Essential Guide

CS2 Float Value Guide 2025: Master the 0.00-1.00 Wear System

January 15, 202517 min readBeginner to Advanced

Understanding CS2 Float Values

Float value is the single most important factor in determining CS2 skin quality and price. A skin with 0.001 float can be worth 50-200% more than the same skin with 0.06 float. This comprehensive guide teaches you everything about the float system—from basic wear conditions to advanced trading strategies that leverage float knowledge for maximum profit. Use our CS2 Float Checker to analyze any skin instantly.

What is CS2 Float Value?

Float value (or "float" for short) is a decimal number between 0.00 and 1.00 that determines the wear condition of every CS2 weapon skin. Think of it as a precise measurement of how much "damage" or "wear" a skin displays. Lower float values mean less wear and better visual condition, while higher floats show more scratches, fading, and degradation.

Every single CS2 skin has a float value assigned when it's created (unboxed, traded up, or crafted). This float value is permanent and cannot be changed. The float determines which wear condition category the skin falls into and dramatically affects both its visual appearance and market value.

Understanding float values is crucial for CS2 traders because two identical skins can have vastly different values based solely on their float. A Factory New AWP Dragon Lore with 0.001 float might be worth $15,000, while the same skin with 0.069 float (still Factory New) could be worth only $10,000—a $5,000 difference from a single decimal place.

The Five Wear Conditions Explained

CS2 organizes float values into five wear condition categories. Each category has a specific float range, visual characteristics, and market positioning. Here's the complete breakdown:

Factory New (FN)

0.00 - 0.07

Factory New skins are in pristine condition with minimal to no visible wear. These are the most desirable and expensive wear condition for most skins. Factory New skins display vibrant colors, clean textures, and sharp details.

Visual Characteristics:

  • • Bright, vivid colors
  • • Clean surfaces with minimal scratches
  • • Sharp pattern details
  • • Glossy finish on most skins

Market Position:

  • • Highest prices (100-300% over MW)
  • • Best for investment
  • • Most liquid (easy to sell)
  • • Collectors prioritize FN

Pro Trading Tip

Within Factory New, float makes a huge difference. Target floats below 0.01 (called "low float") for premium skins. Floats below 0.005 can command 20-50% premiums. Floats like 0.001, 0.000x are extremely valuable for collectors.

Minimal Wear (MW)

0.07 - 0.15

Minimal Wear skins show slight wear but still maintain most of their visual appeal. Often called the "best value" wear condition—you get 80-90% of the visual quality at 50-70% of Factory New prices.

Visual Characteristics:

  • • Minor scratches on edges
  • • Slightly duller colors than FN
  • • Pattern still very clear
  • • Most wear on high-contact areas

Market Position:

  • • Best value for play skins
  • • 40-60% of FN price
  • • Good liquidity
  • • Smart buyers prefer low MW

Value Sweet Spot

Minimal Wear floats between 0.07-0.10 (called "low MW") look nearly identical to Factory New but cost significantly less. This is the sweet spot for players who want great looks without paying FN premiums.

Field-Tested (FT)

0.15 - 0.38

Field-Tested skins have noticeable wear with visible scratches and fading. The widest float range means FT condition varies dramatically—a 0.15 FT looks much better than a 0.37 FT. Budget-friendly option for most skins.

Visual Characteristics:

  • • Clear scratches and scuffs
  • • Noticeably duller colors
  • • Some pattern fading
  • • Wear visible across entire skin

Market Position:

  • • Budget play skins
  • • 20-40% of FN price
  • • Very wide float variance
  • • Good for testing skins

Important Note

Field-Tested has the widest float range (0.15-0.38). Always check the exact float value—a 0.15 FT can look acceptable while a 0.37 FT might be heavily worn. Don't buy FT blindly without seeing the float.

Well-Worn (WW)

0.38 - 0.45

Well-Worn skins show heavy wear with significant scratching, fading, and visible damage. Generally not recommended unless you're on a tight budget or the skin is expensive in FN/MW (like Dragon Lore or Howl).

