CS2 skin wear grades: Factory New and more

Not every skin exists in all five wear levels. Each finish has its own allowed float range. If a skin’s lowest possible float is, for example, 0.10, it can’t exist as a Factory New version. If the highest possible float stays below 0.38, there are no Well-Worn or Battle-Scarred versions of it either.

Float value determines the wear level

Float, or wear rating, is a decimal value that shows how worn a skin is. The wear category is an easier-to-read label for this exact number. For example, floats 0.16 and 0.37 are both in the Field-Tested category, even though there’s almost a full tier of difference between them.

That’s why the wear rating alone doesn’t tell you what a specific skin actually looks like. A skin that’s near the lower limit of a wear range can look noticeably cleaner than one that’s at the upper end of the same range. This is where people sometimes use the informal terms low float and high float: they refer to a relatively low or high float value compared to the given wear range or the skin’s allowed float interval.

However, float doesn’t translate directly into the same amount of wear on every skin. According to Valve, a weapon’s textures and finish masks affect which areas get worn and how quickly the surface is exposed on different parts of the gun. Scratch and dirt patterns can also be placed uniquely. Because of this, two skins with almost identical floats can look slightly different, and across different finishes the same float value can produce very different results.

Factory New (FN) – least worn

Factory New covers float values from 0.00 up to but not including 0.07. The name suggests a factory-fresh look, but it doesn’t guarantee a perfectly flawless surface. On some finishes you may still see small scratches or worn edges even in the Factory New category, because the skin’s wear mask and the allowed float range affect the final appearance.

Factory New is often the most expensive condition for a given skin. The reasons are its clean appearance and the fact that low-float items may be less common. The price difference to Minimal Wear can be small or significant depending on the skin. That’s why you shouldn’t pay extra just for the FN label: always compare the appearance and up-to-date prices.

Factory New is ideal for buyers who want the cleanest possible finish, collect low-float items, or want the colors of a specific finish to stand out with minimal wear.

Minimal Wear (MW) – slightly worn

Minimal Wear ranges from 0.07 to just under 0.15. The surface is usually clean, but you may see small marks on the edges or in spots that typically wear down. For many skins, MW offers an almost Factory New look at a clearly lower price.

There are still differences within the same wear class. A float of 0.071 is very close to the Factory New threshold, while 0.149 is practically on the verge of Field-Tested. If a clean look matters to you, check the exact float and inspect view instead of just picking any MW skin.

Minimal Wear is often a well-balanced choice for players who want a clean-looking play skin but don’t consider the Factory New label itself worth the extra cost.

Field-Tested (FT) – visibly worn from use

Field-Tested covers the float range from 0.15 up to but not including 0.38. It’s the broadest of all wear tiers, which is why skins in this category can look very different from one another. A low-float FT can resemble a Minimal Wear skin, while one closer to 0.38 can already look noticeably worn.

For many popular skins, FT is a practical wear range. The colors and main pattern can stay in good shape even if there are visible scratches along the edges. With some other finishes, however, wear starts to change the surface noticeably already at the cleaner end of the range. This is exactly where inspecting Field-Tested skins becomes especially useful, because the wear class name itself tells you very little.

If you’re aiming for a good-looking skin at a reasonable price, look for items near the lower end of the float range and compare them to the Minimal Wear version. A small price difference can justify going for MW, but if the gap is big, a clean FT item can be the smarter choice.

Well-Worn (WW) – clearly worn

Well-Worn refers to the float range 0.38–under 0.45. It’s a narrow bracket, but the wear is usually clearly visible: scratches, fading, or the base material showing through. The effect still depends on the finish: some skins lose fine details, while on others the wear actually suits the overall look of the pattern.

Well-Worn often gets overlooked between Field-Tested and Battle-Scarred when people are buying skins. It can still have its own niche though, if the WW version of a specific skin looks good and is attractively priced. The narrow float range doesn’t by itself make the grade rare or valuable, since availability is also affected by the skin’s own float span and the total number of items in circulation.

Battle-Scarred (BS) – the most worn condition tier

Battle-Scarred starts at a value of 0.45 and goes up to the maximum the skin allows, capped at 1.00. The surface can show heavy wear, darkening, fading, and exposed base material. There’s also a lot of variation within the BS range itself: a float of 0.46 can look completely different from 0.95.

Battle-Scarred is often the cheapest way to get a specific skin. Wear isn’t always a downside, though. On some finishes, a high float gives the skin a unique look that the community values, or makes the pattern interesting in a different way. Exceptionally high floats can also attract collectors.

This doesn’t mean that any random BS skin will automatically be worth more. The value depends on demand, appearance, how exceptional the float is, and comparable trades. A regular high-float item is usually just a worn item.

