Comparison
Skinport vs BUFF163: Fees, Access and Prices
In short
BUFF163 is a large Chinese CS2 marketplace run by NetEase, with a 2.5% seller fee but heavy restrictions for users outside China. Skinport is open internationally, charges sellers 8% (6% above €1,000) and buyers nothing, and pays out real money.
BUFF163 shows up in almost every CS2 pricing discussion, because many items cost less there than on Western marketplaces. That makes it a popular reference price. It is also a marketplace most players outside China cannot use the way they use Skinport, and that difference decides what the reference is worth.
Figures are the published ones at the time of writing, and access rules in particular change, so check the sites for current terms.
| Skinport | BUFF163 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seller fee | 8% (6% above €1,000, 2% on private sales) | 2.5% |
| Buyer fee | 0% | 0% |
| Seller keeps on a $100 sale | $92.00 | $97.50 |
| Cashing out | Real money after identity verification, no payout fee | Withdrawal fee of around 1%; restricted for international users |
| Availability | International | Built for mainland China |
| Best used as | A place to buy and sell | A price reference outside China |
Skinport
VisitThe practical choice outside China: open to international users, with real-money payouts.
- Open to international users
- 0% buyer fee and no payout fee
- Trade-locked items listed at a discount
- 8% seller fee on most items
- Identity verification is needed to cash out
BUFF163
VisitLow fees and deep Chinese demand, but out of reach for most traders elsewhere.
- 2.5% seller fee
- Large buyer base in China
- Widely used as a reference price
- Heavy restrictions for users outside China
- Yuan pricing and Chinese payment methods
The two marketplaces
BUFF163 is operated by NetEase and built for the Chinese market: prices in yuan, Alipay and WeChat Pay for payments, and an interface in Chinese. Sellers pay a 2.5% fee, and withdrawals carry a small fee of around 1%. International users face heavy restrictions on depositing, selling and cashing out. A separate site, BUFF Market, is aimed at international users and also charges 2.5% to sellers.
Skinport is open to international users, charges buyers 0% and sellers 8% (6% above €1,000, 2% on private sales), and pays out real money after identity verification. See Skinport fees explained for worked examples.
Side by side
| Skinport | BUFF163 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seller fee | 8% (6% above €1,000) | 2.5% |
| Seller keeps on a $100 sale | $92.00 | $97.50 |
| Buyer fee | 0% | 0% |
| Who can use it | International users | Built for China; restricted for most others |
| Payments | Cards and other methods at checkout | Alipay and WeChat Pay |
Why BUFF163 prices are a reference, not your sell price
A low BUFF163 price tells you something real about demand. But if you cannot sell there, it is not a price you can sell at. A few reasons to treat it carefully:
- Different buyers. Demand differs between regions. Some items are priced higher in one market than the other for reasons unrelated to fees.
- Different currency. Prices are in yuan, so exchange rates move the comparison.
- Different exit. Your realistic exit is where you can actually sell, after that marketplace's fees. Work it out with the profit calculator.
Used that way, BUFF163 is a useful sanity check: a Skinport listing far below the BUFF price deserves a closer look, and one close to it probably is not a bargain. Revenant shows a BUFF163 comparison as extra context on a deal, never as the price you will sell at.
Which one should you use?
- You live outside China. Skinport, or another international marketplace. BUFF163 is realistically a price reference.
- You live in China. BUFF163's low fee and local payments are the obvious fit.
- You want trade-locked deals. Skinport lists them with an unlock date, which is what auto-buy tools target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BUFF163 cheaper than Skinport?
For many items the BUFF163 price is lower, which is why traders use it as a reference. The two aren't interchangeable, though: most users outside China can't deposit, sell or cash out there the way they can on Skinport, so a BUFF price isn't an exit price.
Can I use BUFF163 outside China?
Access is heavily restricted for international users, and the rules change, so check the site's current terms. BUFF Market is a separate site aimed at international users.
What is BUFF163's seller fee?
The published seller fee is 2.5%, with a small withdrawal fee of around 1%. Skinport's is 8% for most items, 6% above €1,000 and 2% on private sales.
Why do snipers compare listings with BUFF163 prices?
BUFF163 reflects a large, active market, so a Skinport listing far below it can signal a mispriced item. It is context for the decision, not the price you will sell at, so check it against recent sales where you can actually sell.