Cheapest Butterfly Knives CS2
Counter-Strike 2, as of 2026, offers as many as 20 knife models. Most players can’t name more than five, but almost everyone knows about the butterfly. It’s one of the most expensive and coveted knives in CS2.
In this article for MelBet Pick’em, we’re going to prove that almost anyone can get a cheap butterfly knife CS2. Here you will find a list of the top 10 cheapest skins for this knife model. Read to the end and you’ll find out how much the cheapest butterfly knife CS2 currently costs and what it looks like!
What Is the Butterfly Knife in CS2?
The butterfly knife CS2, also known as a balisong, is a folding knife with two rotating handles that conceal the blade when closed. Historically, this knife was invented by Filipino fishermen and gained popularity after World War II thanks to American soldiers.
As for its design, it is known for its distinctive opening system. The handles rotate around an axis, allowing the knife to be deployed in a single motion. In CS2, this feature is reflected in the unique animation for viewing and drawing the knife.
The butterfly first appeared in the Counter-Strike series back in 2014 with the Operation Breakout update. It quickly became one of the most recognizable knives in CS:GO, and its popularity and prestige continue to decline in 2026. This is reflected in the price, as the average price of a CS2 butterfly knife skin is higher than any other knife, including the Karambit Knife.

Top 10 Cheapest Butterfly Knife Skins in CS2
In early autumn 2025, a butterfly knife under $1,000 was unimaginable. However, the knife Trade Up CS2 update changed everything. Starting on October 23, 2025, Covert items can be used in Trade Up. With five red items, you can obtain a knife or gloves from the collections of items included in the contract.
This significantly impacted the price of all skins. The cheapest Covert skins in CS2 since then cost over $40, and conversely, butterfly craft CS2 allowed those who wanted these knives to purchase them slightly cheaper. Currently, the cheapest butterfly knife in CS2 (Battle-Scarred) costs less than $700. In our top, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 cheapest butterfly knives, priced between $660 and $840. However, keep in mind that prices can change quickly, so be sure to check the current prices before purchasing.
10. Butterfly Knife | Lore
The most expensive balisong on the budget list is the Butterfly Knife | Lore. Compared to other skins, it stands out for its striking design. The blade is painted a rich gold and covered in ornamentation. The engraving runs along the entire length of the blade and is clearly legible even in Battle-Scarred condition.
The handle is a dark olive green, contrasting well with the vibrant blade. It features decorative inlays reminiscent of polished stone in texture. Some say these inlays resemble marble with yellow-orange veins. Taken together, the color combination of this cheap butterfly knife CS2 makes it feel more luxurious than other, cheaper, camouflage- and minimalist-style skins.
- Price: from ~$839
- Released: September 21st, 2021
- Update: “Operation Riptide”
- Containers: Dreams & Nightmares Case, Operation Riptide Case

9. Butterfly Knife | Stained
The next cheapest CS2 butterfly knife is more minimalist. The Butterfly Knife | Stained has a steel-gray surface. It’s covered with uneven dark spots and streaks. This resembles a natural patina or traces of chemical treatment on metal. The patterns are quite random, and in the Battle-Scarred condition, they are also heavily scratched. The blade itself remains quite beautiful, but not at all like the Factory New version.
The handle here is a dark matte finish. This adds a more understated design and contrasts with the light blade. The handle inlays also feature a marbled texture and fine dark veining. These visually echo the patterns on the blade.
- Price: from ~$834
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

8. Butterfly Knife | Ultraviolet
Purple lovers will definitely appreciate the Butterfly Knife | Ultraviolet. It’s incredibly recognizable by the bright purple accents on the handle. The blade is painted a deep matte black. Patterns and other complex textures are completely absent, giving the knife a very understated look. In Battle-Scarred condition, the blade surface has noticeable abrasions and scratches, and the edges are lightened.
The handle panels, the main visual detail of this cheapest butterfly knife CS2, are finished in a vibrant purple. They contrast perfectly with the dark metal base. Other elements (screws, hinges, metal parts) are also painted in dark tones. Therefore, if you love skins with a simple color scheme that are both elegant and aggressive, then the Ultraviolet series balisong is a must-have in your inventory.
- Price: from ~$808
- Released: March 15th, 2017
- Update: “Take a trip to the Canals”
- Containers: Spectrum Case, Spectrum 2 Case

7. Butterfly Knife | Urban Masked
This next balisong might appeal to fans of white skins. The Butterfly Knife | Urban Masked features a subdued gray and white color scheme, reminiscent of camouflage. The blade surface features dark spots in addition to the light gray paint. In Battle-Scarred condition, the blade surface of this CS2 cheap butterfly knife is covered in scratches. At high CS2 float values, the light paint almost completely peels off.
The handle is completely covered in the same camouflage pattern. This significantly distinguishes this knife from the others featured in this list. It has a completely light gray background, and even the screws and hinges are coated with paint. However, be sure to inspect the knife in Battle-Scarred condition before purchasing. The wear on it may appear more severe than on other knives, which may not be to everyone’s taste.
- Price: from ~$790
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

