Your viewmodel is the weapon model sitting in the corner of your screen every round. Most players never touch the defaults — that’s a mistake. A poorly positioned gun blocks sightlines, costs you information on peeks, and makes your expensive skins harder to appreciate. Getting your CS2 viewmodel settings right takes about five minutes and pays off every session. If you’re also fine-tuning your crosshair, the crosshair guide is a good companion to this one.
Quick Presets: Copy and Paste These Directly
Open the developer console with the tilde key and paste whichever block matches what you want. Each preset is a complete set — run all lines together.
Default CS2 Viewmodel (Reset)
Use this to restore the default viewmodel cs2 ships with if you want to start fresh.
viewmodel_fov 60
viewmodel_offset_x 2.5
viewmodel_offset_y 0
viewmodel_offset_z -1.5
viewmodel_presetpos 1
cl_righthand 1Smallest / Minimal Viewmodel CS2
Maximum screen real estate. The gun is pushed as far to the edge as the engine allows, giving you the clearest possible view of angles. This is the smallest viewmodel cs2 supports without sv_cheats.
viewmodel_fov 68
viewmodel_offset_x -2.5
viewmodel_offset_y 2
viewmodel_offset_z -2
cl_righthand 1Classic CS:GO-Style Viewmodel
Matches the feel of the old CS:GO default position. A solid middle ground between visibility and a natural gun position.
viewmodel_fov 68
viewmodel_offset_x 2.5
viewmodel_offset_y 0
viewmodel_offset_z -1.5
viewmodel_presetpos 2
cl_righthand 1Left Hand Viewmodel CS2
Switches the gun to your left hand. Combine it with any of the presets above.
cl_righthand 0CS2 Viewmodel Commands Explained
Every cs2 viewmodel command below works without sv_cheats. You can run them live in a competitive match or on a private server.
| Command | Range | What it does |
|---|---|---|
viewmodel_fov | 54 – 68 (up to 90 allowed) | Controls the field of view of the weapon model. Higher values push the gun further toward the screen edge. Most competitive players use 68. Values above 68 look increasingly unnatural. Default is 60. |
viewmodel_offset_x | -2.5 to 2.5 | Horizontal position. Negative values shift the gun left, positive values shift it right. Going negative clears the right side of your screen for better visibility. |
viewmodel_offset_y | -2 to 2 | Depth — how close the model sits to the camera. Positive values push it further away; negative values bring it closer. |
viewmodel_offset_z | -2 to 2 | Vertical position. Negative values lower the gun, positive values raise it. Lowering gives you the most screen space above the weapon. |
viewmodel_presetpos | 1, 2, or 3 | Built-in position shortcuts. 1 is a low position, 2 is the classic CS:GO-style layout, 3 is maximum FOV and lowest position. A useful starting point before manual fine-tuning. |
cl_righthand | 0 or 1 | Switches between right-hand (1) and left-hand (0) viewmodel. Personal preference — no gameplay advantage either way. |
Best Viewmodel CS2: Pro Player Presets
Professional CS2 players consistently move toward settings that minimize how much gun is on screen. The logic is straightforward: less weapon model means more of the map is visible, which matters most during tight peeks and close-range angles where spotting an enemy a frame early decides the duel.
The most common direction pros move in is a high FOV combined with a low, left-shifted offset. A widely used configuration that reflects this approach:
- viewmodel_fov 68
- viewmodel_offset_x -2
- viewmodel_offset_y 2
- viewmodel_offset_z -2
This pushes the gun low and to the left, keeping the center and right side of the screen as clear as possible. Some players prefer a slightly more centered position — either for aesthetics or because the far-left offset feels disorienting at first. The classic preset (viewmodel_presetpos 2) is a reasonable middle ground if the full offset feels too extreme.
[VERIFY: Check current pro player viewmodel configs on prosettings.net or liquipedia before publishing — individual pro settings change between tournaments and should be confirmed against a live source rather than hardcoded here.]
