📐 What is Float Value?
Float value is a decimal number between 0.00 and 1.00 that determines the visual condition of every CS2 skin. Think of it as a wear meter: 0.00 means absolutely pristine, while 1.00 means maximum battle damage. Every skin in CS2 has a float value that gets assigned permanently the moment the skin is created.
Float value is not visible by default in your CS2 inventory or the Steam Market. You need external tools to check it — but it's one of the most important factors in determining a skin's true value. Two skins with the same name and condition label can have very different prices based on their exact float.
🎨 How Float Affects Appearance & Price
Float value controls how much visible wear, scratching, and paint damage a skin displays. Lower float means cleaner appearance with less visible damage. Here's how it works in practice:
- Visual impact: Each skin has a unique wear map that determines where paint chips away as float increases. Some skins (like the AK-47 Redline) show wear heavily on the magazine and stock. Others (like the M4A1-S Hot Rod) show scratches across the entire body.
- Price impact: Within the same condition, float can significantly affect price. A 0.009 float Factory New AK-47 Fire Serpent can sell for 30-50% more than a 0.06 float one — even though both are labeled "Factory New."
- Collector premiums: Ultra-low float skins (0.000x and below) command massive premiums from collectors. A 0.0001 float skin might sell for 5-10x the price of an average Factory New copy.
The relationship between float and price is not linear. Small differences at the extremes (very low or very high floats) matter much more than small differences in the middle ranges.
🔧 Tools to Check Float Value
1. SteamAnalyst Inspect Tool
Use the SteamAnalyst float checker to inspect any skin using its Steam inspect link. Paste the inspect link and get the exact float value, paint seed, and wear condition instantly. This works for any skin listed on Steam Market or in a public inventory.
2. CSFloat Browser Extension
The CSFloat extension for Chrome and Firefox automatically shows float values on Steam Market listings, trade offers, and inventory pages. It's the most convenient way to see floats while browsing Steam. Install it from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons.
3. Steam Inspect Link
Every skin on Steam Market has an "Inspect in Game" button. Right-click it and copy the link address — this is the inspect link. You can paste it into any float-checking tool (including SteamAnalyst) to retrieve the float value without opening CS2.
4. In-Game Inspection
CS2 now shows float value directly when you inspect a skin in-game. Open your inventory, right-click a skin, and select "Inspect." The float value appears in the item details panel. This is convenient but only works for skins in your own inventory or on the market.
5. Marketplace Float Data
Marketplaces like CSFloat and BUFF163 display float values for every listing. This makes it easy to compare floats when buying — you can filter and sort by float value to find exactly what you want.
steam://rungame/730/and contains the item's unique identifier.📊 Float Ranges Per Condition
CS2 maps float values to five wear conditions:
| Condition | Abbreviation | Float Range | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory New | FN | 0.00 – 0.07 | Pristine, minimal to no visible wear |
| Minimal Wear | MW | 0.07 – 0.15 | Very slight scratching, barely noticeable |
| Field-Tested | FT | 0.15 – 0.38 | Moderate wear with visible scratches |
| Well-Worn | WW | 0.38 – 0.45 | Heavy wear and noticeable damage |
| Battle-Scarred | BS | 0.45 – 1.00 | Extreme wear with heavy scratching and paint peeling |
Note that these ranges are not equal in size. Factory New (0.07 range) and Well-Worn (0.07 range) are narrow, while Battle-Scarred (0.55 range) and Field-Tested (0.23 range) are much wider. This means there's far more variation within Field-Tested and Battle-Scarred conditions.
🚫 Why Some Skins Can't Be Factory New
Not every skin can exist in every condition. Each skin has a defined minimum and maximum float value that restricts which conditions are possible. Here are notable examples:
| Skin | Min Float | Max Float | Available Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWP Asiimov | 0.18 | 1.00 | FT, WW, BS only |
| AK-47 Redline | 0.10 | 0.70 | MW, FT, WW, BS |
| Glock-18 Fade | 0.00 | 0.08 | FN, MW only |
| Desert Eagle Blaze | 0.00 | 0.08 | FN, MW only |
| AWP Dragon Lore | 0.00 | 1.00 | All conditions |
When a skin's minimum float starts above 0.07, Factory New is impossible. The AWP Asiimov is a famous example — despite being one of the most popular skins in CS2, it can never exist in Factory New or Minimal Wear condition. The best possible Asiimov has a float just above 0.18.
This restriction creates interesting market dynamics. A 0.18 float AWP Asiimov (the "best possible") commands a significant premium over a 0.30 float one, because collectors want the cleanest version of a skin that can never be truly pristine.
📈 How Float Impacts Investment Value
Float value plays a crucial role in skin investment, but its importance varies dramatically by price tier:
High-Value Skins ($500+)
Float matters enormously. A 0.01 vs 0.06 float difference on a $5,000 skin can mean $500-1,500 in value difference. Collectors in this tier scrutinize float to multiple decimal places. Always pay attention to float when buying expensive skins as an investment.
Mid-Range Skins ($50-500)
Float matters moderately. Being in the lower range of a condition (e.g., 0.07-0.09 MW vs 0.14 MW) adds noticeable value. Ultra-low floats (0.00x) on mid-range skins can add 20-50% to the price.
Budget Skins (Under $50)
Float matters minimally for most buyers. The absolute dollar premium for low float on a $10 skin is usually just $1-3 — not enough to drive most purchasing decisions. Exception: if a cheap skin becomes expensive later, having bought a low float early is a huge advantage.
Use SteamAnalyst to compare prices across marketplaces and find the best float-to-price ratio. Our in-depth float value guide covers trade-up math, extreme float premiums, and advanced float concepts.
FAQ
What is a good float value?
A "good" float depends on the skin and your budget. Generally, anything below 0.01 is excellent for Factory New skins and commands a premium. For Field-Tested skins, a float below 0.20 is considered good. The best float is always relative to the skin's available range — a 0.06 float on a skin with a minimum of 0.06 is effectively the best possible.
Does float value change over time?
No. Float value is permanently set when a skin is created — whether unboxed from a case, received as a drop, or generated through a trade-up contract. It never changes through gameplay, trading, or the passage of time.
What float value is Factory New?
Factory New (FN) covers float values from 0.00 to 0.07. However, not all skins can be Factory New — if a skin's minimum float is above 0.07, it cannot exist in Factory New condition. For example, the AWP Asiimov has a minimum float of 0.18, so it can only exist in Field-Tested or worse.
How to find low float skins?
Use marketplace filters to sort by float value. CSFloat's marketplace lets you search by exact float range. On SteamAnalyst, you can inspect any skin's float value using the inspect link. You can also use the CSFloat browser extension to see float values directly in Steam Market listings.