How do I check the float value of a skin I own?

In CS2, open your inventory, right-click the skin, and select 'Inspect in Game.' The updated 2024 inspect panel shows the float value natively. For marketplace listings, CSBoard pulls and displays the exact float on every item page — you can see it at /en/items/ without needing any external tools. Third-party sites like CSFloat also offer browser extensions that read float from the Steam API.

Which float range is best for trading and liquidity?

Minimal Wear (0.07–0.15) is the liquidity sweet spot. It looks nearly clean on most skins, costs significantly less than Factory New, and attracts both players and collectors. Field-Tested (0.15–0.38) is the most traded category overall due to lower entry prices. Factory New (0.00–0.07) commands the highest premiums but sells slower. On CSBoard, you can filter by exact wear category at /en/items/ using the tier filter.

Does float affect all skins equally?

No. Some skins like the AWP Asiimov have a float cap (0.18–1.00), meaning they can never appear Factory New. Others like Doppler knives only show wear on the blade corner, making a 0.00x float extremely valuable. Paint-heavy skins like the Dragon Lore or Howl show wear very visibly and are highly float-sensitive. Gloves and certain finishes like Crimson Web actually look better at higher floats because the web pattern becomes more visible.

What's the difference between float value and pattern index?

Float controls wear — how scratched or faded the skin looks. Pattern index (0–999 or 0–1000 depending on the finish) controls the placement of the texture or design — where the blue appears on a Case Hardened, or where the web sits on a Crimson Web. Both are assigned randomly on unbox and both affect price. A low-float skin with a bad pattern can be worth less than a higher-float skin with a top-tier pattern. Always check both before buying.

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2026 Edition · Pricing & Mechanics Guide

CS2 Float Values Explained: How Wear Affects Skin Price in 2026

TL;DR

▸Float is a 0.00–1.00 number that determines wear: lower = cleaner, higher = more scratches
▸Factory New (0.00–0.07) commands a 40–300% premium over Field-Tested on most high-tier skins
▸CSBoard displays exact float values on every listing, anchored to Buff163 pricing
▸Minimal Wear (0.07–0.15) is the liquidity sweet spot — 80% of knife trades happen in this range

Every CS2 skin carries a hidden wear value called float — a decimal between 0.00 and 1.00 that dictates how scratched or faded the texture appears in-game. Valve assigns this number the moment the skin is unboxed or dropped, and it never changes. The lower the float, the closer the skin looks to its reference image; the higher it climbs, the more wear lines, patina, or paint loss you see.

Float isn't just cosmetic. It directly controls which wear category the skin falls into: Factory New (0.00–0.07), Minimal Wear (0.07–0.15), Field-Tested (0.15–0.38), Well-Worn (0.38–0.45), or Battle-Scarred (0.45–1.00). A 0.069 float is Factory New. A 0.071 is Minimal Wear. That 0.002 gap can mean a $200 price difference on a single knife listing.

Did you know

Float values are not visible in the Steam inventory by default. You need to use the in-game inspect window (updated in CS2 2024) or a third-party API to read the exact number. CSBoard pulls and displays float for every listed skin automatically.

Wear Category vs. Float Range vs. Typical Price Multiplier

Wear Category	Float Range	Price vs. FT (Knives)	Liquidity
Factory New	0.00 – 0.07	1.4x – 3.0x	Moderate
Minimal Wear	0.07 – 0.15	1.1x – 1.5x	High
Field-Tested	0.15 – 0.38	Baseline (1.0x)	Very High
Well-Worn	0.38 – 0.45	0.7x – 0.9x	Low
Battle-Scarred	0.45 – 1.00	0.5x – 0.8x	Niche

5 Skins Where Float Values Matter Most

Warning

Float value alone doesn't guarantee a clean look. Pattern index and wear map placement matter just as much. A 0.03 Karambit with a bad corner can look worse than a 0.06 with a clean one. Always inspect the actual screenshot before buying.

Live Float-Sorted Listings on CSBoard

Frequently Asked Questions

Float is a 0.00–1.00 decimal that defines how worn a skin looks. It's assigned by Valve on unbox and never changes. It matters because it directly controls the wear category (Factory New through Battle-Scarred) and the visual condition of the skin — a 0.01 float looks nearly flawless, while a 0.95 float shows heavy scratching and paint loss. On high-tier knives and rifles, a 0.01 difference can shift the price by hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Browse Skins by Exact Float Value

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.

Search Float-Sorted Listings →

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