Visual Characteristics:

  • • Heavy scratches and scuffs
  • • Significantly faded colors
  • • Pattern degradation
  • • Worn texture throughout

Market Position:

  • • Very budget-friendly
  • • 10-25% of FN price
  • • Limited collector interest
  • • Hard to resell premium

Battle-Scarred (BS)

0.45 - 1.00

Battle-Scarred skins have extreme wear with massive scratching and severe fading. Some collectors seek "max wear" (0.99+ float) for novelty. Generally the least desirable condition except for specific use cases.

Visual Characteristics:

  • • Extreme scratches and damage
  • • Heavily faded colors
  • • Barely visible patterns
  • • Looks "destroyed"

Market Position:

  • • Cheapest condition
  • • 5-15% of FN price
  • • Niche collector market
  • • "Blackiimov" exceptions

Special Exception

Some skins like AWP Asiimov Battle-Scarred with 0.95+ float (called "Blackiimov") are highly valuable because the extreme wear creates a unique all-black appearance. These rare cases defy normal value rules.

Understanding Float Caps

Not all CS2 skins can exist in all five wear conditions. Many skins have float caps—minimum and maximum float values that restrict which wear conditions are possible. Understanding float caps is crucial for trading because it affects rarity and value.

For example, the AWP Dragon Lore has a float cap of 0.00 - 0.70, meaning Battle-Scarred Dragon Lores only go up to 0.70 float (not the full 1.00). Some skins like Desert Eagle Blaze can only exist in Factory New condition (0.00 - 0.08 cap), making every Blaze extremely clean-looking.

Common Float Cap Examples

Desert Eagle Blaze

FN Only

Float cap: 0.00 - 0.08 (Factory New only). All Blazes are clean, making low floats even more valuable.

AWP Asiimov

No FN

Float cap: 0.18 - 1.00 (Field-Tested and worse only). Factory New Asiimov doesn't exist.

Glock-18 Fade

FN + MW

Float cap: 0.00 - 0.08 (Factory New only, but technically MW cap at 0.08).

M4A4 Howl

All Conditions

Float cap: 0.00 - 0.99 (Nearly full range, all wear conditions available).

AWP Dragon Lore

No Max BS

Float cap: 0.00 - 0.70 (All conditions, but BS caps at 0.70 instead of 1.00).

Float caps create interesting market dynamics. Skins with restrictive caps (like FN-only skins) have all their supply concentrated in one condition, which can drive prices higher for excellent floats. Always check float caps before trading—our CS2 Float Checker displays float caps automatically for every skin.

Advanced Float Trading Strategies

Understanding float values opens up numerous profitable trading opportunities. Here are proven strategies used by professional CS2 traders to exploit float knowledge for maximum returns.

Strategy 1: Low Float Hunting

Target skins with floats below 0.01 (Factory New) or 0.08 (Minimal Wear) that are listed at standard prices. Low floats command premium prices from collectors but many sellers don't adjust pricing accordingly.

How to Execute:

  • • Use CS2 Float Checker to filter listings by float value instantly
  • • Target floats 0.000x-0.003x for maximum collector appeal
  • • Focus on popular skins: knives, Dopplers, gloves, high-tier skins
  • • Buy from marketplaces where sellers don't check float (Steam Market)
  • • Resell on specialized platforms where collectors pay premiums

Expected ROI

30-150%

Time Horizon

1-6 weeks

Strategy 2: Float Cap Arbitrage

Exploit knowledge of float caps that most traders don't know. Skins with restrictive float caps create concentrated supply in specific wear conditions, driving up value for excellent floats.

How to Execute:

  • • Research float caps for valuable skins (Desert Eagle Blaze, Glock Fade, etc.)
  • • Target FN-only skins with floats below 0.01—extra rare within limited supply
  • • Look for "no FN" skins where low FT is as good as it gets (AWP Asiimov 0.18)
  • • Educate buyers about float cap rarity to justify premium pricing
  • • Hold long-term as float cap knowledge becomes more widespread

Expected ROI

40-200%

Time Horizon

2-8 weeks

Strategy 3: "Low MW" Value Play

Minimal Wear skins with floats just above 0.07 (0.07-0.10 range) look nearly identical to Factory New but cost 30-50% less. Smart buyers recognize this value, creating quick flip opportunities.

