Float and pattern explained (with real examples)

4 min read · Updated 2026-06-08 · By Mārtiņš Ozols

Two skins with the same name can trade for 10× different prices because of float and pattern. Here's how to read both before you buy.

Two AK-47 Case Hardened Field-Tested skins sit side by side on a marketplace. One costs $80, the other $9,500. The difference is entirely float and pattern.

What float actually measures Float is a number between 0 (perfect) and 1 (destroyed) that controls how worn the visible texture is. It's frozen the moment the skin drops — it never changes again.

Why pattern matters more than float for some skins Pattern index (1–1000) decides how the texture maps onto the gun. For Dopplers, Fades, and Case Hardeneds, two skins with identical float can look completely different and trade for 5–50× different prices.

The one tool everyone uses csfloat.com's inspect link reader returns the exact float, pattern, stickers, and paint seed of any in-game item. Always run an inspect check before a high-value purchase.

Float and pattern explained (with real examples)

What float actually measures Float is a number between 0 (perfect) and 1 (destroyed) that controls how worn the visible texture is. It's frozen the moment the skin drops — it never changes again.

Why pattern matters more than float for some skins Pattern index (1–1000) decides how the texture maps onto the gun. For Dopplers, Fades, and Case Hardeneds, two skins with identical float can look completely different and trade for 5–50× different prices.

The one tool everyone uses csfloat.com's inspect link reader returns the exact float, pattern, stickers, and paint seed of any in-game item. Always run an inspect check before a high-value purchase.

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