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- Float is a decimal from 0.00 to 1.00 that sets a skin's wear; lower means cleaner.
- Five tiers: Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn and Battle-Scarred.
- Wear tier can swing a skin's price by 30% to 90%, and low floats within a tier add premiums.
- Gambling sites often price by tier, not exact float, so sell special floats first.
Float is one of the most important and least understood concepts in the CS2 market. Two copies of the same skin can look very different and sell for very different prices, purely because of a number that most players never read. In this guide our team explains what float is, how the tiers work, how wear changes prices in Canadian dollars (approx.), and how to apply this when you deposit skins on gambling sites. For quick checks, bookmark the float calculator.
What float actually is
Every skin has a float value between 0.00000000 and 1.00000000. When the skin is created it is assigned a random float within the allowable range for that finish. The float then determines how much wear overlay shows on the weapon. A float of 0.001 is nearly pristine; 0.95 is heavily scratched. It never changes after creation, even if the item is traded.
Not every skin can occupy the full 0 to 1 range. Designers set minimum and maximum floats per finish. For example, a skin may only exist between 0.00 and 0.08, which means you will never see it in Battle-Scarred. Others span the whole range. This is why some skins have no Factory New version, and why some have no Battle-Scarred version.
The five wear tiers
| Wear tier | Float range | Share of the 0 to 1 range | Typical look | Typical price effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factory New (FN) | 0.00 to 0.07 | 7% | Clean, no visible wear | Highest price; baseline 100% |
| Minimal Wear (MW) | 0.07 to 0.15 | 8% | Light scuffs | Often 60% to 90% of FN |
| Field-Tested (FT) | 0.15 to 0.38 | 23% | Visible wear | Often 35% to 70% of FN |
| Well-Worn (WW) | 0.38 to 0.45 | 7% | Heavy wear | Often 25% to 50% of FN |
| Battle-Scarred (BS) | 0.45 to 1.00 | 55% | Very worn, paint largely scratched | Often 15% to 45% of FN; sometimes more than WW on some skins |
The percentage effects above are rough rules of thumb, not guarantees. They vary by skin; a rare collector skin can have a much larger FN premium, while a heavily worn version of a skin that looks good scratched, like some AK-47 skins, may carry a surprisingly strong price.
Float in action: approx. CA$ examples
The table shows how the same skin can vary by wear. Prices are approximate, illustrative and change daily. They use skins we cover elsewhere on the site.
| Skin | Rarity | FN approx. (CA$) | FT approx. (CA$) | BS approx. (CA$) | Wear notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK-47 | Redline | Classified | n/a (minimum float 0.10) | 25 to 60 | 15 to 35 | MW is the top tier available |
| AK-47 | Asiimov | Covert | n/a (floor above FN) | 60 to 160 | 40 to 90 | Looks greatly different at BS |
| AWP | Hyper Beast | Covert | 90 to 160 | 45 to 100 | 30 to 70 | Wide range, strong demand |
| M4A1-S | Cyrex | Classified | 45 to 90 | 25 to 55 | 15 to 35 | Wide range |
| Karambit | Doppler | Covert | 1,000 to 1,900 | n/a (FN or MW only) | n/a | Limited float range |
| AWP | Dragon Lore | Covert | 15,000+ | 3,000 to 7,000 | 2,500 to 4,500 | Collector item; wear matters hugely |
Where the table says "n/a", that wear tier does not exist for the skin because of its float limits. Always check an item page for its wear availability.
Low float: why it matters
Within a tier, floats near the start of the range look cleaner and often sell at a premium. For instance, a 0.0001 Factory New can sell for many times the price of a 0.06 Factory New of the same skin because the former is close to perfect. The premium is strongest on skins that have many collectors. Our article low float skins explained shows how to value these properly.
Conversely, "high float" in the tier (e.g., 0.37 in Field-Tested) is a cheap way to get the tier's look. If you want a good price-to-appearance deal, pick items at the cleaner end of your target tier but not at the extreme low.
