CS2 Trade Up Contracts: Full Profit Guide & Float Calculation
- ▸A CS2 trade up contract consumes 10 skins of the same quality to output one skin from the next-higher tier
- ▸Average float of the 10 inputs directly sets the output float — controlling it is the key to profit
- ▸CSBoard indexes ~36,000 skins, letting you source contract inputs at /en/items without paying trading fees
- ▸Top contracts yield 20-40% return when the spread between input cost and expected output value is wide enough
A trade up contract is a built-in CS2 mechanic. You exchange 10 items of identical quality (e.g., 10 Mil-Spec SMGs) for one item of the next rarity (e.g., one Restricted rifle). The output is randomly selected from the possible outcomes within that collection.
Contract Grade Inputs & Outputs
| Input Grade | Items Required | Output Grade | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer | 10 Consumer | Industrial | 10 Consumer Glock-18 → Industrial MP9 |
| Industrial | 10 Industrial | Mil-Spec | 10 Industrial Deagle → Mil-Spec M4A1-S |
| Mil-Spec | 10 Mil-Spec | Restricted | 10 Mil-Spec Tec-9 → Restricted AK-47 |
| Restricted | 10 Restricted | Classified | 10 Restricted Scout → Classified AWP |
| Classified | 10 Classified | Covert | 10 Classified M4A4 → Covert knife/glove |
Float precision matters. The output float formula is (sum of all input floats) / 10. If your 10 inputs average 0.069, your output is Factory New. Average 0.071 and it drops to Minimal Wear, slashing value by 30-60% on high-tier skins.
5 Highest-Profit Trade Up Contracts Right Now
- 1
The 2021 Dust 2 Collection Contract
10 Restricted inputs (avg ~$7 each) yield a chance at the AWP | Gungnir (Covert), which commands $4,000+ in Factory New. Even the 'miss' outcomes break even.
35-50% ROI - 2
The 2020 Train Collection Contract
Mil-Spec inputs costing <$2 each funnel into a Restricted tier that includes M4A4 | Coalition and Desert Eagle | Crimson Strike, both with stable demand.
25-40% ROI - 3
Gamma 2 Case — Mil-Spec to Restricted
Cheap Mil-Spec fillers from the Gamma 2 case unlock three Restricted outcomes that all maintain value above $10 in low-float conditions.
15-25% ROI - 4
Operation Hydra — Industrial to Mil-Spec
Niche play. Industrial Hydra skins cost almost nothing. Hitting the low-float USP-S | Blueprint or M4A1-S | Leaded Glass pays out 15-20x input cost.
10-20% ROI - 5
Kilowatt Case — Restricted to Classified
Restricted inputs hold steady at $3-4. The Classified tier includes the AWP | Chromatic Abberation, which spikes above $80 in Factory New, covering all contract attempts.
10-15% ROI
CSBoard vs. Other Sourcing Methods
| Method | Trading Fees | Payout Speed | Float Filtering |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSBoard P2P Market | 2% P2P sales; 0% direct item exchanges | Instant USDT | Yes — live inspect |
| Steam Community Market | 15% Steam Tax | Locked to Steam Wallet | No — manual checking |
| Trading Bots | 2-5% commission | Depends on bot owner | Sometimes — varies by site |
| Skin Bartering Sites | 5-10% fee baked in | 24-48 hours | Often hidden |
The output from a trade up contract always belongs to the same collection as the 10 input items. You cannot mix skins from different collections — all 10 must share a collection, and the output pool is drawn exclusively from that collection's next tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Source Your Next Trade Up Contract on CSBoard
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.
Browse Contract Fillers →Live prices
Current market prices for the skins in this guide — updated continuously.