How to Find Your Best Viewmodel Setup
Start with viewmodel_presetpos 3 as your baseline — it gives you maximum FOV and the lowest gun position the preset system allows. From there, adjust the offset values one at a time.
Open a private server, apply your commands, then walk around and peek common angles to see how the gun sits during movement and while holding positions. Pay attention to two things: how much of the right side of your screen the gun blocks during left-side peeks, and whether the weapon model feels visually stable when you’re moving. Some players find very low Z offsets feel disconnected. If that bothers you, raise the Z value slightly until it feels grounded without blocking too much screen.
Viewmodel and Your Skins
Your viewmodel settings directly affect how much of your weapon skin you actually see. A minimal competitive setup — gun pushed to the far left, low Z offset, high FOV — shows less of the finish. You’ll catch glimpses of the stock and grip but miss most of the artwork on the body. A more centered, higher Z position puts significantly more of the skin in frame.
If you want to appreciate a skin while playing, consider a skin-showcase preset:
viewmodel_fov 60
viewmodel_offset_x 1
viewmodel_offset_y 0
viewmodel_offset_z -1
cl_righthand 1This keeps the gun more centered and slightly larger on screen, showing off the finish without going so far that it blocks your view. For a competitive match, switch back to the minimal preset. For a casual game or deathmatch where you want to see what you’re running, the showcase position works well.
If you’re running a showcase viewmodel, make the skin worth looking at. Browse the CS2 skins available on Skinvault — float values are listed on every item so you know exactly what condition you’re getting. You can also trade your current skin for a new one instantly using Skinvault’s trade bots. Good skins to consider for rifles you’ll actually see on screen: best AK-47 skins, best M4A1-S skins, and best AWP skins.
How to Save Your Viewmodel Settings Permanently
Typing viewmodel commands into the console each session is not practical. The correct method is an autoexec.cfg file, which runs your commands automatically every time CS2 launches.
Navigate to your CS2 config folder, typically at SteamsteamappscommonCounter-Strike Global Offensivegamecsgocfg. Open or create a file called autoexec.cfg and add your viewmodel commands there, one per line. Add host_writeconfig at the bottom to ensure the config writes on load. In your CS2 launch options via Steam, add +exec autoexec so the file runs on every launch.
For a full breakdown of launch options and how to structure your autoexec correctly, see the guide to CS2 launch options and autoexec. Once set up, your viewmodel loads automatically every session regardless of updates or config resets. If you want to try someone else’s setup, paste their commands directly into the console for instant testing, then update your autoexec when you find something you want to keep.
FAQ
What is the best viewmodel in CS2?
There is no single correct answer, but the competitive consensus points toward a high FOV (68), a negative X offset to shift the gun left, and a low Z offset to drop it down the screen. This clears the most screen space during peeks. Start with viewmodel_presetpos 3 and adjust from there to suit your preference.
How do I reset my viewmodel in CS2?
Paste the default preset block from the Quick Presets section above into your console. It sets viewmodel_fov 60, resets all offsets to their default values, and returns the gun to the right hand. Running viewmodel_presetpos 1 also restores a close approximation of the default position.
Can you make the gun smaller in CS2?
Yes. Set viewmodel_fov 68, viewmodel_offset_x -2.5, viewmodel_offset_y 2, and viewmodel_offset_z -2. This is the smallest viewmodel CS2 allows without sv_cheats. It pushes the gun to the far edge of the screen and drops it as low as possible, maximizing your field of view.
How do I switch to left hand viewmodel in CS2?
Run cl_righthand 0 in the console. To switch back to right hand, run cl_righthand 1. You can also bind this to a key if you want to toggle on the fly. Add whichever value you prefer to your autoexec.cfg to make it permanent.
Do pros use a minimal viewmodel?
Most do. The majority of professional CS2 players use viewmodel_fov 68 and push their offsets toward the minimum to reduce screen obstruction. Exact values vary by player and are updated regularly, so check a current source like prosettings.net for individual configs before copying them directly.
Viewmodel settings are one part of a broader complete CS2 settings guide. Set them once, save them to your autoexec, and you will not need to think about them again.