CS2 Fade Percentage Guide: How Fade % Affects Knife Prices (2026)

What Is Fade Percentage in CS2?

Fade is one of the most iconic CS2 knife finishes. Every Fade skin has a fade percentage — a value between ~80% and 100% that determines how many colors are visible on the blade. Higher fade % means more colors (yellow, pink, purple) are shown, while lower fade % leaves parts of the blade plain.

The fade percentage is determined by the paint seed — a number assigned when the item drops or is unboxed. The same paint seed always produces the same fade %. This means fade percentage is permanent and cannot be changed.

A 100% fade ("Full Fade") shows all three colors in full intensity and commands a significant premium over lower fade percentages. The difference between an 85% fade and a 100% fade on the same knife can be hundreds of dollars.

How Fade % Affects Price

Fade %	Colors Visible	Price Impact	Rarity
95–100%	Full yellow + pink + purple	+20–50% premium	Rare — highly sought after
90–95%	Most colors, slight fade-off	+5–15% premium	Uncommon
85–90%	Partial colors visible	Market price	Average
80–85%	Minimal colors, mostly plain	-5–10% below market	Common

Fade Knife Prices (Factory New, March 2026)

Current prices for popular Fade knives based on real market data:

Knife	Condition	Starting Price	Full Fade Premium
Butterfly Knife Fade	FN	$2,736	$3,200+ for 100%
Butterfly Knife Fade	MW	$2,751	MW Full Fade commands FN-level prices
Gut Knife Fade	FN	$143	$170+ for 100%
Navaja Knife Fade	FN	$119	$140+ for 100%
Shadow Daggers Marble Fade	FN	$114	Fire & Ice adds $50+

Note: Butterfly Knife Fade MW ($2,751) can cost more than FN ($2,736) when the MW has a higher fade percentage or better float. Fade % matters more than condition in many cases.

Paint Seed & Fade Percentage

Every Fade item's pattern is controlled by its paint seed (also called pattern index). Key facts:

• Paint seeds range from 0 to 1000
• The same paint seed always produces the same fade % on the same weapon
• CSBoard tracks 62,000+ pattern records covering 27 weapons (20 knives + 7 guns)
• You can look up any paint seed to know the exact fade % before buying

This makes Fade one of the most data-driven finishes in CS2 — you can verify exactly what you're getting before spending a dollar.

All 27 Weapons with Fade

Knives with Fade (20 total)

Every knife type in CS2 can drop with the Fade finish. The 20 knife types include Butterfly, Karambit, M9 Bayonet, Bayonet, Huntsman, Bowie, Falchion, Flip, Gut, Navaja, Stiletto, Talon, Ursus, Classic, Nomad, Paracord, Survival, Skeleton, Shadow Daggers, and Kukri.

Guns with Fade (7 total)

Gun	Notes
Glock-18 Fade	One of the most iconic gun skins, very high demand
AWP Fade	Rare and expensive, limited supply
MAC-10 Fade	Budget-friendly Fade option
MP7 Fade	Affordable entry into Fade collection
R8 Revolver Fade	Uncommon, niche collector item
UMP-45 Fade	Classic skin, steady demand
M4A1-S Fade	Highly sought after, premium prices

Marble Fade Patterns Explained

Marble Fade is a related finish with its own premium patterns. Instead of fade percentage, Marble Fade value is determined by color distribution:

Pattern	Description	Price Impact
Fire and Ice	Only red and blue, zero yellow	Highest premium — 2-3x market price
Max Fire and Ice	Maximum red/blue coverage, perfect split	Rarest, most expensive variant
2nd Max	Near-perfect Fire and Ice	Very high premium, slightly below Max
Fake Red Tip	Looks like Fire and Ice but has trace yellow	Moderate premium, often mistaken for real F&I
Tricolor	Red + blue + yellow visible	Standard market price
Blue Dominant	Mostly blue with minimal red	Below average

Karambit Marble Fade Fire & Ice is one of the most sought-after patterns in all of CS2. A true Max Fire and Ice Karambit can cost several thousand dollars above the base Marble Fade price.

How to Check Fade Percentage

1. CSBoard pattern database — look up the paint seed to see exact fade %
2. In-game inspect — visually compare the color coverage (less precise)
3. Float check tools — get the paint seed, then reference a fade chart

The most reliable method is checking the paint seed against CSBoard's database of 62,000+ pattern records. Visual inspection alone can be deceiving — the difference between 95% and 98% fade is hard to see in-game but can mean $100+ in price difference.

Investment Tips for Fade Knives

• Always prioritize fade % — a 100% fade at 0.03 float is worth more than a 85% fade at 0.001 float
• Full Fade Butterflies are blue-chip investments — limited supply, massive demand
• Marble Fade Fire & Ice patterns hold value better than tricolors
• Paint seed is permanent — once you find a Full Fade, the pattern never changes
• Verify before buying — always check the paint seed, never trust screenshots alone

Buy or Sell Fade Knives on CSBoard

Browse all Fade and Marble Fade knives with pattern data at csboard.com/browse. Every listing includes paint seed and fade percentage so you know exactly what you're buying.

CSBoard charges 0% for deposits and direct item-for-item exchanges without money. P2P marketplace sales carry a 2% selling fee. Instant sell is a separate buyout offer; check its quote and the chosen payout method’s fees and timing before confirming.