Every CS2 skin has a float value – a number between 0.00 and 1.00 that determines its exact visual condition. This number is set permanently when the skin drops or gets unboxed. It never changes, no matter how many times the skin is traded.
Float value is the single biggest hidden factor in CS2 skin pricing. Two skins can share the same name, the same wear label, and look nearly identical in a marketplace thumbnail – but one costs $50 and the other costs $500. The difference is almost always float.
The 5 wear ranges
Every CS2 skin falls into one of five wear categories based on its float value:
| Wear Category | Abbreviation | Float Range | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory New | FN | 0.00 – 0.07 | Minimal to no visible scratches or wear |
| Minimal Wear | MW | 0.07 – 0.15 | Slight wear marks, often hard to spot in-game |
| Field-Tested | FT | 0.15 – 0.38 | Noticeable scratches, moderate paint removal |
| Well-Worn | WW | 0.38 – 0.45 | Heavy scratching, significant paint loss |
| Battle-Scarred | BS | 0.45 – 1.00 | Extensive damage, large areas of paint stripped |
The category label is what you see on the Steam Community Market and most trading sites. But the label tells you the range – not where the skin actually sits within that range. A Field-Tested skin at 0.15 looks dramatically different from one at 0.37, even though both say “FT.”
Not every skin can exist at every float
This trips up a lot of buyers. Each skin in CS2 has a minimum and maximum possible float value defined by Valve. The AK-47 Redline, for example, has a minimum float of 0.10 and a maximum of 0.70 – it physically cannot be Factory New. The AWP Asiimov has a minimum float of 0.18, so it only exists as Field-Tested, Well-Worn, or Battle-Scarred.
Before you search for a Factory New version of any skin, check whether that skin can even roll below 0.07. If the minimum float is 0.06, the “Factory New” version you’re buying is already at the very top of the FN range and will have visible wear marks.
How float drives price
The relationship between float and price isn’t a smooth curve. It’s driven by two forces: visual quality and rarity at the extremes.
Within a wear category, lower float means higher price. A Factory New AWP Dragon Lore at 0.01 is worth considerably more than one at 0.06. Both carry the FN label. The 0.01 is visually flawless. The 0.06 has minor scratches visible under close inspection.
The category boundary creates a price cliff. A skin at 0.0699 (top of Factory New) and one at 0.0701 (bottom of Minimal Wear) can look almost identical. But the FN label commands a premium – sometimes 30-50% more – for that one data point difference. Buyers pay for the label, not the pixels.
Extreme low floats enter collector territory. Below 0.005, and especially below 0.001, skins become collectibles. A 0.0001 float skin is functionally unique. The lowest-float examples of popular skins sell for 5-10x the price of a “normal” Factory New. For high-demand items like AK-47 Fire Serpent or M4A1-S Hot Rod, sub-0.001 specimens can go for 20x or more.
Battle-Scarred extremes have their own market. On certain skins, a float above 0.95 creates a distinctive stripped look that collectors seek out. A 0.999 AWP Asiimov – nearly all base metal, almost no paint – is rarer and more expensive than a 0.45 Battle-Scarred one. The meme value is real, and it carries a real price tag.
Here’s how float typically affects pricing on a mid-range skin:
| Float Value | Wear Label | Approximate Price Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 | Factory New | +200-500% over baseline FN |
| 0.01 | Factory New | +50-100% |
| 0.03 | Factory New | +10-20% |
| 0.06 | Factory New | Baseline FN price |
| 0.08 | Minimal Wear | 15-25% below FN |
| 0.15 | Field-Tested | 30-50% below FN |
| 0.38 | Well-Worn | 50-65% below FN |
| 0.90+ | Battle-Scarred | Variable – collector premium possible |
These percentages shift based on the skin. Knives and high-demand rifles (AK-47 Case Hardened, AWP Dragon Lore) have steeper float premiums. Sub-$10 skins see minimal float-based price differences.
Pattern index: the other variable
Float isn’t the only hidden number that affects price. Every skin also has a pattern index (sometimes called paint seed) – a value from 0 to 999 that determines the visual pattern distribution on the skin’s surface.
For most skins, pattern index doesn’t matter. But for a handful of high-value skins, it’s the primary price driver:
- Case Hardened – the AK-47, Five-SeveN, and knife variants all have 1,000 possible patterns. Patterns with more blue (“Blue Gems”) sell for 10x to 100x more than average patterns at the same float. Pattern #661 on the AK-47 Case Hardened is the most famous example – a near-full blue top that regularly sells for tens of thousands of dollars.
- Fade – knives and the Glock-18 Fade are valued by how far the color gradient extends. A “full fade” (pattern with maximum pink/purple coverage) is worth significantly more than a partial fade.
- Marble Fade – “Fire and Ice” patterns (red and blue only, no yellow) command the highest premiums among Marble Fade knives.
- Crimson Web – the number and centering of web patterns on Crimson Web knives directly affect value. A centered big web on a Karambit Crimson Web can double the price.
CSFloat displays pattern index data alongside float values on every listing – this is the go-to resource for checking pattern-sensitive skins.
Where to check float values on trading sites
Not every CS2 trading site gives you the same level of float data. Here’s what the major platforms offer:
CSFloat is built around float data. The platform started as FloatDB – a database indexing over 1.6 billion CS2 skins by float value, paint seed, and sticker combination. Every listing shows the precise float, and you can filter and sort by float range. The 3D inspect screenshots let you see exactly how the skin looks before buying. If float precision is your priority, CSFloat has the most comprehensive toolset.
Skinport displays float values on all listings with inspect links so you can verify in-game appearance. Sorting by float is available, though the filtering is less granular than CSFloat’s dedicated tools. For most buyers who want to check float before purchasing, Skinport covers the basics.
Tradeit.gg shows float values on listings. The bot-based model means you’re buying from platform inventory, so what you see is what you get – the float displayed is the float you’ll receive.
Steam Community Market technically has float data, but you need a third-party browser extension (like CSFloat’s Market Checker) to see it. Without the extension, you’re buying blind.
Practical float-buying tips
- Set a float range before you start browsing. If you want a clean-looking skin but don’t need a collector piece, the 0.01-0.03 range for Factory New gives you an excellent appearance without the extreme float premium.
- Check the skin’s possible float range first. If the minimum float is 0.06 for the skin you want, the FN version will always have some visible wear. A low-float Minimal Wear at 0.07 might actually look cleaner than a high-float Factory New at 0.069 on certain skins – and cost less.
- Compare float-to-price across platforms. The same skin at the same float can be listed at different prices on Skinport vs CSFloat. Checking both before buying takes 30 seconds and can save meaningful money on items above $50.
- Don’t overpay for float differences you can’t see. In-game, the visual difference between 0.01 and 0.02 float is often invisible – especially during gameplay. The price difference can be 30-50%. Unless you’re collecting, buy for the look you want, not the lowest possible number.
- For expensive purchases, always use inspect screenshots. Float is a number, but what you care about is how the skin actually looks. Two skins at 0.03 float can look slightly different depending on where the wear maps onto the model. Platforms with 3D inspect tools let you verify before you buy.
Browse all CS2 trading sites to compare platforms with detailed float data and find skins at the float range you’re looking for.
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