Home CS Case Guides How to Trade Up to a Knife in CS2: Complete Step-by-Step Trade-Up Guide (2025 Update)

How to trade up to a knife in CS2 step-by-step guide showing trade-up contract and knife result

31.10.2025

How to Trade Up to a Knife in CS2: Complete Step-by-Step Trade-Up Guide (2025 Update)

Trading up to a CS2 knife is one of the most exciting goals for skin collectors. Unlike traditional drops or case openings, a trade-up contract lets players exchange ten lower-tier skins for one higher-tier skin. If done right, it’s one of the most strategic ways to climb from cheap covert skins all the way to a knife without spending thousands on the Steam Market.

Below is a complete, realistic, and up-to-date guide explaining how to trade up to specific knives, which skins to target, and how to maximize your chances using the 2025 CS2 trade-up system.

Trade up smarter or just hit a knife instantly with DaddySkins upgrades 👆

Table of Contents

🧠 What Is a CS2 Trade-Up Contract?

A trade-up contract allows you to combine 10 skins of the same rarity (and collection type) to receive 1 skin of a higher rarity from that same collection.
For example:

10 Mil-Spec (blue) → 1 Restricted (purple)
10 Restricted (purple) → 1 Classified (pink)
10 Classified (pink) → 1 Covert (red)
10 Covert (red) → 1 Knife or Gloves (depending on the collection)

This system lets you slowly climb the rarity ladder, if you plan your collections properly.

💎 Step-by-Step: How to Trade Up to a Knife in CS2

Step 1: Pick the Collection You Want Your Knife From

Not all collections offer knives. Choose a collection that includes a knife as its highest-tier item, such as:

Dreams & Nightmares Collection
Fracture Collection
Revolution Case Collection
Prisma 2 Case Collection

Each of these can lead to rare knives like the Karambit Marble Fade, M9 Bayonet Gamma Doppler, or Butterfly Knife Lore

Step 2: Understand the Float and Collection Rules

All ten skins you put into a trade-up must come from the same collection and the same rarity tier. The float value of the new item will be a weighted average of the floats you used.
If you’re targeting a Factory New knife, make sure all your input skins are Factory New or Minimal Wear.

Pro tip: Sites like DaddySkins can help you track float values easily.

Step 3: Use Trade-Up Mixes Strategically

You can mix skins from different collections, but only if they share the same rarity. The final result will come randomly from any of those included collections.
That’s why many players go for “10× same collection” strategies to guarantee a specific knife pool.

For example:
If you use 10 skins from the Fracture Collection, your trade-up result will always be from that collection, giving you a chance at knives like the Nomad Knife Fade or Skeleton Knife Case Hardened.

Step 4: Calculate Your Odds and Cost

Use a CS2 trade-up calculator (or create your own spreadsheet) to calculate the probability and cost of your target knife.
Let’s take an example:

Tier	Item Type	Cost per Skin	Quantity	Total	Chance of Knife
Covert	Fracture Collection	$40	10	$400	~10% for Knife

If you hit the knife you could get a $4000+ skin from a $400 trade-up. But if you miss, you’ll receive another Covert item worth less. That’s why understanding risk vs reward is essential before submitting the contract.

Step 5: Submit the Contract

Once you’ve filled the trade-up with the correct skins:

Go to your inventory.
Click Trade-Up Contract.
Review the item names carefully.
Sign the contract and confirm.

You’ll instantly receive your upgraded skin (or knife) with a special animation.

🔥 Top Knife Trade-Up Targets for 2025

Knife	Collection	Style	Est. Market Value
Karambit Marble Fade	Chroma Collection	Classic Fade	$1,200 – $2,000
Butterfly Knife Lore	Dreams & Nightmares	Gold Pattern	$1,800 – $3,000
M9 Bayonet Gamma Doppler	Gamma 2 Collection	Emerald Tier	$2,500 – $5,000
Skeleton Knife Case Hardened	Fracture Collection	Blue Gem	$3,000+
Talon Knife Tiger Tooth	Prisma Collection	Yellow Finish	$1,100 – $1,800

⚙️ Advanced Tips for Knife Trade-Ups

Use spreadsheets to track float averages and expected values.
Avoid mixed collections unless you fully understand the odds.
Watch Steam Market trends some cheap Covert skins rise in price before updates.
Join CS2 trade communities (Reddit, Discord, or Twitter) to find cheap inputs.
Don’t chase losses trade-ups are meant to be part of a fun, strategic collection journey.