Top 10 Most Expensive CS2 Skins Ever Sold (Updated 2025)

Interested in the most expensive skins in CS2 and want to understand what collectors are willing to pay huge sums for? In this article, the Blix team tells you about the top 10 most expensive skins sold on the market by 2025, explains what makes them unique, and shows you how to tell the real rarities apart. Read on to see which skins have become real diamonds in the CS2 skin economy.

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Why Are CS2 Skins Worth Thousands? Explained Simply

Rarity

The fewer skins of a certain type and quality that are released, the higher their price. Limited collections, special operations, and exclusive cases make a skin unique and valuable.

The most common skin type is “Consumer,” and the rarest is “Contraband” (only one skin was assigned this exclusive classification). Here is the full classification:

• Consumer (Gray)
• Industrial (Light blue)
• Mil-Spec (Blue)
• Restricted (Purple)
• Classified (Pink)
• Covert (Red)
• Contraband (Orange)
• Extraordinary (Gold)

Condition (Factory New, etc.)

The condition of the skin is a key factor. Factory New (almost new) costs much more than Minimal Wear or Battle-Scarred because it looks perfect and is more attractive to collectors.

Consider also the wear and tear of the skin, which is measured by its “float value”. Float ranges from 0.00 (Factory New) to 1.00 (Battle-Scarred), with lower values indicating better condition. Read more in the article: CS2 Skin Float Value & Patterns: What Affects Price?

Stickers

Having rare and sought-after stickers, especially Katowice 2014 Holo or Krakow 2017, can increase the price of the skin many times over. The sticker’s position and condition also affect the price. If you want to understand this topic, read CS2 Stickers for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide. This article answers the question, “Why are Katowice 2014 stickers so expensive?“

Demand and Popularity

The more popular a skin is among players and streamers, the higher its price. Popular models used on the professional scene or loved by the community are more expensive. For example, the AWP | Dragon Lore, one of the most iconic and coveted skins in CS2, is heavily used by pro players and streamers.

Skin pattern (e.g., Case Hardened Blue Gem)

Some patterns, such as Case Hardened Blue Gem (blue pattern on almost the entire surface), are considered unique and extremely rare. Such skins are sold for huge sums, as it is nearly impossible to find a similar skin. We wrote a separate article about this skin with a breakdown: CS2 Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern Guide.

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Quick List: The 10 Most Expensive CS2 Skins of All Time

№	Skin Name	Condition	Price (USD)	Date Sold
1	Karambit | Case Hardened (Blue Gem, Pattern #387)	Factory New	$1,500,000+	The deal off
2	AK-47 | Case Hardened (661 Pattern)	StatTrak™ FN	$1,500,000	June 2024
3	M4A4 | Howl (Souvenir Edition)	Factory New	$215,000	March 2023
4	AWP | Dragon Lore (Souvenir, FN)	Souvenir, Factory New	$250,000	2024
5	Pandora’s Box Gloves (Factory New)	Factory New	$61,000	Spring 2024
6	Karambit / Butterfly / M9 Bayonet | Emerald / Sapphire	Factory New	$20,000	Exact date unknown
7	AWP | Gungnir	Factory New	$18,000	Exact date unknown
8	StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet | Crimson Web	StatTrak™, Factory New	$27,000	Exact date unknown
9	AK-47 | Wild Lotus	Factory New	$160,000	March 2023
10	AK-47 | Gold Arabesque (Souvenir)	Souvenir, Factory New	$18,000	May 2023

Our opinion on the most expensive skins coincides with that of analysts and experts, as well as that of the Reddit community.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Skins 2025

Karambit | Case Hardened (Blue Gem, Pattern #387)

• Price Range:
  – specialty patterns $1 to $1.5 million
  – common patterns $5,000–$15,000
• Record Price: $1.5 million+
• The reason it’s expensive: Extremely low chance of getting out of the case, Perfect pattern color

broky's $1.5 million karambit blue gem : r/GlobalOffensive

This skin is one of the rarest, because there are only 9 of them, and the chance of getting a similar coloring is 1 in 371 million.

This skin earned a reputation back in 2016. At that time, it was the only skin in the history of CS:GO that was sold for $100,000. At that time, such a price was considered astronomical for the skin market.

In 2021, the skin’s owner received an offer of $1.5 million. Such an extraordinary offer was declined by the collector. As of now, the cost of the skin has most likely already exceeded $2 million. 

And it’s not just Pattern #387 that is valuable—Karambit #902 was sold for $15,000, Pattern #262 for around $7,750, and Pattern #463 for approximately $7,430.

