Float is the number behind every wear condition in CS2. It runs from 0.00 to 1.00, and it determines not just how a skin looks but what it costs. Understanding CS2 wear levels takes about five minutes and saves real money every time you buy or trade.
The five wear conditions and what separates them
CS2 skin wear is divided into five conditions, each covering a specific float range. The cleaner the condition, the lower the float, and generally, the higher the price.
- Factory New (0.00–0.07): The cleanest condition. FN skins show no visible wear on most finishes. On Custom Paint Job and Hydrographic finishes, where wear is clearly visible, FN is unambiguously the best condition to own. On Gunsmith and Patina finishes, however, FN is largely meaningless, those finish types don’t show wear, so there is no visual difference between FN and a higher float.
- Minimal Wear (0.07–0.15): Barely perceptible wear on most skins. A low MW around 0.07 is often called “FN-look” because it is visually indistinguishable from true FN, a useful way to get the same appearance at a lower price point.
- Field-Tested (0.15–0.38): The standard buying condition for mid-to-high-priced skins. How visible the wear actually is depends entirely on the finish type, some FT skins look nearly pristine, others show clear degradation. The range is wide, so a 0.16 FT and a 0.37 FT of the same skin can look completely different.
- Well-Worn (0.38–0.45): Clearly worn and the cheapest tier outside of Battle-Scarred. It occasionally suits a skin’s design intentionally, the Safari Mesh, for example, actually benefits from the rugged, beat-up aesthetic that WW delivers.
- Battle-Scarred (0.45–1.00): Maximum wear and the cheapest condition overall. A specific set of skins have genuine collector demand at BS because the worn look is part of the appeal, the AWP | Asiimov is the clearest example, where the heavily worn finish is considered desirable rather than a drawback.
The condition label is the first thing you see on any listing, but it’s only half the picture.
How float values work within a wear tier
Every skin has a float value that sits somewhere within its wear condition’s range. Two FT skins are both Field-Tested, but a 0.16 float and a 0.37 float can look completely different on the same skin.
Float also has caps. Not every skin can reach 0.00 or 1.00. The AWP | Asiimov has a float minimum of 0.18, which means FN copies do not exist, the skin simply cannot drop into that range. On the other end, the Glock-18 | Fade has a float maximum of 0.08, which means only FN copies exist and no other condition is available. Always check the specific float range for a skin before you assume a condition is available.
On finishes that show wear clearly, the float within a tier matters more than the tier label itself. A 0.15 FT is going to look close to a high MW. A 0.37 FT is going to look noticeably more beat up. For skins where the visual difference is significant, the float value is the real spec you’re buying. Float caps also play directly into Trade-Up Contracts, since the output float is calculated from the inputs, understanding the range of a target skin is essential before you commit.
How wear level affects CS2 skin prices
CS2 skin pricing follows wear condition in a predictable direction: FN usually costs the most, BS usually costs the least. But the gap between conditions varies wildly depending on the skin.
On skins where the finish shows wear clearly, like the AK-47 | Redline, the price difference between MW and FT is relatively small because both look good. On skins with detailed artwork that degrades visibly, the FN premium can be significant. On finish types like Gunsmith or Patina, where wear barely registers visually, the FN-to-FT price gap often isn’t justified by any meaningful visual difference, paying for FN on those finishes is largely paying for a number on a stat screen.
Float within a condition also moves price. A 0.07 MW on a popular skin will list higher than a 0.14 MW of the same skin. On pattern-dependent skins or anything with a desirable low float, the premium can be substantial. The Steam Community Market doesn’t filter by float, which is one reason traders use platforms that show the actual float value on every listing.
Choosing the right wear level when buying or trading
The right condition depends on the skin, the finish type, and what you’re actually trying to achieve with the purchase.
For most mid-budget skins, FT is the practical answer. The visual difference from MW is minimal on many popular skins, and the price gap makes the upgrade hard to justify. If you’re buying something like the AK-47 | Redline, an FT copy at 0.16 will look nearly identical to MW and cost noticeably less. Spend the difference elsewhere in your loadout.
FN makes sense when the finish type actually shows wear, when you want the cleanest possible look for a skin. MW is worth targeting when you want FN-look at a lower price, aim for a float under 0.09 and the visual difference disappears. WW is occasionally worth considering when it genuinely fits a skin’s aesthetic, as with the Safari Mesh. BS is worth a look on a specific set of skins where the worn aesthetic is intentional, the Asiimov being the most well-known case, or where you’re buying purely on budget.
When you’re browsing, filter by float range rather than just condition. On Skinvault, float values are listed on every item, so you can compare two FT copies of the same skin and see exactly what you’re getting before you trade. That information closes the gap between buying a condition label and buying the actual skin you want.
