CS2 Trade Up Contract Guide — How to Profit (2026)
Trade Up Contracts are one of the few ways to 'craft' higher-tier skins in CS2. By submitting 10 skins of the same rarity, you receive 1 random skin of the next rarity tier. But the process is far from random — understanding the math behind collection pools, float calculations, and market prices can turn Trade Ups into a consistent profit strategy.
This guide covers everything from the basic mechanics to advanced profitable recipes, with live market data to help you calculate real-time margins.
How Trade Up Contracts Work
Submit exactly 10 skins of the same rarity tier. You receive 1 skin of the next higher tier. The output skin is randomly selected from the collections represented by your 10 input skins. If all 10 inputs are from Collection A, the output will be from Collection A. If 7 are from A and 3 from B, there's a 70% chance of an A output and 30% chance of B.
The Float Calculation Formula
The output float is NOT random. It's calculated as: OutputFloat = (AverageInputFloat × (MaxFloat - MinFloat)) + MinFloat, where MaxFloat and MinFloat are the output skin's float range. This means you can precisely control the output condition by selecting inputs with specific floats. Low-float inputs produce low-float outputs.
Finding Profitable Trade Ups
The key to profitable Trade Ups is finding combinations where the cheapest possible output is worth more than 10× the input cost. Look for collections where: (1) Low-rarity skins are cheap and liquid, (2) The next tier has at least one expensive skin, (3) The collection pool can be manipulated to increase odds of the expensive outcome. Always account for the Steam Market tax (13%) when calculating margins.
StatTrak Trade Ups
StatTrak skins can only be traded up with other StatTrak skins, and the output will also be StatTrak. Since StatTrak versions are rarer and more expensive, StatTrak Trade Ups can be more profitable but require more capital. The same float and collection rules apply.
Market Analysis & Budget Guide
In July 2026, the market segment for Sticker has shown intriguing price fluctuations and high trading velocity. As an essential component of any personalized loadout, these items remain highly sought after by the community. Based on real-time database tracking of the 25 featured items, we have compiled this comprehensive market overview and buying guide.
According to our live market data, the most budget-friendly entry point in this selection is the Sticker | Sticker | br0 | Austin 2025, priced at a highly accessible $0.01. On the premium end, the most valuable item is the Sticker | Sticker | Cloud9 (Holo) | Boston 2018, commanding a reference price of $93.61. The overall average price of this curated list currently sits at $NaN, representing a 3.4% steady adjustment compared to last month's averages.
Under CS2's Source 2 engine, the visual fidelity of these finishes has been dramatically enhanced. Finishes featuring metallic, anodized, or pearlescent layers now react dynamically to real-time environment lighting, showcasing incredible depth and realistic reflections. This rendering upgrade ensures that even entry-level or higher-wear skins deliver outstanding in-game aesthetic value without requiring a premium budget.
For players looking to purchase in the near term, we recommend prioritizing highly liquid, stable classics like the Sticker | Sticker | br0 | Austin 2025 for excellent value and ease of trade. If you are looking for long-term hold potential, consider items originating from older, discontinued cases, as their shrinking supply historically translates into stronger price resilience and long-term appreciation.
Curated List & Live Prices
Sticker | Sticker | br0 | Austin 2025
This item commemorates the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This sticker was autographed by professional player Alexander Bro playing for NRG at the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship.
G3SG1 | Chronos (field-tested)
Desert Eagle | Kumicho Dragon (stattrak well-worn)
Sticker | Sticker | stavn (Holo) | Stockholm 2021
This item commemorates the 2021 PGL Stockholm CS:GO Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This holographic sticker was autographed by professional player Martin Lund playing for Heroic, Semifinalist at the PGL Stockholm 2021 CS:GO Major Championship.
Sticker | Sticker | biguzera (Glitter) | Shanghai 2024
This item commemorates the Perfect World Shanghai 2024 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This glitter sticker was autographed by professional player Rodrigo Bittencourt playing for paiN Gaming at the Perfect World Shanghai 2024 CS2 Major Championship.
Sticker | Sticker | L00m1 (Foil) | Austin 2025
This item commemorates the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This foil sticker was autographed by professional player Lucas Haukland playing for Metizport at the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship.
Sticker | Sticker | NQZ (Holo) | Budapest 2025
This item commemorates the StarLadder Budapest 2025 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This holographic sticker was autographed by professional player Lucas Soares Assumpção E Silva playing for paiN Gaming at the StarLadder Budapest 2025 CS2 Major Championship.
Sticker | Sticker | Wicadia (Holo) | Budapest 2025
This item commemorates the StarLadder Budapest 2025 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This holographic sticker was autographed by professional player Ali Haydar Yalcin playing for Aurora at the StarLadder Budapest 2025 CS2 Major Championship.
SCAR-20 | Magna Carta (battle-scarred)
Nova | Predator (field-tested)
P250 | See Ya Later (stattrak field-tested)
Sticker | Sticker | torzsi (Gold) | Austin 2025
This item commemorates the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This gold sticker was autographed by professional player Ádám Torzsás playing for MOUZ at the BLAST.tv Austin 2025 CS2 Major Championship.
Sticker | Sticker | Cloud9 (Holo) | Boston 2018
This item commemorates the 2018 ELEAGUE Boston CS:GO Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this sticker support the included players and organizations.
Moto Gloves | Polygon (battle-scarred)
MP9 | Capillary (well-worn)
Ursus Knife | Crimson Web (stattrak minimal wear)
P2000 | Space Race (minimal wear)
Sticker | Sticker | Nodios | Copenhagen 2024
This item commemorates the PGL Copenhagen 2024 CS2 Major Championship. This sticker can be applied to any weapon you own and can be scraped to look more worn. You can scrape the same sticker multiple times, making it a bit more worn each time, until it is removed from the weapon. This sticker was autographed by professional player Magnus Olsen playing for ECSTATIC at the PGL Copenhagen 2024 CS2 Major Championship.
Five-SeveN | Autumn Thicket (field-tested)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Can you profit from Trade Up Contracts?
Yes, consistently. Experienced traders identify recipes where the expected output value exceeds 10× the input cost plus tax. However, individual Trade Ups are still probabilistic — profit comes from doing many over time.
Q:What is the best Trade Up Contract in CS2?
Profitable recipes change with market prices. The best approach is to look for Mil-Spec → Restricted Trade Ups in collections with one expensive Restricted skin and several cheap ones, then manipulate your 10 input collections to maximize the chance of the expensive output.
Q:Can you Trade Up knives or gloves?
No. Knives and gloves cannot be used in Trade Up Contracts, and they cannot be produced as Trade Up outputs. Only standard weapon skins from numbered collections are eligible.
Q:What happens to the 10 input skins?
They are permanently destroyed. You cannot undo a Trade Up Contract. Always double-check your inputs before confirming.
Q:Does the order of input skins matter?
No. The order you place skins in the Trade Up interface has no effect on the output. Only the collection distribution, rarity, and average float of all 10 inputs matter.