AK-47 | Case Hardened (661 Pattern)

• Price Range: 
  – specialty patterns $40,000-$1 million+
  – common patterns $400–$600
• Record Price: $1 million+
• The reason it’s expensive: Rare pattern, Availability of StatTrak™ technology, Quality

The skin appeared in 2013 along with the first gun case. While most AK-47 Case Hardened skins cost only a few hundred dollars, the 661 model sold for a record price of over $1 million in 2024. This was confirmed by Sam “rofelm0nster” Alexander.

If you apply an expensive Titan Holo sticker on such an exceptionally well-combined skin, you can expect the price to increase by another $70,000. By the way, the sale of the AK-47 “Case Hardening” with four Titan Holo stickers for $500 thousand was long considered the most expensive public transaction of all time.

M4A4 | Howl (Souvenir Edition)

• Price Range: 
  – specialty patterns $20,000–$100,000+
  – common patterns $5,000–$10,000
• Record Price: $215,000+
• The reason it’s expensive: The only weapon in the game with Contraband quality. It has an increased price due to stickers

Recently, the status of this skin was actively discussed on Reddit.

The M4A4 Howl was introduced in 2014 but was quickly removed from cases due to a copyright dispute. After its removal, the price increased tenfold in just one month.

Although sticker-free models can be purchased for less than $5,000, if they are the Factory New and StatTrak version, they can cost up to $20,000.

In 2020, a version with four Titan stickers was sold for $90,000. On April 26, 2023, the auction for M4A4 “Howl” with four iBUYPOWER stickers ended, which sold for $215,000.

AWP | Dragon Lore (Souvenir, FN)

• Price Range: 
  – specialty patterns $50,000–$250,000+
  – common patterns $6,000–$15,000
• Record Price: $250,000+
• The reason it’s expensive: The souvenir version only dropped out during the old majors. One of the most recognizable and coveted skins

AWP Dragon Lore appeared in 2014 as part of the Cobblestone case related to the Cobblestone map. Souvenir versions were available as drops during Major such as ESL One Cologne 2014. There are a total of 114 souvenir AWP Dragon Lores.

In 2018, a player accidentally sold a souvenir Dragon Lore for $61,000 on the Steam Market without realizing its value, which became a meme in the community. The average price of such a Factory New skin is over $150,000.

One of the skins, which had four Titan Kato 14 holographic stickers applied on it, was estimated by various collectors to have gone for about $250,000.

Pandora’s Box Gloves (Factory New)

• Price Range: $40,000–$60,000+
• Record Price: $61,000
• The reason it’s expensive: The color and style are very popular with traders and collectors

Sports gloves were among the first 17 gloves added in the Glove Case update on November 28, 2016. Pandora’s Box gloves perfectly complement a purple-themed inventory, including skins like FAMAS Teardown, AUG Akihabara Accept, AWP Lightning Strike, and Ultraviolet knives.

Karambit / Butterfly / M9 Bayonet | Emerald / Sapphire

• Price Range: $8,000 – $15,000
• Record Price: $20,000
• The reason it’s expensive: These are “gem” versions of knives. Pure monochrome color, Low chance of drop.

The “Emerald” and “Sapphire” phases are the most expensive types of “Doppler” skin for knives. With the release of Counter-Strike 2, these skins began to look even better, and the average price on the market rose to $20,000, but later returned to a more stable value of $11,000–15,000.

It is noteworthy that sales of these knives are slightly cheaper than the average price on the market, but this only indicates the incompetence of the former owners.

AWP | Gungnir

• Price Range: $8,000 – $20,000
• Record Price: $18,000+
• Reason for Expensive: Unique visual style, Rare

Added in 2019 to the Norse collection. The design is based on Odin’s spear from Scandinavian mythology. In 2024, Gungnir became popular after it was used in the major finals, which raised demand.

StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet | Crimson Web

• Price Range:
  – StatTrak™ $15,000 – $27,000
  – common skin $5,000–$10,000 
• Record Price: $27,000
• The reason it’s expensive: StatTrak™ + Factory New combination — almost unattainable

Crimson Web knives can sell for over $15,000 when they are Factory New, feature StatTrak™, and have a desirable web pattern. Due to their rare patterns and visually striking designs, Crimson Web knives have gained huge popularity.

AK-47 | Wild Lotus

• Price Range: $3,000-$21,000
• Record Price:  $160,000
• The reason it’s expensive: Visual appeal, Popularity

In total, there are fewer than 3,000 such skins, and even fewer in the “Factory New” state. However, the Factory New Wild Lotus will only cost about $20,000. In March 2023, a Wild Lotus featuring 4x Reason Holo stickers was purchased for over $160,000.

