Every CS2 skin has an assigned wear rating number between 0.00 and 1, dictating the quality of the skin. CS2 wear levels don’t decline with in-game use either, so you don’t have to be worried about using your Factory New skin in fear of it losing value.
The CS2 wear rating of a skin can be the difference between it costing between $10 and $100. It’s important to know the difference, so you know how to get the best value for money.
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Every CS2 Wear Rating Made Simple
First things first, let’s keep this simple with every CS2 wear rating in order, from best to worst:
- Factory New (0.00-0.07)
- Minimal Wear (0.07-0.15)
- Field-Tested (0.15-0.37)
- Well-Worn (0.37-0.44)
- Battle-Scarred (0.44-1.00)
CS2 wear ratings are actually quite easy to understand – the closer the number is to 0, the less wear is on the skin. The difference between Factory New and Battle-Scarred is stark, and the skins are almost unrecognizable.
This manifests itself in the cost of CS2 skins. Players shelling out thousands of dollars for skins don’t want it to be beaten up – they want it fresh out of the box. The price difference is most noticeable on skins that are block colors. Take the MP9 Bulldozer for example – a bright yellow skin that gets ruined the worse the CS2 wear rating. A Battle-Scarred Bulldozer comes in at around $30, while a Factory New version will cost around $450!
Before you sell a CS2 skin, make sure to check its wear rating individually. Even if two skins are Factory New, that difference between 0.00 and 0.07 can cost you a few dollars, so it’s worth taking the time to look.
You’ll usually find the best CS players in the competitive scene using Factory New skins as something of a status symbol.
Factory New skins are self-explanatory. They’re the perfect version of the skin, and as a result, costs by far the most to purchase. The CS2 wear ratings of all Factory New skins will always be between 0.00 and 0.07, making them extremely rare to find in cases. Combined with the one-in-ten chance of receiving a StatTrak from a case, there’s a reason these can get so expensive.
The CS2 wear levels of Minimal Wear skins are always between 0.07 and 0.15, and visually, there’s often not much of a difference between them and Factory New. However, between Factory New and Minimal Wear, there’s often a big jump in price. For that reason, we think Minimal Wear skins offer the best value for money among all CS2 skins.
With a range of 0.15 and 0.37, Field-Tested weapons are probably the most commonly used weapons on the server. Landing directly in the middle of price and visuals, Field-Tested offers a great price for a skin that looks extremely intact. If you can find one just above with a CS2 wear rating of just above 0.15, you’re getting a skin that looks not far off Factory New for a Field-Tested price.
With CS2 wear ratings between 0.37 and 0.44, Well-Worn skins aren’t too common. The main reason is that visually, the difference between Well-Worn and Field-Tested can be massive between different skins. However, the price is often no more than a few dollars difference, so many opt for a Field-Tested instead.
In the end, we have..
Battle-Scarred (0.44-1.00)
Battle-Scarred skins are often unrecognizable from the original skin and can be dirt cheap compared to Factory New variants. Take the USP-S Kill Confirmed for example. A StatTrak Factory New USP-S Kill Confirmed sells for around $600, yet the Battle-Scarred version sells for $40.
With a CS2 wear rating of between 0.44 and 1.00, the visual difference between Battle-Scarred and the rest is stark. However, for players wanting their favorite skin for cheap, it can still be a useful option. It’s not like using a Battle-Scarred weapon makes you worse at CS2. There are several factors that affect your play, such as your crosshair or your CS2 rates, but skins aren’t one of them.
FAQs
The CS2 wear rating of a skin is arguably the biggest factor in the price. This is because the visual effect it has can be enormous, depending on the skin. Take the USP-S Whiteout, for example. That skin is entirely white. However, it becomes less so, the more wear it has. What was once a pristine, block-color skin is ruined by even the smallest of blemishes, and the price certainly reflects this. You’ll find some skins don’t look too different at different wear ratings. And guess what? The price on those skins doesn’t tend to be too bad at all.
