What is Float in CS2 and Why Is It Important to Understand?
Skins in Counter-Strike are more than just visuals applied to weapons; they are part of a full-fledged industry with many intricacies. By understanding these intricacies, you can not only save money but even make a profit. One such “intricacy” is the concept of float. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about float, and at the end, we’ll explain why you might need our extension—SIH (Steam Inventory Helper)—for a complete experience.
How is Float Related to Wear?
Most players of Valve’s famous shooter know that weapons in the game have different wear levels, which affect the item’s appearance. You’ve probably encountered terms like “Factory New” (best quality) or “Battle-Scarred” (worst quality). Almost every skin comes in five well-known qualities (though there are exceptions with fewer), but the question arises: how are these qualities determined? There is a myth that every skin drops as “Factory New” and wears down over time. In true “MythBusters” fashion, we debunk this myth by introducing the concept of float.
Float is a numerical value between 0 and 1 (sometimes between 0 and 0.80) that directly correlates with a weapon’s condition. The lower the float, the cleaner your weapon looks; the higher it is, the more scratches, chips, and other defects it has. It’s important to note that this isn’t always a strict rule—there are exceptions, which we’ll discuss later. The float value defines five qualities:
- Factory New (FN) – 0.00 to 0.07
- Minimal Wear (MW) – 0.07 to 0.15
- Field-Tested (FT) – 0.15 to 0.37
- Well-Worn (WW) – 0.37 to 0.45
- Battle-Scarred (BS) – 0.45 and above
Generally, the better the quality (the lower the float), the more valuable the item is. However, pricing is determined by the quality name, not the specific float value. When an item drops from a case, it is assigned a random float value that determines its quality and remains fixed forever.
Why Is It Important to Know the Float?
We’ve already established that float is related to the quality, and therefore the appearance, of the weapon. Some may argue that it’s easier just to buy any “Minimal Wear” or “Factory New” skin without worrying about scratches. Yes, the rule of “pay more, get better quality” works on the Steam marketplace as well. But even here, there’s a risk of “defects,” or rather, unfortunate float values that show visible scratches on skins worth thousands of dollars. For example, a Talon Knife with the Fade skin in “Minimal Wear” quality can have chips at lower float values, while at higher float values, it might be perfectly clean.
These exceptions occur quite frequently, so be sure to research “unfortunate” float values to avoid them. Also, always inspect the item’s appearance before purchasing, as the float may be unique, making the item one of only a few with that specific value. In fact, this is another reason why knowing the float is useful. Some collectors are willing to overpay for aesthetically pleasing float numbers (e.g., 0.777, 0.666, 0.333, etc.). Try listing such items at a higher price, and you might just make a profit.
If making a profit isn’t your priority and you just want a nice skin without spending too much, we recommend paying attention to the float value in “Field-Tested” quality. This quality is tricky because it has one of the widest float ranges, fluctuating between 0.15 and 0.37. Two identical items within the same quality can have different levels of wear, and the float value is what makes the difference.
Taking it a step further, you’ll notice that the visual difference between 0.14999 “Minimal Wear” and 0.150001 “Field-Tested” is nearly nonexistent, yet the price difference can be several times higher. Since this quality is considered “average,” the price for these items is usually closer to “Well-Worn.” Look for items with a float between 0.15 and 0.19 to get skins that look “Minimal Wear” for the price of “Field-Tested.” This strategy of playing with the “borderline” float values works for any quality, but is especially effective with “Field-Tested.”
Examples of Various Easter Eggs or Why a "High" Float Isn't Always Bad
As we mentioned, the skin industry is a world of its own, filled with rules, nuances, and secrets. Skins are created by regular users or professional designers, and some of them enjoy adding extra excitement to their work. The float value often becomes the parameter around which the creator’s vision is built. Let’s look at the fairly cheap Glock-18 | Off-World: as the float increases, a skull image begins to appear. Now, if you want to own such a skin, you’ll need to find one with the correct float.
What about the M4A1-S | Night Terror? As the float increases, the rifle takes on a different color, and with a higher float, it turns a bright purple. Players appreciated this unique feature, and the “Battle-Scarred” version of this skin is the most expensive on the market.
Some things have been invented by the players themselves, and the creator likely didn’t intend such results. For example, the AWP | Asiimov with a high float value has an entirely black scope, which has become popular with the community. Many fans now hunt for an AWP with a high float to get the “Asiimov Black Scope” skin.
The Concept of Static/Dynamic Float
As the culture of skins developed, creators emerged who seemed to disregard the concept of float. This led to the notion of static and dynamic float. Dynamic float refers to classic items that change in appearance based on quality. Static float means the item looks almost identical at any float value and, at worst, might just dull slightly. Just think about it: why pay more for a weapon with static float?
Check these values to avoid overpaying for something that doesn’t really warrant the extra cost.
Use SIH to Simplify Your Float Search
We’ve established that knowing the float of an item is crucial. It helps you choose the best item in terms of price/quality, find rare pieces, and even profit from “special” numbers (just like with license plates). But where can you find these numbers? You can view them in-game by hovering over the “i” icon to read all the information. However, inspecting each item individually is inconvenient and time-consuming.
To speed up the process, use the Steam Inventory Helper extension to access all the information without leaving the marketplace. You can not only easily switch between qualities of the same item but also filter listings by float (in ascending or descending order). Some sites are willing to pay extra for items with lower float values, so look for such examples and take advantage of them.
