. Each point snaps to the grid for precision. You can add new points by clicking along the edge or remove points by right-clicking.
- Adjust global settings: choose between percentage or pixel output, toggle fill-rule (nonzero vs evenodd), and set transform-origin if you plan to animate the shape.
- Copy the generated CSS from the output panel. The code includes the clip-path property and necessary vendor prefixes. Paste it into your stylesheet or inline style attribute.
- Test across browsers using the built-in compatibility checker, then apply CSS transitions to create animated clip-path morphing effects.
Examples
Input: Polygon: 50% 0%, 100% 38%, 82% 100%, 18% 100%, 0% 38%
Process: Map 5 points on coordinate plane → Connect sequentially → Create pentagon shape
Result: clip-path: polygon(50% 0%, 100% 38%, 82% 100%, 18% 100%, 0% 38%)
Input: Circle: circle(50% at 50% 50%)
Process: Define radius 50% → Center at 50%,50% → Generate ellipse path
Result: clip-path: circle(50% at 50% 50%)
Input: Inset: inset(10% 20% 30% 40% round 12px)
Process: Calculate 4 offsets → Apply border-radius → Clip content area
Result: clip-path: inset(10% 20% 30% 40% round 12px)
Related Searches
People also search for: css, clip-path, shapes, polygon, path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between clip-path and overflow: hidden?
overflow: simple clips content to the element's rectangular bounding box. It cannot create diagonal cuts or complex polygons. clip-path, on the other hand, defines a custom clipping region that can be any shape — circles, stars, arrows, or arbitrary polygons with dozens of vertices. If you need a rectangle cut, overflow works fine; for anything non-rectangular, clip-path is the way to go.
Can I animate clip-path with CSS transitions or keyframe animations?
Yes! You can animate clip-path between two shapes of the same number of points using CSS transitions or @keyframes. For a smooth morph, both the start and end polygon() functions must have the same number of vertex coordinates. For example, transitioning from polygon(50% 0%, 100% 100%, 0% 100%) to polygon(50% 10%, 90% 90%, 10% 90%) works smoothly. If point counts differ, the browser will snap instantly with no interpolation.
Does clip-path affect click events and accessibility?
clip-path changes the visual visibility of an element but does NOT change its bounding box in the DOM. Click events, focus rectangles, and screen reader regions still follow the original rectangular box. This is a common source of confusion — an element that looks like a diamond still occupies its full rectangular area for pointer events. If you need precise hit-testing, consider using SVG with clipPath instead.
How do I create a responsive clip-path that adapts to different screen sizes?
Use percentage-based coordinates in polygon(), circle(), or ellipse() instead of fixed pixels. Percentages are relative to the element's bounding box, so your shape scales proportionally as the element resizes. All shapes generated by our tool default to percentage output — just make sure you don't switch to pixel mode if responsiveness is important.
Can I use clip-path on background images and gradients?
Absolutely. clip-path applies to the entire element including its background, background-image, and background-gradient. You can place a gradient background on a div and then clip it to a hexagon shape — the gradient will be visible only within the clipped region. This technique is great for creative hero sections and decorative image frames without needing external image editing software.