AK-47 | Gold Arabesque (Souvenir)

• Price Range:
  – StatTrak™ $6,000+
  – common skin $2,800–$5,000 
• Record Price: $18,000
• Reason for Expensive: FN versions are rare, drop only from the limited St. Marc Collection

The Gold Arabesque is one of the most visually striking skins in CS2, although its price has sometimes dipped below $2,000 due to an oversupply of souvenir cases. The souvenir version at Factory New typically costs over $6,000, although that’s less than when they peaked at over $10,000.

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Honorable Mentions

These honorable mentions may not have broken records (yet), but they are highly sought after by collectors, investors, and enthusiasts alike due to their rarity, aesthetics, and historical value.

Parameter	AK-47 | Fire Serpent	Glock-18 | Fade	Desert Eagle | Blaze
Price (Factory New)	$2,000 – $4,000+	$1,200 – $2,000+	$700 – $1,000+
Case	Operation Bravo Case	CS:GO Weapon Case	Dust Collection
Still in Drop Rotation	Removed	Removed	Removed
Why It’s Expensive	Vintage collection, rarity, prestige	Rare pattern, visual appeal	Iconic design, classic
Investment Potential	Very High	High	Medium–High

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Is Investing in CS2 Skins Worth It in 2025?

In 2025, the market for CS2 skins remains active and lucrative for experienced collectors. Prices for rare items — especially those with unique patterns, low float, and rare stickers — continue to rise. We’ve covered this in our article: Top CS2 Skin Investment Trends to Watch This Year.

Market Trends and Speculation

You can read the top trends in detail in the above article: Top CS2 Skin Investment Trends to Watch This Year. But just to be sure, let’s briefly list the main CS2 skin investment trends:

• Limited cases are increasingly targeted by speculators: older cases (such as Cobblestone or Bravo) have grown 5-10 times.
• Rare/withdrawn collections are the main growth driver: Investors actively buy skins from obsolete collections, such as Cobblestone, Rising Sun, and others.
• Speculation around Majors and community hype: Prices of rare stickers (especially Katowice 2014 Holos) and skins often surge after major tournaments and updates. These spikes are usually followed by price corrections, allowing experienced traders to profit from short-term volatility.
• CS2 Agents as an investment asset: Agent prices in CS2 2025 continue to rise, especially for rare Master Agents from completed operations. This is a niche but promising asset class.

Comparing Skin Investment vs. Traditional Markets

Investing in CS2 skins and traditional assets (stocks, real estate, cryptocurrencies) is different. We have compiled a comparison table:

Parameter	CS2 Skins Investment	Traditional Markets
Entry Barrier	Low (starts from a few dollars)	Medium to High (requires capital)
Regulation	Unregulated	Regulated by law and financial bodies
Risk Level	Medium (volatility)	Medium (if diversified)
Liquidity	High for popular skins	Depends on asset type
Emotional Value	Present (in-game prestige, aesthetics)	Absent
Knowledge Required	Game & market expertise	Financial literacy

The skin market can bring high profits due to the rarity of some items and their demand in the gaming community. Investing in CS2 skins is a niche but potentially lucrative strategy for gamers and collectors. Please remember that this should not replace classic investment instruments but complement them.

Beginner Tips for Collecting High-Value CS2 Skins

Here are 5 quick tips for beginner CS2 skin traders:

• Study the market — look at prices on different venues and compare.
• Buy rare — focus on discontinued cases, unique patterns, and old stickers.
• Pay attention to float and pattern — they strongly influence the price.
• Avoid hype — don’t buy skins at their popularity peak (after a Major or update).
• Use only trusted platforms like CS.Money or Steam Market.

We left more tips in the article: How to Trade Skins Safely in CS2: A Step-by-Step Guide 2025.

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FAQ

What is the most expensive CS2 skin ever sold?

As of 2025, the most expensive skin in CS2 history is believed to be Karambit | Case Hardened (Blue Gem, Pattern #387) in Factory New condition. It was sold for over $1.5 million in January 2024. This unique skin has a rare “100% blue” pattern and perfect float that no one else in the world has.

Where can I safely buy or sell rare CS2 skins?

The safest options are the Steam Market and CS.Money. Important: avoid direct transactions without guarantees, especially on platforms like Discord or Telegram. Always use services with a solid reputation and buyer protection.

Do stickers really affect skin price?

Yes, they do — and very much so. Some stickers, especially Katowice 2014 (Holo), can increase the cost of a skin by dozens or even hundreds of times.

For example, an AWP | Dragon Lore with 4x Titan (Holo) Kato 2014 can cost more than $250,000, while without stickers, it costs about $30,000.