Every CS2 skin carries a hidden number called its float value, a decimal between 0 and 1 that decides how worn the skin looks. Float is why two “Field-Tested” AK-47s can look (and sell) differently, and why a low-float Factory New can be worth a real premium. Understanding it makes you a smarter buyer, seller and unboxer.
What Is a Float Value?
The float is assigned randomly when a skin is created and never changes. Lower numbers mean a cleaner, less-worn finish; higher numbers mean more scratches and fading. That single number maps onto the five wear tiers you see in the item name.
The Five Wear Tiers
- Factory New (FN), 0.00 to 0.07. Pristine, crisp colors, no visible wear.
- Minimal Wear (MW), 0.07 to 0.15. Very light wear, still sharp.
- Field-Tested (FT), 0.15 to 0.38. Noticeable wear; the most common and best-value tier for many skins.
- Well-Worn (WW), 0.38 to 0.45. Heavy fading and scratches.
- Battle-Scarred (BS), 0.45 to 1.00. The most worn; cheapest, and sometimes has a gritty look people actually like.
Why Two Same-Wear Skins Look Different
Wear tiers are ranges, so a Field-Tested skin at float 0.16 looks much cleaner than one at 0.37, both are “FT,” but the lower float is closer to Minimal Wear. That is why experienced traders quote the exact float, not just the tier. For skins where the artwork sits on a worn part of the model, float matters even more.
Float Caps: When a Skin Can’t Be Factory New
Some skins have a restricted float range, their minimum float is above 0.00 or their maximum is below 1.00. That means certain finishes are never available in Factory New (or never in Battle-Scarred), which makes the cleanest attainable version rarer and more valuable. If a skin “doesn’t exist” in FN, a float cap is usually why.
Low-Float & Pattern Premiums
Collectors pay up for the extremes, the lowest floats in a tier, and specific paint patterns (like blue-heavy Case Hardened seeds or clean Fade percentages). A near-0.00 Factory New or a top-pattern skin can trade far above the “normal” price for that wear. If you unbox one, check its float and pattern before you assume it is a standard example.
How to Check Float
Inspect the skin in game, or use any float-checker that reads the inspect link. On our skin shop the wear is shown on every listing, and each skin you unbox in a case or case battle comes with its wear as part of the provably-fair result.
Bottom Line
Float is the number behind the name. Learn the five tiers and their ranges, remember that lower is cleaner, and watch for float caps and low-float premiums. Pair this with our rarity guide and Doppler phases guide and you will read any CS2 skin like a pro. Then put it to use, open a case and check what you land.