How to Execute:

  • • Target Minimal Wear floats between 0.07-0.10 (low MW sweet spot)
  • • Best on skins with minimal wear patterns: gloves, knives, gloves
  • • Buy from traders focused on condition labels, not actual float
  • • Resell to smart buyers who understand the visual similarity to FN
  • • Especially effective on expensive skins where 30-50% savings matter

Expected ROI

20-80%

Time Horizon

1-4 weeks

Strategy 4: Max Wear Collecting

Extremely high float Battle-Scarred skins (0.95+) have niche collector markets. Some skins create unique visual effects at max wear (Blackiimov, rust coats, etc.) that command premiums.

How to Execute:

  • • Target AWP Asiimov BS with 0.95+ float (Blackiimov—all black scope)
  • • Look for rust coat skins with 0.99+ float (extreme rust texture)
  • • Some patina/amber fade skins show unique colors at max wear
  • • Buy from sellers who don't understand max wear collector market
  • • Highest potential on skins where max wear creates dramatic visual change

Expected ROI

100-500%

Time Horizon

4-12 weeks

Strategy 5: Float Ranking Speculation

Some collectors seek #1-10 lowest floats for specific skins. Float ranking databases (like CSGOFloat Database) create competition for top spots, driving extreme premiums for record-breaking floats.

How to Execute:

  • • Check float ranking databases for rare skins with top 10 floats available
  • • Unbox/trade-up for rare skins hoping for record low floats (high risk)
  • • Buy ranked floats from unaware sellers for normal low-float prices
  • • Target skins with small existing populations (easier to rank high)
  • • Hold for competitive collectors willing to pay 500%+ for #1 floats

Expected ROI

200-1000%+

Time Horizon

8-24 weeks

How CS2 Float Checker Enhances Float Trading

Our Chrome extension provides instant float analysis that gives you a massive competitive advantage when trading. Here's how it works:

Core Float Features

Instant Float Display

See exact float values (to 15 decimal places) on all marketplace listings without clicking

Float Range Visualization

Color-coded visual indicators showing where float sits within its wear condition range

Float Cap Information

Automatically displays minimum/maximum float caps for each skin

Investment Scoring

1-10 scale incorporating float quality, rarity, phase, and pattern

Low Float Highlighting

Automatically flags exceptional floats (0.00x) with visual badges

Float Comparison Tools

Compare float values across multiple listings to find best deals

Float Value Best Practices

Follow these best practices to maximize success when trading based on float values:

Always Verify Float Before Buying

Never buy a skin without checking its exact float value, especially for Factory New or Minimal Wear items. A 0.069 FN is worth significantly less than a 0.001 FN despite both being "Factory New." Use CS2 Float Checker on every purchase.

Understand Visual vs. Float Value

Some skins show wear more prominently than others. A 0.03 float Karambit might show minimal visible wear, while a 0.03 float AK-47 could show noticeable scratches. Learn which skins age well visually vs. those that show wear easily.

Research Float Caps Before Trading

Before investing in a skin, check its float cap range. Some skins are FN-only (Desert Eagle Blaze), others can't be FN (AWP Asiimov), and some have unusual caps. This affects rarity and value calculations significantly.

Target Sweet Spot Floats

For collecting: target 0.00x floats. For playing: target 0.01-0.03 FN or 0.07-0.10 MW for best value. For investing: focus on 0.000x-0.003x floats on high-tier skins. Avoid the "dead zone" of 0.04-0.069 FN unless heavily discounted.

Document Float for Resale

When selling, prominently advertise exceptional float values in your listing titles and descriptions. "0.001 float Karambit Doppler" will sell faster and for higher prices than just "Karambit Doppler FN." Float is a selling point—use it.

