Can You Buy All Case Keys in CS2?
2025-02-14 - 7 min read
By Skinflow
Can you buy all case keys? The short answer is yes, but there are some things to keep in mind.
How Keys Work In CS2
To purchase a case key in CS2, you must own the corresponding case. If you don't have the case, you can still buy the key on the Steam Market, but be prepared for higher prices. The reason? Keys purchased in-game cannot be traded or sold, limiting their supply and driving up the market price.
What Happens When You Buy a Key
Once you acquire both a case and its key, you have two choices:
1- Open the Case: Receive one random skin from the case.
2- Rent the Skins: Rent all the skins from the case for seven days. This option lets you test out every skin in the case before deciding to commit to buying or trading.
What Happens When You Buy a Key?
Once you have both the case and key, you have two choices:
1- Open the Case: Receive one random skin from the case.
2- Rent the Skins: Instead of opening the case, you can rent all the skins from that case for seven days. This gives you access to every skin in the case temporarily, allowing you to test different looks before committing to buying or trading.
Why Are Keys Not Tradeable/Marketable After Purchase?
Valve made a big change—newly purchased case keys became non-tradable and non-marketable to prevent fraudulent transactions and money laundering.
Why Are Some Keys Still Available on the Market?
Even though new keys cannot be traded or sold, you might still see some being bought and sold on the Steam Market. Why? These are older case keys bought before Valve’s policy change.
Before the 2019 update, case keys were freely tradable, and many players stockpiled them. Since these older keys were never locked, they can still be traded and sold today. However, their supply is limited, making them more expensive compared to buying a key directly from Valve.
Case Opening Statistics – What Are the Odds?
If you're thinking about opening cases, know that the odds of getting a high-tier skin are extremely low. While Valve hasn’t officially disclosed drop rates, community research suggests the following estimates:
Mil-Spec (Blue) – ~79.92% chance Restricted (Purple) – ~15.98% chance Classified (Pink) – ~3.2% chance Covert (Red) – ~0.64% chance Rare Special Item (Knife/Gloves) – ~0.26% chance
That means nearly 80% of the time, you'll get a low-tier (blue) skin. The dream of unboxing a knife or gloves? It happens in about 1 in 400 cases on average.
What Is ROI in CS2 Case Openings?
ROI (Return on Investment) measures how much value you get back compared to what you spent. In CS2 case openings, your ROI depends on case price, key price, and the value of the skin you receive.
How Much Does it Cost to Open a Case?
To open a case, you need both a case and a key:
Key Cost: $2.49 (fixed price from Valve) Case Cost: Varies—some cost a few cents, while others (like rare discontinued cases) can exceed $50 on the Steam Market.
For an average case that costs $1, opening it would cost $3.49 in total.
The Harsh Reality of CS2 Case ROI
Statistically, most players will get low-tier skins worth far less than the cost of opening a case. Estimated market prices:
Mil-Spec (Blue) skins – $0.03 to $0.50 Restricted (Purple) skins – $0.50 to $2 Classified (Pink) skins – $2 to $10 Covert (Red) skins – $10 to $50 Knife/Gloves – $100 to $2,000+
Since 80% of case openings result in a Mil-Spec (blue) skin, typically worth just a few cents, the average return per case is usually far below the $3.49 cost.
Realistic ROI Example
Let’s assume the average case opening results in a return of $0.50 per case (factoring in all possible skins and their drop rates). This would mean:
Spending: $3.49 per case Average Return: $0.50 ROI Calculation: (0.50 ÷ 3.49) × 100 = ~14.3% ROI
This means that, on average, you’re only getting about 14% of your money back—a massive loss over time.
Final Verdict on Case/Key ROI
Low ROI: Most cases/keys return much less than they cost. High Risk, High Reward: Knives and Covert skins can be worth a fortune, but they’re incredibly rare. Better Alternative: If you want a specific skin, buying it directly is the safest and most cost-effective choice.
Is Opening Cases Worth It?
While opening cases is always a gamble, renting skins for a week can be a unique way to enjoy different weapons without long-term commitment. However, keep in mind that case keys are one-time use items—once you make your choice, there's no going back.