How Rarity Works in CS2
Every skin gets its rarity from its collection or case. When you open a case, the game first rolls the rarity and then picks one of the skins of that rarity in the case, so rarity decides how often a skin appears, not how good it looks. In a typical case there are several blue skins, fewer purple and pink ones and only one or two red ones, which is why red skins are hard to get.
Consumer and Industrial Grade skins don't come in cases at all. They drop from map collections, as weekly drops or in Souvenir packages, which is why most of them cost a few cents.
All CS2 Rarity Grades Explained
Consumer Grade (White)
The most common grade: simple camo and solid-color finishes from map collections. About 200 skins carry this rarity, and a typical one costs around $0.20. The FAMAS | Faulty Wiring from the 2021 Vertigo Collection is a good example. Players mostly use them as cheap trade-up material.
Industrial Grade (Light Blue)
Still common, with slightly more detailed designs. There are about 200 Industrial Grade skins, most under a dollar, though popular ones like the G3SG1 | Ancient Ritual from the Ancient Collection cost a couple of dollars.
Mil-Spec (Blue)
The biggest grade, with about 450 skins, and the one you get most often from cases. A typical Mil-Spec skin costs about $0.35, like the Sawed-Off | Morris, but sought-after designs can cost much more.
Restricted (Purple)
About 310 skins, and this is where designs get noticeably more elaborate. Expect around $1.75 for a typical one. The AWP | PAW is a fun example: its pattern index decides which cartoon animals show up on the rifle.
Classified (Pink)
Only about 180 skins are Classified, so they're a real step up in rarity. A typical one costs around $11, and the most popular reach hundreds of dollars. The AWP | Duality from the Revolution Case is one of the cheapest ways to get a pink AWP.
Covert (Red)
The rarest grade you can unbox as a regular weapon skin: about 110 guns, usually one or two per case. A typical Covert skin costs around $75, from about $36 for an AK-47 | Asiimov to about $480 for an AK-47 | Fire Serpent. Red skins are also the only input for knife and glove trade-ups, which keeps demand for them high. Our list of cheap Covert skins shows the best budget options.
Knives and Gloves (★ Gold)
The rare special items: every case has its own pool of knives or gloves, and you get one in about 0.26% of openings. In the game, knives are labeled Covert and gloves Extraordinary, but both are shown in gold with a ★ in the case preview. There are 94 glove finishes and more than 570 knife and finish combinations, with typical prices around $90 for gloves and $110 for knives. At the top end, a Karambit | Fade costs about $1,870 and gem Dopplers reach five figures. Compare models in our knife tier list.
Contraband (Orange)
A one-skin grade. The M4A4 | Howl was moved to Contraband after a copyright claim on its artwork, and it no longer drops from cases. Existing copies can still be traded, and the cheapest one costs about $4,430 today (about $4,500 in Field-Tested). It's one of the most expensive gun skins you can buy.
How Rarity Affects Trade-Up Contracts
Trade-up contracts turn several skins of one rarity into one skin of the next rarity:
10 skins of the same rarity give one skin of the next grade, from Consumer Grade all the way up to Covert. The result comes from the collections of the skins you put in.
5 Covert skins can be traded up for a knife or gloves (since the October 2025 update). All five must be either normal or StatTrak™, and the item you get comes from the pools of the cases your skins belong to.
StatTrak™ and normal skins can't be mixed in one contract, and Souvenir skins can't be used.
Want the details and the best combinations? Read how trade-up contracts work and see which skins give which knife.
Rarity of Stickers, Agents and Other Items
Stickers, charms and agents use their own names for the same colors:
| Color | Stickers and charms | Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | High Grade | Distinguished |
| Purple | Remarkable | Exceptional |
| Pink | Exotic | Superior |
| Red | Extraordinary | Master |
Rarity, Wear and StatTrak™: What Really Sets the Price
Rarity tells you how often a skin appears, but it's only the starting point. Two copies of the same skin can differ hugely in price because of:
Wear (float). Factory New copies cost the most. See our CS2 float guide.
StatTrak™. About one in ten skins from a case has a kill counter, and those copies usually cost more.
Pattern. Finishes like Case Hardened, Fade and Doppler have patterns that multiply the price.
Demand. A popular Classified skin can cost more than an unpopular Covert one.
Ready to pick your next skin? Filter the Skin.Land market by rarity, wear and price.
CS2 Skin Rarity FAQ
What is the rarest skin rarity in CS2?
For skins that still drop, knives and gloves are the rarest: about 0.26% of case openings. Among regular weapon skins, Covert (red) is the rarest at 0.64%. Contraband is rarer still, but it contains only the M4A4 | Howl, which no longer drops.
What are the CS2 rarity colors in order?
From most common to rarest: white (Consumer Grade), light blue (Industrial Grade), blue (Mil-Spec), purple (Restricted), pink (Classified), red (Covert), gold ★ (knives and gloves) and orange (Contraband).
What are the drop chances for each rarity in a CS2 case?
Mil-Spec 79.92%, Restricted 15.98%, Classified 3.20%, Covert 0.64% and a knife or gloves 0.26%. Consumer and Industrial Grade skins don't come in cases.
Is a higher rarity always more expensive?
Usually, but not always. The rarity sets a price floor, while demand, wear and pattern decide the rest. A popular Classified skin in Factory New can cost more than a less popular Covert one.
Can you trade up Covert skins for a knife?
Yes. Since the October 2025 update, a trade-up contract with 5 Covert skins, all normal or all StatTrak™, gives a knife or gloves from the cases those skins come from.
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