The Cheapest CS2 Knives
You don't need a Karambit budget to carry a knife. A few knife types and finishes cost a small fraction of the popular ones. Here is where the floor of the knife market is, and the cheapest way to reach it.
The cheapest knife types
For comparable finishes, these knives usually sit at the bottom of the price ladder:
- Navaja Knife: usually the cheapest of all.
- Gut Knife: a classic budget pick.
- Shadow Daggers: less popular because of the dual-dagger style.
- Falchion Knife
- Bowie Knife
- Huntsman Knife
- Survival Knife
The cheapest finishes
Within any knife type, these finishes are the entry points:
- Safari Mesh
- Boreal Forest
- Scorched
- Forest DDPAT
- Urban Masked
- Rust Coat (in heavy wear)
Go for Field-Tested or Battle-Scarred wear. On these camo finishes the wear is hard to see in game, so Factory New is rarely worth the extra money.
Cheapest way to get a knife
| Method | What you pay | Choose your knife? |
|---|---|---|
| Buy on a marketplace | The listing price | Yes, exact knife, finish and float |
| Covert trade up | Five Covert skins | Only the case pool; the result is random |
| Unbox | Case + key per try; about 0.26% chance | No |
If you want one specific knife, buy it. The knife trade up is worth considering when cheap Covert skins lead into a pool where most results are worth more than the inputs. Price it first in the knife trade up calculator.
Tips for buying a budget knife
- Compare prices across marketplaces, and remember Steam Market funds can't be withdrawn as cash.
- Check the inspect link or screenshot before buying. Wear is easier to see on some finishes than others.
- Be wary of deals that look too good, and never log in to "trade" sites through links sent to you in messages.
- Knife prices react strongly to CS2 updates, so a budget knife may lose value.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest knife in CS2?
Usually a Navaja, Gut Knife or Shadow Daggers in a plain finish such as Safari Mesh, Boreal Forest, Scorched or Forest DDPAT, in Battle-Scarred or Field-Tested. The exact cheapest listing changes daily.
Is it cheaper to buy a knife or unbox one?
Buying is almost always cheaper for a specific knife. Unboxing gives about a 0.26% chance per case, so the average cost of a knife from cases is far above the cheapest knife on the market.
Can a trade up give a cheap knife?
Yes. A Covert-to-knife trade up always gives a knife or gloves, but you don't choose which. Sometimes five cheap Covert skins cost less than buying the knife outright. Check with live prices.