Combine Float with Other Factors

Maximum value comes from combining excellent float with other desirable attributes: Doppler phase, pattern index, sticker placement, or rarity. A 0.001 float Doppler Sapphire is exponentially more valuable than 0.001 float + Sapphire separately.

Common Float Trading Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes that cost traders money when dealing with float values:

Mistake: Assuming All FN Skins Look the Same

Factory New covers a wide range (0.00-0.07). A 0.069 FN knife can show significantly more wear than a 0.001 FN knife. Always check the exact float—not just the wear condition label.

Mistake: Overpaying for High Field-Tested Floats

A 0.37 Field-Tested skin is close to Well-Worn (0.38 starts WW) and will show heavy wear. Never pay "low FT" prices for high FT floats. The visual difference between 0.15 FT and 0.37 FT is massive.

Mistake: Ignoring Float on Gloves

Gloves show wear more aggressively than most skins. Even 0.15 MW gloves can look heavily worn. For gloves, target 0.07-0.08 FN minimum, ideally 0.01-0.03 for play skins. High FN float gloves (0.06-0.07) look surprisingly worn.

Mistake: Not Checking Float Caps

Buying a skin without knowing its float cap range can lead to overpaying. If you pay FN prices for a "low float" Desert Eagle Blaze at 0.02, you didn't get a deal—ALL Blazes are FN (0.00-0.08 cap).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a "good" float value?

For Factory New: below 0.01 is very good, below 0.005 is excellent, below 0.001 is exceptional. For Minimal Wear: 0.07-0.10 is the sweet spot. For Field-Tested: 0.15-0.20 is considered "low FT." Context matters—check average floats for specific skins.

Can float value change over time?

No, float values are permanent and assigned when the skin is created. Playing with a skin doesn't affect its float. The float you see is the float it will always have. This is why float checking before purchase is so important.

How much premium should I pay for low floats?

It depends on the skin and float. For high-tier items, 0.00x floats command 20-50% premiums, while 0.000x floats can demand 100%+ premiums. For budget skins, float premiums are minimal. Use marketplace data to gauge appropriate premiums.

Are there float value scams to watch for?

Yes. Common scams include: advertising "low float" without showing exact value, listing high float FN items at low float prices, and claiming "Factory New look" on Minimal Wear items. Always verify float yourself with CS2 Float Checker before buying.

Do professional traders care about float?

Absolutely. Professional traders and collectors obsess over float values. High-stakes trades often hinge on float differences of 0.001 or less. Float value is one of the primary factors in determining investment-grade CS2 skins.

Should I prioritize float or pattern/phase?

It depends on the skin. For Dopplers, phase matters more (Ruby > P1 regardless of float). For blue gems, pattern is king. For skins without special patterns, float is the primary value driver. Ideally, get both excellent float AND desirable pattern/phase.

Master Float Trading Today

Install CS2 Float Checker to see instant float values, investment scores, and float cap information on every marketplace listing. Stop overpaying for high floats and start identifying underpriced gems immediately.

Install Free Chrome Extension

Join 50,000+ traders using CS2 Float Checker to make informed decisions based on precise float value data.

Conclusion

Understanding CS2 float values is essential for anyone serious about trading or collecting Counter-Strike 2 skins. Float values determine visual quality, market value, and investment potential. The difference between a profitable trade and an expensive mistake often comes down to checking the float value before clicking "buy."

The float value system creates incredible opportunities for informed traders. While casual buyers focus only on wear condition labels, smart traders analyze exact float values to find underpriced gems, exploit float cap knowledge, and target specific float ranges that offer the best value or investment potential.

Tools like CS2 Float Checker have democratized float trading by making precise float data accessible to everyone. You no longer need to be an expert or manually inspect every skin—float values, investment scores, and opportunity alerts appear automatically as you browse marketplaces.

Start incorporating float value analysis into your trading today. Check out our CS2 Float Checker tool, and explore our other guides on Doppler phases, pattern trading, and CS2 skin investing to expand your knowledge and maximize your profits.