6. Butterfly Knife | Rust Coat
Sixth on the list is Butterfly Knife | Rust Coat. This is a rather unusual skin, recognizable by its rusty appearance. The blade is covered in a thick layer of brownish-orange rust. Some areas may be darker or lighter, creating the effect of old, heavily worn metal. This knife also has only two states: Well-Worn and Battle-Scarred. The higher the float, the more rust. At values close to 1, this cheap knife turns almost completely bright orange.
The handle, unlike the blade, doesn’t change with different floats. It’s simply a dark metallic color, and the inserts completely replicate the texture of the blade, complete with rust spots and darkened metal. For those who love atmospheric skins, this knife could be a real find. It would perfectly complement some orange gloves.
- Price: from ~$759
- Released: March 15th, 2017
- Update: “Take a trip to the Canals”
- Containers: Spectrum Case, Spectrum 2 Case

5. Butterfly Knife | Scorched
The top 5 cheapest CS2 butterfly knives starts with the Butterfly Knife | Scorched. This is one of the camouflage skins for the balisong. Its blade is painted in dark metallic shades with spots of black and dark brown. This creates a scorched effect reminiscent of soot or charred metal. In Battle-Scarred condition, this paint mostly peels off, and at float values close to 1, the blade is almost completely unpainted.
The handle is also completely covered in the same colors as the blade. This gives the knife a seamless and consistent look. One peculiarity is that at high float values, the paint on the handle inserts peels off significantly, revealing the marbled inlays. Before purchasing, be sure to inspect this butterfly from all sides to decide whether it’s worth the investment.
- Price: from ~$727
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

4. Butterfly Knife | Safari Mesh
Next up is a very simple and recognizable camouflage skin. Butterfly Knife | Safari Mesh features a light sand-colored blade with a mesh pattern applied over it. It resembles a metal mesh stencil and creates a diamond-shaped pattern across the entire blade. The color scheme ranges from beige to light brown, reminiscent of military camouflage for desert landscapes.
The handle is finished in the same sand-colored tones, and the mesh pattern is still present. Otherwise, this cheapest butterfly CS2 skin isn’t much different from the previous and next ones. When purchasing it, be sure to inspect its appearance, as in Battle-Scarred condition, there may be numerous scratches, scuffs, and even completely peeling paint on large areas of the blade and handle.
- Price: from ~$719
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

3. Butterfly Knife | Night
The Butterfly Knife | Night opens the top three cheapest balisongs. This is one of the most understated and minimalist skins in our top list. Its blade and handle are painted a dark matte color. The handle features smooth inlays of a cool gray-blue hue. This color contrasts well with the knife’s dark metal frame, making the design expressive yet discreet.
When choosing this cheap butterfly knife CS2, it’s also worth paying close attention to its condition. The cheapest Battle-Scarred skin may have numerous scratches and peeling paint. If your budget allows, it’s worth considering better condition skins. The Butterfly Knife | Night (Field-Tested) may cost $50-$100 more, but the scratches will be minimal.
- Price: from ~$687
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

2. Butterfly Knife | Forest DDPAT
Second place goes to the Butterfly Knife | Forest DDPAT. Its blade is covered in a camouflage pattern in beige, green, and brown tones. The design is composed of small pixel blocks. Together, they form a distinctive digital pattern reminiscent of military uniforms. This cheapest butterfly CS2 skin fits the military theme better than others.
The handle is finished in brown tones and complemented by green accents. However, be sure to choose the lowest float value possible, as float values close to 1 cause the paint to peel off so much that the green color is almost completely lost.
- Price: from ~$675
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

1. Butterfly Knife | Boreal Forest
The cheapest butterfly knife CS2 right now is the Butterfly Knife | Boreal Forest. Its blade is covered in a forest camouflage pattern consisting of green, brown, and beige spots. The handle is also a rich green. The inlays are light beige and match the camouflage pattern on the blade.
The knife itself looks very nice. In our opinion, it’s one of the most underrated on the entire list. If you choose it with a low float value, you will definitely be satisfied and this skin will probably increase in price in the future!
- Price: from ~$667
- Released: July 1st, 2014
- Update: “Operation Breakout”
- Containers: Operation Breakout Weapon Case

Final Verdict: Which Is the Cheapest Butterfly Knife in CS2 Right Now?
We hope that if someone asks you the price of the cheapest butterfly knife CS2 after reading this article, you’ll immediately answer “around $700,” and you’d be absolutely right. Currently, that’s the ideal budget for purchasing the cheapest butterflies, such as Night, Forest DDPAT, and Boreal Forest.
As your budget increases, the options become even more numerous, and with $1,000, you can consider dozens of options. However, please remember to check the float value and buy only from reputable marketplaces you trust!
FAQ
The cheapest balisong in CS2 is currently the Boreal Forest. It’s a classic green camouflage variant. It’s quite low in demand, especially compared to brighter and rarer butterflies like the Doppler, Fade, or Lore.
At the time of writing, the cheapest CS2 butterfly knife price on the Steam marketplace starts at approximately $667. We are talking about variants in Battle-Scarred condition, where wear significantly reduces the price. Versions with low wear can fetch significantly more. You can also try finding cheaper options on third-party marketplaces.
The price depends on popularity, float, pattern rarity, and overall market demand. Rather simple camouflage or dark skins are often cheaper. Players typically prefer brighter and rarer options, which drives supply/demand and price.
It all depends on your taste and budget. Some players may dislike heavily scratched knives with a float value close to 1. Other players may find them a good option if the price is significantly lower than skins in good condition. Before purchasing, inspect the knife and decide whether you like it or would rather pay a premium for a balisong in better condition.
To do this, go to the marketplace and filter by condition (Battle-Scarred) and knife type (Butterfly). Applying this filter will display all balisongs for sale. Now click “PRICE” to display the cheapest options first. This will allow you to see the current cheapest butterfly in CS2.
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