What the 0–1 float number changes on your screen — and when it is worth paying for.
Skin images via Steam Community Market CDN.
Float is wear, not rarity
Lower float usually means cleaner paint. Rarity tiers (Mil-Spec to Covert) are separate. A Factory New Consumer Grade is still Consumer Grade.
Wear bands
Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, Battle-Scarred map to float ranges. Different skins hide wear differently — some FT look FN-adjacent; some MW already look tired.
When float premiums make sense
Pay up when wear hits a logo, a face, or a high-visibility panel. Skip premiums when wear hides on the underside you never see.
Practical habit
Screenshot first, float second. Numbers without eyes are how people overpay.