Data methodology
How CS2 Labs turns market data into planning context
This methodology describes the product’s current approach. It is intentionally explicit about uncertainty: marketplace observations can be incomplete, delayed, non-tradable, or unavailable.
1. Item identity
Pricing begins with a canonical item identity. Weapon, finish, wear and quality are kept distinct where they change the market being observed. Stickers and other cosmetics use their own catalog identifiers and market names. Compatible aliases may be checked when a provider represents the same item differently, but unrelated wear or quality variants are not intentionally merged.
2. Marketplace observations
Supported providers expose different fields and destination types. Some offer exact item listings, while others provide a market page or search surface. CS2 Labs records the source, currency, observed prices, available quantities, tradability fields when available, and provider timestamps where supplied.
3. Managed display price
The compact price shown across the builder and catalog is selected from usable observations so the interface remains comparable. Tradable and non-tradable values are preserved when the source exposes them. The lowest headline value can therefore differ from the separate tradable comparison.
4. Missing and fallback data
Missing data is not treated as a free item. A broader suggested or last usable reference can be labelled as fallback when direct coverage is incomplete. If no defensible value exists, the item remains unavailable and the loadout indicates that its total is partial.
5. Loadout totals
Totals add known selected variants and sticker values. They are comparison estimates, not a single executable basket: items may come from different marketplaces, observations may have changed, and marketplace fees or currency conversion can affect the final amount.
6. Corrections
If an item is mapped incorrectly or a label obscures an important limitation, send the page URL and evidence to contact@cs2labs.com. Material methodology changes are reflected here and in patch notes.