How does the wear rating affect a skin’s appearance and price?

Condition usually affects two things: how a skin looks and how much buyers are willing to pay for it. However, the relationship isn’t completely straightforward.

First of all, the finish style determines how wear affects the skin. On one skin the surface gets scratched, on another the colors darken, and on a third the details stay surprisingly sharp. That’s why the FN, MW, or FT label alone can’t replace checking a screenshot or inspecting the skin in-game.

Second, the price is determined by supply and demand. Factory New is often more expensive, but the price difference between wear levels varies. A rare or highly sought-after Battle-Scarred variant can break the usual pattern. StatTrak or Souvenir versions, stickers, pattern, and the exact float can also change the value of an individual skin.

Having a float that’s a third lower than others in the same wear category doesn’t guarantee any specific price premium. Buyers may pay extra for an exceptionally clean or collector-grade item, but not every FT skin with a float starting with 0.15 is automatically worth more than the market price. Instead of just setting an asking price, you should look at completed sales of similar items.

Condition grade and rarity are different things

Condition grade is sometimes confused with a skin’s rarity. They describe different things. Factory New, Minimal Wear and the other exterior grades indicate wear. Consumer Grade, Industrial Grade, Mil-Spec, Restricted, Classified and Covert grades, on the other hand, relate to an item’s rarity and how the collection is structured.

So the same Covert skin can be Factory New, Field-Tested, or Battle-Scarred, as long as its allowed float range covers those conditions. Factory New doesn’t upgrade a lower-rarity skin into a Covert item, and Battle-Scarred doesn’t downgrade a Covert skin into a lower rarity tier.

StatTrak and Souvenir are also attributes that are separate from wear grades. A StatTrak version tracks the number of kills, while Souvenir indicates a special origin of the item. Both can affect the price in their own way, but the item still has a normal float value and one of the five wear grades alongside them.

When comparing prices, always check the full item name: weapon, finish, exterior condition, and whether it’s a StatTrak or Souvenir version. A basic Factory New version should not be compared to the price of a different variant just because the finish name is the same.

How to choose the right condition grade

The ideal wear level depends on whether you’re buying the skin to play with, to collect, or to resell.

1. Set a budget. Compare prices for the same skin in at least two or three condition tiers you’re interested in.
2. Look at the skin itself, not just the name. Open the inspect view and pay close attention to the play side, the top of the weapon, and the edges that scratch easily.
3. Check the exact float. An item close to the lower end of its wear range can look cleaner without costing as much as the next wear grade.
4. Compare the real difference. If Minimal Wear looks practically the same as Factory New, think about whether the FN label actually gives you enough extra value. If the difference is clearly visible, the higher price may be justified.
5. Check the skin’s allowed float range. The skin’s own minimum and maximum help you judge whether the float is truly exceptional or just normal for that particular finish.
6. Consider other features separately. Pattern, stickers, StatTrak and Souvenir are not included in the wear rating. Evaluating a rare item requires a separate check of these aspects.

If you’re selling a skin, the same steps work in reverse. Make sure you know the exact version and float before comparing prices. Skinsauna’s inventory checker can give you a starting point for estimating your inventory value, but any potential collector premium from an unusual float, pattern, or stickers should be evaluated separately.

The most common misconceptions about condition grades

• Does a skin wear out when you play with it? It doesn’t. The float and condition rating don’t change through use.
• Factory New is always flawless. Not necessarily. The finish mask can leave visible marks even on an FN item.
• Factory New is always the best buy. It’s usually the cleanest, but Minimal Wear or Field-Tested can offer almost the same look for a lower price.
• Battle-Scarred is not always worthless. It’s often cheap, but certain finishes or exceptional floats can make it sought after by collectors.
• Every skin has five wear levels. The skin’s allowed float range can exclude some of these categories.
• Two skins from the same category can look identical at first glance. The exact float, wear pattern, and placement of the wear marks can still create a noticeable difference.
• The wear rating shows how rare a skin is. Exterior condition and rarity grade are two different attributes.

Summary

The five CS2 skin wear levels are Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, and Battle-Scarred. They’re based on the float value: a low value usually means light wear, while a high value indicates heavier wear. A skin doesn’t wear down from playing, so its condition always stays the same.

Condition grade is a good starting point for comparison, but the exact float and the actual appearance matter more than the abbreviation alone. Not all skins are available in every condition, the same float can look different on different finishes, and Factory New is not automatically the smartest purchase. Always inspect the individual item in the inspect view, compare prices between condition tiers, and consider patterns, stickers, and other features separately.