CS2 Float Value Explained: What the Number Means for Your Skins
Updated October 2026 · MyCS2Guru crew
Two "identical" AK Redlines, bro, and one costs way more. Why? Float. Here's everything you need to know about CS2 float values: what they are, the wear chart, float caps and how to avoid overpaying.
What is a float?
A float (or "wear value") is a number between 0 and 1 that every CS2 skin gets when it's created, whether it drops, comes from a case or a trade-up. It decides how much wear the skin shows. Lower floats look cleaner and sharper. Higher floats show more scratches, faded paint and bare metal. It's permanent: playing with the skin, applying stickers or trading it never changes the float.
The CS2 wear chart
| Exterior | Float range |
|---|---|
| Factory New (FN) | 0.00 - 0.07 |
| Minimal Wear (MW) | 0.07 - 0.15 |
| Field-Tested (FT) | 0.15 - 0.38 |
| Well-Worn (WW) | 0.38 - 0.45 |
| Battle-Scarred (BS) | 0.45 - 1.00 |
The exterior name is just a label for a float band. Within each band, floats vary, and that variation can matter a lot.
Float caps: not every skin covers 0 to 1
Each skin has its own minimum and maximum float. Some skins can only be Factory New and Minimal Wear; others can't go below Field-Tested. Many knife finishes like Doppler, Fade and Tiger Tooth only exist in FN and MW. Some older skins never reach Factory New at all. If a skin's float range is narrow, every copy looks similar; if it's wide, the difference between best and worst can be huge.
Why float affects price
Collectors pay premiums for:
- Very low floats within Factory New (like 0.00x), especially on popular skins.
- The best float for a given exterior, such as a 0.15 Field-Tested that looks nearly Minimal Wear.
- "Rank" floats that are among the lowest or highest known for a skin.
- Unique high-float looks, where heavy wear creates a style some players like (certain Battle-Scarred skins look cool worn).
For everyday players, the premium only matters if you can actually see the difference in-game.
How float looks in practice
Wear shows up differently on every skin. Some skins hide wear well, so a Field-Tested looks almost as good as Factory New. Others show scratches on obvious areas quickly. In first person, you mainly see the side and top of the weapon, so wear on the underside or far end may not matter. That's why you should always inspect before buying.
How to check a skin's float
- Inspect in game from the Steam Market or your inventory. The float is shown in the inspect view in CS2.
- Check the listing details on marketplaces; many show float and pattern.
- Compare screenshots of similar floats if you're unsure how wear looks.
Always confirm the float of the exact item you're buying, not just the exterior label.
Smart float tips for buyers
- Low-float FT is the budget sweet spot. A 0.15-0.18 FT often looks close to MW for less.
- Don't overpay for tiny FN differences you'll never see in a match.
- Check the skin's range. If its minimum is 0.06, a 0.06 FN isn't "bad"; it's the best possible.
- Inspect the visible areas, not the underside.
- Battle-Scarred can be a style choice for some skins and costs far less.
More on budget buying: cheap CS2 skins.
Float and trade-up contracts
Trade-ups use the average float of the input skins (scaled to each output skin's range) to set the output float. That's why traders hunt for low-float inputs: to get Factory New outputs. Learn more in our trade-up contracts guide.
Float vs pattern
Float decides wear. Pattern (paint seed) decides where the design sits on the weapon. Both can affect value. For pattern-heavy skins like Case Hardened, Fade and Doppler, pattern often matters more than float. See CS2 pattern index.
Float on site cases and withdrawals
When you win or withdraw skins on sites like Clash.gg and CSGOEmpire, listings often show the exterior and sometimes the exact float. Check before you redeem if float matters to you. Free cases with FREECASES4U are a no-risk way to try that out.
| Site | Bonus with FREECASES4U | Games | Payments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash.gg (Top pick) | 3 Free Cases + 5% deposit bonus | Case battles, cases, upgrader, crash, roulette, plinko, mines, keno, esports | CS2 skins, crypto | Claim |
| CSGOEmpire | Free case up to $1.4k | Roulette, case battles, cases, coinflip, esports | CS2 skins, crypto | Claim |
Common float mistakes
- Assuming all Factory New skins look the same.
- Paying big premiums for floats you can't see.
- Ignoring a skin's float cap when judging "good" floats.
- Not inspecting in-game before buying.
- Thinking float changes with use. It never does.
Bottom line
Float is a permanent 0-1 number that sets wear. Learn the wear chart, check each skin's range, inspect before you buy and only pay premiums for differences you'll actually notice. Your wallet will thank you, bro.
Float FAQ (extra)
Is a 0.00 float possible? Floats can get extremely close to zero on skins whose range starts at 0, and those "triple zero" floats are prized by collectors.
Do stickers hide wear? Stickers sit on top of the skin, but they don't change its float. They can cover worn areas visually.
Is Battle-Scarred always ugly? No. Some skins look great worn, and a few have a fan base specifically for their Battle-Scarred look.