Trade-ups and float
When you perform a trade-up contract, the output float depends on the average of the input floats and the output skin's float range. You can plan a low-float result by choosing low-float inputs. Try the trade-up calculator and the float calculator together to see predictions. Understanding this is how some players craft Factory New outputs from cheap inputs.
Float and gambling sites
This is where many players lose value without realising it. Most skin gambling sites price items using a market-based database that groups by item name and wear tier, not exact float.
- Deposit value vs Steam price: a 0.001 FN skin is usually credited like an average FN, and Steam's market price itself ignores float. If your item has a high float premium on a collector market, selling it first, then depositing the proceeds, captures the premium. Steam's market price is also in non-withdrawable wallet funds.
- Which sites accept them: CSGOEmpire, CSGORoll, CSGOBig, CSGOFast and Gamdom accept skins via Steam trade. Some have float or wear restrictions on Battle-Scarred items. Check the accepted-items list.
- High-float inventory: a high-float skin priced as an average copy is a good deposit candidate; you give away less premium. Conversely, never deposit a rare low float without comparing prices.
- Upgrader and trade-up modes: a few sites offer upgrader modes. Our skin upgrader simulator shows the odds without risk.
Read how to deposit skins for the practical steps, and how CS2 gambling works for the bigger picture.
How to check float
- In-game: open your inventory, select the item and use the inspect option to see the float.
- Marketplaces: many third-party markets show float directly in listings.
- Inspect links: generate a link for an item and open it in an inspect tool.
- Third-party tools: use the float calculator to see where your value sits in its range.
- Keep screenshots for high-value items, especially for sale on P2P markets.
Common mistakes
- Paying a Factory New price for a copy at 0.069, which will look and sell like a Minimal Wear in some buyers' eyes.
- Assuming a lower float always looks better; some skins are designed to look good worn.
- Ignoring the float cap: some skins have a minimum float above 0, which removes Factory New entirely.
- Over-paying for float on skins without collector interest.
- Skipping pattern checks on skins like Case Hardened and Marble Fade, where pattern matters more than float; see pattern index and blue gems.
Canada angle: pricing and conversion
Float premiums are quoted on international markets, mostly in USD. A US$500 low-float premium is roughly CA$690 at about 1.38 CAD per USD, so compare in a single currency. Canadians buying through Steam see CA$, but they should compare with third-party options and account for Steam's fees using the Steam fee calculator. If you plan to cash out valuable floats, see how to withdraw to CAD. For long-term value, read skins as an investment. This is general information, not financial advice.
Quick float checklist
Before you pay a premium for wear, confirm the skin's possible float range, the exact float of the item and the tier it falls in. Compare the price with other copies near the same float, not just the same tier, because a 0.0003 and a 0.06 Factory New are priced very differently by collectors. Check that the item is not trade-locked and that the seller is reputable. If you plan to use the skin on a gambling site, compare the site credit with a marketplace quote. Record purchase prices in CA$ with fees so you can judge real performance, and remember that float only matters if a future buyer cares about it as well. For mainstream skins, many buyers do not, which caps the premium you can expect to recover.
Responsible play. Understanding float does not remove the house edge on gambling sites. Wager only what you can afford to lose. In Canada gambling is provincially regulated, and offshore skin sites are not licensed in Ontario. For support, contact ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) or your provincial helpline and consider self-exclusion. See our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
What is float in CS2?
Float is a number from 0 to 1 that describes how worn a skin is. Lower floats are cleaner, and the number is divided into five named wear tiers from Factory New to Battle-Scarred.
Does a lower float always cost more?
Usually within a tier, yes, but the premium depends on demand. Extreme low floats on popular skins can carry big premiums, while on unpopular skins the difference is small.
Can float change after I get a skin?
No. The float is fixed for each individual item. Stickers can be scraped, but float does not change over time.
Do gambling sites pay more for low float?
Often not. Many sites price by item name and wear tier, so a very low-float copy may be credited like an average one. Sell special floats on a marketplace first.
How can I check float?
Use the in-game inspect option, an inspect link tool, or marketplace listings that show float. Our float calculator helps interpret the numbers.
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.