Android LinearLayout : Add border with shadow around a LinearLayout

That's why CardView exists. CardView | Android Developers
It's just a FrameLayout that supports elevation in pre-lollipop devices.

<android.support.v7.widget.CardView
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    app:cardUseCompatPadding="true"
    app:cardElevation="4dp"
    app:cardCornerRadius="3dp" >

    <!-- put whatever you want -->

</android.support.v7.widget.CardView>

To use this you need to add dependency to build.gradle:

compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:23.+'

I get the best looking results by using a 9 patch graphic.

You can simply create an individual 9 patch graphic by using the following editor: http://inloop.github.io/shadow4android/

Example:

The 9 patch graphic:

The result:

The source:

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="200dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:background="@drawable/my_nine_patch"

Try this..

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item>
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="#CABBBBBB"/>
            <corners android:radius="2dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>

    <item
        android:left="0dp"
        android:right="0dp"
        android:top="0dp"
        android:bottom="2dp">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="@android:color/white"/>
            <corners android:radius="2dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>
</layer-list>

okay, i know this is way too late. but i had the same requirement. i solved like this

1.First create a xml file (example: border_shadow.xml) in "drawable" folder and copy the below code into it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle" >

<item>
    <shape>
        <!-- set the shadow color here -->
        <stroke
            android:width="2dp"
            android:color="#7000" />

        <!-- setting the thickness of shadow (positive value will give shadow on that side) -->

        <padding
            android:bottom="2dp"
            android:left="2dp"
            android:right="-1dp"
            android:top="-1dp" />

        <corners android:radius="3dp" />
    </shape>
</item>

<!-- Background -->

<item>
    <shape>
        <solid android:color="#fff" />
        <corners android:radius="3dp" />
    </shape>
</item>

</layer-list>

2.now on the layout where you want the shadow(example: LinearLayout) add this in android:background

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_margin="8dip"
    android:background="@drawable/border_shadow"
    android:orientation="vertical">

and that worked for me.