Help & FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short, straight answers to the questions war paint traders ask most about CheckPaint — what the prices mean, where they come from, and how to use them safely.
What is CheckPaint?
CheckPaint.tf is a free community tool that tracks live prices for Team Fortress 2 war paints and decorated weapons. It gives you a suggested fair value for each item, a 60-day price history, and a view of current buy/sell activity, so you can make informed trades. It is a research and analytics site — not a marketplace — so trades themselves happen between players.
Where do CheckPaint’s prices come from?
Prices are built from real marketplace activity sourced from Backpack.tf, the community's TF2 trading marketplace and price index. CheckPaint records live buy and sell listings continuously and turns them into a single suggested value. For the full method, see how CheckPaint prices war paints.
How is the "fair value" actually calculated?
CheckPaint takes recent listings for an item and weights them by age — newer listings count much more, with a listing's influence roughly halving every 24 hours. It then takes the weighted median (the middle of the market) rather than an average, so a single overpriced or lowball listing can't distort the number. Standing buy orders are blended in as a demand floor. The methodology page walks through every step.
Why does the same war paint show different prices for different wear levels?
Because each wear level is genuinely a different item with its own market. A Factory New finish is cleaner and scarcer than a Battle Scarred one, so it usually costs more. CheckPaint prices Factory New, Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, and Battle Scarred separately, and you can compare them via the wear chips on any item page.
Why is the Strange or Killstreak version priced differently?
Strange weapons track kills, and Killstreak kits add visual effects — both add their own demand on top of the base finish, so they trade as separate items. Always check the full item name (for example "Strange Specialized Killstreak …") before comparing prices, because these variants can be worth far more than the plain version.
What do the buy and sell order numbers on an item page mean?
They show how many sell listings and buy orders existed for that item over the last 60 days. Think of them as a built-in confidence meter: lots of recent activity on both sides means the suggested price is well-supported, while an almost-empty order history means the price is based on thin data and should be treated as a rough guide.
How often are prices updated?
Listing data is captured continuously as it appears on Backpack.tf. Suggested prices are recomputed on a regular schedule from the latest listings, and each item page caches its result for about a minute so the site stays fast.
Why does an item show a price but almost no recent orders?
Some war paints trade rarely. CheckPaint can still estimate a value from older listings (their influence fades but never disappears entirely), but with little fresh data the estimate is less certain. For thinly traded items, check the order history, expect to negotiate, and be patient — a "fair price" only helps if a buyer or seller is actually around.
Can I buy or sell war paints directly on CheckPaint?
No. CheckPaint is a pricing and research tool, not a trading platform. It helps you decide what something is worth and spot good or bad deals; the actual trade happens between you and the other player through Steam.
What’s the difference between a war paint and a decorated weapon?
A war paint is the finish itself (a tradeable item). When you apply it to an eligible weapon, you create a Decorated weapon — the gun wearing that finish. Applying a paint is generally one-way, so an unused war paint and the decorated weapon you'd make from it can have different values. See the beginner's guide for more.
Why are prices shown in keys, refined, and USD?
TF2 trades in its own currencies, so CheckPaint works in refined metal and also expresses larger values in Mann Co. Supply Crate Keys (whole keys plus leftover refined). The USD figure is derived from the live key price for a quick real-money sense check — it tracks the in-game economy rather than being a fixed dollar tag. You can toggle between keys and USD on any item page.
Why does CheckPaint’s price differ from Backpack.tf or the Steam Market?
Different sites use different methods, time windows, and data. CheckPaint emphasises recent activity via time-decay and reports the median of live listings, which can differ from a slower-moving suggested price elsewhere or from Steam Market prices (which include Steam's fees and are locked to wallet funds). Treat CheckPaint as one well-explained data point and cross-check when a trade is significant.
How do I avoid getting scammed when trading?
Verify the exact items and the other person's identity in the trade window itself — not in chat — right before you confirm. Be wary of fake "middlemen", spoofed profiles, last-second item swaps, and off-platform links. When in doubt, slow down. The beginner's guide has a fuller safety checklist.
Is CheckPaint affiliated with Valve or Backpack.tf?
No. CheckPaint is an independent, community-run project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Valve Corporation or Backpack.tf. Team Fortress 2 is a trademark of Valve. Price data is used courtesy of Backpack.tf as the underlying source.
Is CheckPaint free to use?
Yes — browsing the catalog and viewing prices, history, and order activity is free.