CS2 float and wear: what really moves the price
Two "Field-Tested" AK-47 | Redline skins can have very different prices. The reason comes down to one number: the float. Understanding how it works stops you overpaying for a skin, and helps you sell yours better. Here are the essentials, straight to the point.
What is float?
Every copy of a skin has a wear value, called float, between 0 and 1. The closer it is to 0, the cleaner the skin. The closer it gets to 1, the more scratched and damaged it is.
Three things to remember:
- Float is set when the item is created and never changes. A skin does not wear down when you play with it, and it cannot be repaired.
- Wear is purely cosmetic. It changes nothing about the weapon's performance.
- An item's float is public: you can check it before buying on sites that display it, or by inspecting the item.
The 5 wear levels
The wear level shown in the item's name (Factory New, Field-Tested…) is just a float range:
| Level | Abbreviation | Float range |
|---|---|---|
| Factory New | FN | 0.00 to 0.07 |
| Minimal Wear | MW | 0.07 to 0.15 |
| Field-Tested | FT | 0.15 to 0.38 |
| Well-Worn | WW | 0.38 to 0.45 |
| Battle-Scarred | BS | 0.45 to 1.00 |
The upper bound of each range belongs to the next one: a float of 0.07 is already Minimal Wear, a float of 0.15 already Field-Tested.
Not every skin exists in every wear level
Many finishes have a limited float range. According to steamdb.com's survey, only a minority of finishes cover the whole 0 to 1 scale: some can never be Factory New, others never Battle-Scarred. A few telling examples:
- AWP | Asiimov: minimum float of 0.18, so no Factory New or Minimal Wear version.
- Karambit | Doppler: maximum float of 0.08, so only in Factory New and Minimal Wear.
- Some "rusty" finishes start at 0.40 and only exist in Well-Worn and Battle-Scarred.
The practical consequence: for these skins, the "best" wear available becomes the most sought after, and its price rises accordingly.
Why float changes the price within the same wear level
Within a range, not all floats are equal. A Field-Tested at 0.16 is almost as clean as a Minimal Wear, whereas a Field-Tested at 0.37 already looks like a Well-Worn. Collectors therefore pay more for floats at the "low end of the range", and extreme floats (very close to 0 in Factory New, or very close to the lower bound of a range) can be worth far more than the usual price.
Conversely, an item at the top of its range often sells for a little less than average: a good deal if you simply want to play with it.
Other price factors
Float is not the only criterion. For some skins, these matter just as much, or more:
- The pattern. Each copy has a pattern number that places the design differently on the weapon. On some skins (Case Hardened, Fade, Doppler…), a rare pattern can multiply the price.
- Stickers. Old or rare stickers, well placed, add value. Scraped stickers add much less.
- StatTrak™ and Souvenir. The StatTrak™ version (kill counter) and the Souvenir version (from a major tournament) have their own price, often higher.
Reading a listing: a concrete example
Imagine two listings for the same skin in Field-Tested:
- Listing A: float 0.152, price €32.
- Listing B: float 0.361, price €29.
Listing A is just above the Minimal Wear limit: to the eye, it will look almost like a Minimal Wear, which often sells for much more. Listing B is at the top of the Field-Tested range and shows more visible scratches. If looks matter to you, the €3 difference is worth it. If you just want the skin to play with, listing B is the bargain.
Before deciding, look at the screenshots too: on some skins, wear is concentrated on areas barely visible in game, and a high float goes almost unnoticed.
Float and resale: what it changes
When you buy with a view to reselling one day, float counts twice over:
- an item with a "perfect" float for its range resells more easily and for more, but it also costs more to buy;
- an item with an average float will resell at its range's average price, no more, no less;
- extreme floats mainly interest collectors: they can sell for a lot, but sometimes slowly, for lack of buyers.
Either way, keep the seller commission in mind (2 to 15% depending on the site): a skin resold at the same price loses you money. Float does not turn a skin into a guaranteed investment.
How to check the float before buying
- On the marketplace. The big sites display the float of each listing. CSFloat has made it its speciality, with tools for sorting by float and by pattern.
- By inspecting the item in game. A listing's "Inspect" link opens the item in CS2, with its wear visible.
- With screenshots. Many sites offer a screenshot of the exact item: look at it, especially for an expensive purchase.
On our comparison site, the prices shown are those of the cheapest listing for the given wear level, whatever its exact float. If you are after a specific float, check the listing on the site before buying.
How to use it to your advantage
- To buy for less: go down one wear level when the difference doesn't show, or choose a float at the top of the range. More tips in cheap CS2 skins.
- To sell for more: if your item has a low float for its range, a sought-after pattern or rare stickers, don't dump it at the lowest listed price. Set a higher price on a marketplace and be patient. The sell calculator accepts your own price for comparing fees.
- To compare: look at a skin's total price in several wear levels from its page ("Other versions" section).
FAQ
Can a skin's float change over time?
No. It is set when the item is created and never moves, however many matches you play.
What is the best wear level?
Factory New is the cleanest, but not necessarily the best-looking or the best value. On many skins, a good Minimal Wear or Field-Tested offers the best looks-to-price ratio.
Why is my Field-Tested skin worth less than another player's?
Because the float, the pattern or the stickers differ. The wear name is only a range: two items in the same range can look different and be worth different amounts.
What does "low float" mean?
It is an item whose float is particularly low for its range, and so cleaner than average. "Low float" listings generally sell for more than the usual price for that wear level.
Does float have any effect in game?
No. It has no effect on the weapon's performance: it is purely visual.