On this page ▾
- Q: What exactly is float?
- Q: Why do low floats cost more?
- Q: When does the premium make sense?
- Q: How do I check a float safely?
- Q: How do trade-ups change float?
- Q: Does float matter on gloves, knives and stickered skins?
- Q: Is float connected to gambling sites?
- Q: Is chasing low floats a good investment?
- Cheat sheet
- Float is a number from 0 to 1; lower means less wear.
- Wear names are ranges: Factory New is 0.00 to 0.07.
- Premiums are strongest at the very low end of a wear band and on visible, clean finishes.
- Float is permanent; only trade-ups create new floats.
Q: What exactly is float?
Every skin has a hidden number, its float, between 0 and 1. It determines how much wear shows on the paint. The names you see in the market are simply labels for ranges of that number. Our float and wear reference has more background; here is the quick version.
| Wear | Float range |
|---|---|
| Factory New | 0.00 - 0.07 |
| Minimal Wear | 0.07 - 0.15 |
| Field-Tested | 0.15 - 0.38 |
| Well-Worn | 0.38 - 0.45 |
| Battle-Scarred | 0.45 - 1.00 |
Not every skin spans the entire range. Some have a limited minimum or maximum float, which means a given design may never appear in certain wears.
Q: Why do low floats cost more?
Two skins with the same name and wear can differ in price because one has a float of 0.071 and the other 0.149. The reasons for the premium include:
- Visual difference: on some finishes, a cleaner skin truly looks better.
- Scarcity: the lowest floats within a band are rarer.
- Collecting: some buyers chase the lowest float of a popular skin as a trophy.
- Trade-up use: low floats are useful inputs for contracts aimed at a low-float output.
Q: When does the premium make sense?
Use this quick decision guide.
| Situation | Premium worth it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bright, detailed finish, Factory New | Often yes | Wear is visible and buyers care |
| Dark, mostly solid finish | Usually no | Difference hard to see |
| Near the top of a wear band | Sometimes | Borderline items can be cheap for their tier |
| Very top of a popular skin's float range | Collector decision | Premium can be large and narrow in demand |
| Skin you will never sell | Only for your taste | Resale does not matter |
Tip: Price per visible improvement is the key idea. If you cannot tell the difference between 0.01 and 0.06 in-game, do not pay for it.
Q: How do I check a float safely?
- Use the game's inspect option on an item in your inventory or on a listing.
- Use a trusted marketplace that displays floats on the listing.
- Never sign into a float-checking site using your Steam password; sign-in must go through the official Steam page only.
- Compare against recent sales of the same wear and a similar float.
Read how to avoid scams if you are unsure about a tool. You can also use the float calculator to estimate where a float sits in its band.
Q: How do trade-ups change float?
A trade-up contract takes ten skins and produces one of a higher tier. The output float is based on the average of the input floats, scaled to the output skin's own float range. That is why low-float inputs are valued for aiming at a clean result. Our trade-up calculator does the arithmetic for you. Trade-ups are not guaranteed to be profitable, and outcomes depend on the available skins and their prices.
Worked example
Imagine ten inputs with floats averaging 0.10. If the output skin's float range runs from 0.00 to 1.00, the output would land near 0.10. If the output has a narrower range, such as 0.00 to 0.50, the result would be scaled into that range, so the same average leads to a different final number. Always plug real values into a calculator before buying inputs.
Q: Does float matter on gloves, knives and stickered skins?
Yes, but differently. On knives and gloves, wear is very visible because of the large surface area. On stickered weapons, the float and the sticker both feed into the price, and a rare sticker can outweigh a low float entirely. Our stickers guide shows how those interact.
Q: Is float connected to gambling sites?
When you win or withdraw a skin on a site, its float is already set. The float is generated when the item is created in the game, not when it appears on the site. Platforms such as CSGOEmpire list skins in their P2P marketplace, where you can compare floats just like on other markets. That does not make them better or worse for float quality; it simply means checking before you buy remains your job.
Odds on cases are separate from float. A case opening gives you a random skin and a random float within that skin's range. Learn more in our case opening odds guide.
Q: Is chasing low floats a good investment?
It can be a hobby, but we would not call it an investment strategy. Collectors' tastes change, markets thin out at the top end and fees reduce returns. Our skins-as-investment guide covers the risks. Buy what you like, and treat any resale value as a bonus.
Cheat sheet
- Check the float before paying for any premium.
- Pay more where wear is visible; pay less where it is not.
- Compare to recent sales, not asking prices.
- Remember that fees affect your resale; see the Steam fee calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a float value in CS2?
Float is a decimal number between 0 and 1 that sets how worn a skin looks. Lower numbers mean less wear. The wear name, such as Factory New, is a band within that range.
Is a lower float always more expensive?
Not always. Premiums appear when the difference is visible or rare, such as the very lowest floats of popular skins. For dark, simple finishes the premium may be small.
Can I change a skin's float?
No. Float is fixed when the skin is created. Trade-up contracts produce new skins with new floats, but you cannot alter an existing one.
How do I check a float?
Use the in-game inspect function or a trusted inspect tool, or a float checker built into a marketplace. Be careful about sites that ask for logins.
Play responsibly: CS2 gambling is for adults 19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC). Set limits, never chase losses, and use self-exclusion if it stops being fun. Free, confidential help: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 or your provincial helpline — see our responsible gambling page.
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