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CS2 Float Values

Updated May 15, 2026 · CSGO Top Editorial Desk

Definition

A float value is a number between 0 and 1 attached to every CS2 skin instance, controlling how visibly worn the finish appears. Two skins with the same name and pattern can look meaningfully different at low vs high float. Float values are immutable for the lifetime of the skin instance.

Every CS2 skin instance carries a float value: a number between 0 and 1 that determines how visibly worn the finish looks. The float is rolled at creation time and never changes. Two players holding skins with the same name and pattern can have visibly different items if their floats differ enough.

How float maps to wear

The five wear tiers map onto specific float ranges:

  • 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

These ranges are the same for every skin in CS2. What differs is the destination skin’s float range — the band of float values within which that specific skin can actually be generated. Some skins can never roll Factory New because their float range starts above 0.07. Others can never roll Battle-Scarred because their range tops out below 0.45.

Why float visually matters

Float controls how much wear pattern, edge erosion, and texture roughening appears on the finish. The exact effect varies hugely by skin:

  • Hydrographic finishes (paint over the receiver) show wear primarily as paint chipping. Float matters a lot.
  • Anodized finishes show wear as patina darkening. Float matters moderately.
  • Patina finishes (Case-Hardened, Heat Treated) use float to shift the patina color, which can be desirable at high floats. Float matters in interesting non-monotonic ways.
  • Animated/iridescent finishes are mostly float-tolerant; float matters only at the extremes.

Why float economically matters

The economic impact of float runs in two directions:

  • Lower-float premium: Most popular skins trade at a premium for Factory-New examples. The premium is biggest on hydrographic finishes where the wear is visually obvious.
  • Higher-float premium: A small set of finishes — certain patinas, certain stylized art covers — actually look better at higher floats. The market prices these in, but only for specific skins.

The middle of the range (Field-Tested, 0.15 – 0.38) is generally the price-to-impact sweet spot for most loadouts.

How float interacts with trade-ups

In a trade-up contract, the output float is a weighted average of the input floats, normalized to the destination skin’s float range. This makes float-aware trade-ups one of the few places where careful float sourcing meaningfully changes the outcome distribution. See the trade-up math article for the full explanation.

How to think about float when buying

If you’re buying for a loadout (versus collecting):

  1. Check the destination skin’s float range. Many skins can’t roll Factory New; chasing FN on those is impossible.
  2. Pick the wear tier whose price-to-impact ratio matches your priorities.
  3. For pattern-driven skins, prioritize pattern over absolute float. A high-blue Case-Hardened in Field-Tested often beats a plain one in Factory New.
  4. If buying high-end, inspect the skin in CS2 directly. Steam’s inventory thumbnails don’t show pattern variations clearly.

Frequently asked questions

Can a skin's float change after I get it?
No. The float value is rolled when the skin instance is created — when the case is opened, when the trade-up output is generated, etc. Once assigned, it's permanent for that specific instance.
Does a low float always mean a higher price?
Usually, but not always. For most skins, yes — Factory New examples carry a meaningful premium over Field-Tested. The exceptions are skins whose visual appeal *increases* with wear (Battle-Scarred examples of certain finishes), and skins whose pattern variations dominate the price (Case-Hardened high-blue patterns).
How do I check the float of a skin I already own?
Inspect the skin in CS2 — the float value is shown in the inspect overlay. Several third-party sites also offer float-checkers that read the public Steam inspect link.