Skip to main content
PC Gamer PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES
Subscribe
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
(opens in new tab)
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$10.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Hardware
  • Best Of
  • Magazine
  • The Top 100
  • Forum
  • More
    • PCGaming Show
    • Podcasts
    • Coupons
    • Newsletter SignUp
    • Community Guidelines
    • Affiliate Links
    • Meet the team
    • About PC Gamer
Popular
  • Starfield
  • The Day Before
  • Steam
  • 2023 games
  • Hi-Fi Rush
  • Among Us

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. Features
  3. FPS
  4. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

The best cheap CS:GO gun skins: $10 for 16 weapons

By Evan Lahti
published 12 January 2015

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • Comments
FPS fashion

FPS fashion

CS:GO isn’t about flash grenades and headshots, it’s about looking beautiful. Valve has released more than 30 sets of weapons so far, each containing a dozen-some guns of varying rarity and elegance. The latest release came just last Thursday, the Chroma update.

We’ve already gathered the most expensive CS:GO skins (a story we’ll update sometime soon). These are the cheapest weapons that I think look nice; think of it as our budget ballistic fashion line. I’m excluding guns that are underused or have been nerfed to oblivion, like the M249 and the CZ-75.

Note: CS:GO weapon prices naturally fluctuate. We’ve listed the lowest prices in the market at publication time.

Page 1 of 17
Page 1 of 17
M4A1-S - Boreal Forest, Minimal Wear ($0.55)

M4A1-S - Boreal Forest, Minimal Wear ($0.55)

Steam Market page

The Boreal Forest grants the CT’s standard rifle an early-’90s action movie kind of look. The M4A1-S is one of the most expensive weapons to buy skins for, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more for something you’ll hold onto longer, get the M4A1-S Basilisk (FN) at $3.53.

If you prefer the unsilenced model, get the M4A4 Faded Zebra StatTrak ($2.64) and dress it up with your favorite meme stickers. You’re going to be using the M4 a lot—a junk M4 that tracks your kills is a worthwhile upgrade over one that doesn’t.

Page 2 of 17
Page 2 of 17
P250 - Supernova, Minimal Wear ($0.64)

P250 - Supernova, Minimal Wear ($0.64)

Steam Market page

There are plenty of dirt-cheap, attractive choices for P250s. My pick is the Supernova, a weapon skin that also serves as a gentle reminder that all we know will one day be obliterated by the inevitable heat death of the universe. Alternatively, the dated Hive (FN) hovers around $0.50 these days. If you want to pay as little as possible, grab a verdant Boreal Forest (MW) to pair with your M4.

Page 3 of 17
Page 3 of 17
Five-SeveN - Urban Hazard, Factory New ($0.25)

Five-SeveN - Urban Hazard, Factory New ($0.25)

Steam Market page

One of my favorite skins period, on one of the game’s best pistols. Candy apple red atop a gravel-grey base.

Page 4 of 17
Page 4 of 17
MP7 - Urban Hazard, Factory New ($0.14)

MP7 - Urban Hazard, Factory New ($0.14)

Steam Market page

If the Urban Hazard had higher rarity I imagine that they’d fetch ludicrous prices. Thankfully, the arms dealers at Valve, in their generosity, allowed someone else to pay $2.49 to buy a key to open a case, revealing this weapon in disappointment in order to sell this to you for 1/10th of that price on the Steam Market, making an extra 5% fee from the transaction. Thanks, Gaben.

Page 5 of 17
Page 5 of 17
AK-47 - Jungle Spray, Field-Tested ($0.37)

AK-47 - Jungle Spray, Field-Tested ($0.37)

Steam Market page

Being one of the most widely-used weapons in the game means that, like the M4, AK’s don’t come cheap. And also like the M4, I’m recommending the best-looking grassy camo color for the AK, which beats the hell out of dull skins like Safari Mesh and Predator around the same price.

Page 6 of 17
Page 6 of 17
AWP - Pit Viper, Field-Tested ($3.53)

AWP - Pit Viper, Field-Tested ($3.53)

Steam Market page

These days you can’t own a decent AWP for less than $6, partly because there are only about a dozen AWP skins in total on the market. The Pit Viper’s the cheapest one with any sort of non-earthtone paint job.

Page 7 of 17
Page 7 of 17
Glock - Night, Minimal Wear ($0.50)

Glock - Night, Minimal Wear ($0.50)

Steam Market page

The Glock is an ugly, ugly gun. It’s tiny, it’s blocky, and its viewmodel doesn’t capture at all how much you feel like Jack Bauer you feel when you’re holding a real one. Brass is probably the closest that CS:GO comes to making the gun look appealing. I have a Water Elemental, and I’m embarrassed to use it every pistol round.

Still, it’s a default weapon, so we can expect the Glock to be tucked into the seam of your pants 90% of the time you’re playing as a Terrorist. The Night skin, Minimal Wear, is 1/16th the cost of its Factory New condition.

