Top 11 most expensive CSGO skins: Karambit, M4A1, AWP, more

Ever wondered what the most expensive CSGO skins are and how much they are going for? Here are 11 of the most pricey CSGO skins, as well as details on the price range.

CS:GO, a revered FPS game, stands out not only for its precise gunplay and strategic depth but also for the vast marketplace of in-game skins and items. Players are offered a wealth of options to customize their appearance in the game, ranging from weapon skins and knives to badges, stickers, and character cosmetics. However, these customization elements come with their own price tag.

Counter-Strike 2 will soon take over, but all account skins will transition to the new game. This transferability has led to a surge in skin prices.

Given the multitude of skins available, new players may initially find it overwhelming to understand what adds value to a skin and why some are willing to invest heavily in them. We’ll simplify this and provide a rundown of the most expensive skins in the game, as well as what makes skins so expensive.

Most expensive CSGO skins

Here’s a full table of the most expensive CSGO skins as of May 2023:

Rank	Skin name	Price	Details
11	AK-47 – Fire Serpent	$700 – $5,000	This classic and rare skin, released back in 2013, can cost upwards of $5,000 for a StatTrack Factory New version.
10	AK-47 – Gold Arabesque (Souvenir)	$3,000 – $20,000	Once priced under $2,000 due to oversupply, this flashy skin’s cost has risen significantly since Dust2 was removed from the map pool. A Factory New souvenir version can now cost over $5,000.
9	AK-47 – Wild Lotus	$4,000 – $25,000	This relatively new and short-supplied skin from the St. Marc collection, released in 2019, is in high demand. A Factory New version can cost over $8,000.
8	AWP Gungnir	$6,000 – $25,000	One of the newer skins, added in 2019 as part of the Norse collection. Even a battle-scarred version costs thousands, with Factory New versions priced over $8,000.
7	Crimson Web knives (Factory New)	Over $8,000	These rare and popular knife skins can fetch substantial prices, depending on their condition.
6	Karambit / Butterfly / M9 Bayonet (Sapphire)	$11,000 – $25,000	These Doppler knives, especially in Sapphire, command high price tags, often over $10,000. Their stunning appearance in Counter-Strike 2 has caused prices to surge to over $20,000 for skins like the Emerald Butterfly Knife.
5	Vice / Pandora’s Box Sport Gloves (Factory New)	Over $20,000	These vibrantly colored Sport Gloves are among the most valuable glove skins in CS:GO. Only 92 pairs of Factory New Vice Gloves exist, pushing their prices as high as $20,000.
4	M4A4 – Howl	$2,000 – $40,000	The unique ‘Contraband’ grade Howl skin is exceptionally rare. A Factory New, StatTrak version can fetch up to $30,000, and with expensive stickers applied, it can sell for over $100,000.
3	AK-47 – Case Hardened (661)	$30,000 – $120,000	The pattern number 661 skin, with its ‘blue gem’ appearance, is highly desired. If Titan stickers are applied, it can inflate the price to over $100,000.
2	AWP Dragon Lore (Souvenir)	Over $150,000	Souvenir versions of the Dragon Lore skin, especially when Factory New, can fetch more than $150,000. These commemorate specific esports matches and feature gold stickers with the teams and event.
1	Karambit – Case Hardened (Blue Gem)	Over $2 million	This exceptionally rare and almost mythical skin is currently the most expensive CS:GO skin. Its owner even turned down an offer of around $1.5m USD.

Why are CSGO skins so expensive?

Ultimately, what makes a CSGO skin expensive is mainly the rarity. There are eight levels of rarity:

• Consumer – White
• Industrial – Light blue
• Mil-Spec – Blue
• Restricted – Purple
• Classified – Pink
• Covert – Red
• Contraband – Orange
• Extraordinary – Gold

Other variables include a CSGO skin’s wear and pattern. Skins decrease in value through wear, as the skin will become scratched and look less appealing in-game. There are also a crazy amount of unique patterns for each skin, and so more desired patterns are more expensive.

That’s all for our guide on CSGO’s most expensive skins. If you’re more into Call of Duty, check out some of our guides on Modern Warfare 2:

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