Page 8 of 17
Page 8 of 17
Desert Eagle - Heirloom, Field-Tested ($0.87)

Desert Eagle - Heirloom, Field-Tested ($0.87)

Steam Market page

Although the Heirloom has risen in price since late last year, it’s still a relatively expensive-looking skin that can be had cheaply. The gilded details stand out nicely against its silver body, and it’s an example of a skin (partly thanks to its name) that looks natural with a little wear on it—just pretend it’s a hand-me-down from Counter-Dad.

For you fancier Juan Deaglers, Cobalt Disruption (FN), at $3.70, is the most regal Deagle that can be had for the price of a coffee.

Page 9 of 17
Page 9 of 17
SSG 08 (Scout) - Blue Spruce, Minimal Wear ($0.05)

SSG 08 (Scout) - Blue Spruce, Minimal Wear ($0.05)

Steam Market page

There are very few smart-looking Scout skins—even the expensive, conspicuous ones look truly dumb. I’d encourage you to skip buying a skinned Scout altogether. If you like to snipe on the cheap, though, a Blue Spruce will make your Scout look like Listerine for just a nickel. Spring for the Acid Fade (FN) at about a dollar if you feel like dropping a few more pennies.

Page 10 of 17
Page 10 of 17
USP-S - Stainless, Minimal Wear ($0.49)

USP-S - Stainless, Minimal Wear ($0.49)

Steam Market page

I love the clean look of this USP skin. It looks swell with a StatTrak bolted on if you want to drop the extra $5.

Page 11 of 17
Page 11 of 17
P90 - Module StatTrak, Minimal Wear ($1.11)

P90 - Module StatTrak, Minimal Wear ($1.11)

Steam Market page

AKA the “Pro 90,” this is the unskilled player’s weapon of choice. You might as well grab a StatTrak variant of it at these prices, and the Module, while ubiquitous, is one of those snazzy modern, angular, neon skins that mimics the look of luxury coats like Asiimov.

Page 12 of 17
Page 12 of 17
Nova - Koi StatTrak, Factory New ($1.10)

Nova - Koi StatTrak, Factory New ($1.10)

Steam Market page

CS:GO’s best shotgun (don’t argue—I once saw a fresh-faced noob with 12 HP bag three ranged headshots in a one-on-three situation with the bomb planted) deserves some good paint on its thin frame. The Koi StatTrak (FN) is a great value at a buck and a little more, but true penny-pinchers can opt for the Candy Apple (FN) at just $0.14.

Page 13 of 17
Page 13 of 17
Tec-9 - Isaac, Minimal Wear ($0.23)

Tec-9 - Isaac, Minimal Wear ($0.23)

Steam Market page

The Tec-9 is back in fashion thanks to a recent buff that lowered its recoil significantly, and the Isaac skin is a sharp-looking costume for it that can be had cheaply.

Page 14 of 17
Page 14 of 17
MAG-7 - Heaven Guard, Field-Tested ($0.09)

MAG-7 - Heaven Guard, Field-Tested ($0.09)

Steam Market page

An inoffensive StatTrak weapon for a dime. It gives you wings, and your enemies 30 damage per pellet.

Page 15 of 17
Page 15 of 17
FAMAS - Pulse, Factory New ($1.20)

FAMAS - Pulse, Factory New ($1.20)

Steam Market page

I love high-contrast, bright weapon skins, and Pulse fits this description at about a dollar.

Page 16 of 17
Page 16 of 17
Galil AR - Blue Titanium, Factory New ($0.35)

Galil AR - Blue Titanium, Factory New ($0.35)

Steam Market page

I’ve happily carried a StatTrak version of this metallic Terrorist backup rifle for months, but the normal version of the gun is about a quarter.

Page 17 of 17
Page 17 of 17
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • Comments
Evan Lahti
Evan Lahti
Social Links Navigation
Global Editor-in-Chief

Evan's a hardcore FPS enthusiast who joined PC Gamer in 2008. After an era spent publishing reviews, news, and cover features, he now oversees editorial operations for PC Gamer worldwide, including setting policy, training, and editing stories written by the wider team. His most-played FPSes are CS:GO, Team Fortress 2, Team Fortress Classic, Rainbow Six Siege, and Arma 2. His first multiplayer FPS was Quake 2, played on serial LAN in his uncle's basement, the ideal conditions for instilling a lifelong fondness for fragging. Evan also leads production of the PC Gaming Show, the annual E3 showcase event dedicated to PC gaming.

See comments
Load Comments
Recommended
6 games that had a huge impact on PC gaming, but are rarely celebrated today
This 'professional' end-of-the-world simulator is now available on Steam
  1. The best gaming monitor on a blue background
    1
    The best gaming monitors in Australia for 2023
  2. 2
    The Best Steam Deck accessories in 2022
  3. 3
    Best MSI gaming laptop deals
  4. 4
    The best microphone for gaming in 2023
  5. 5
    The best graphics cards in 2022
  1. Season: A Letter to the Future
    1
    Season: A Letter to the Future review
  2. 2
    Intel Core i5 13400F
  3. 3
    HHKB Professional Hybrid Type S
  4. 4
    Hi-Fi Rush review
  5. 5
    Power Chord review

PC Gamer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.