Having the right crosshair can have a huge impact on how you play the game. It can mean the difference between a clean headshot and a messy spray. But with the endless possibilities between color, size, style, etc., the task of finding the right one can be daunting. This guide is designed to help you make it easier to customize your crosshair for your playstyle. I will first discuss four important crosshair aspects (dynamic vs static, dot vs classic CH, borders, and color) and then cover the basics of each CS:GO crosshair style.

Dynamic vs Static

Dynamic crosshairs tell you when your shots are affected by your movement and your recoil. This is useful when strafing or tapping, as you can clearly see when your shots will be accurate. When tapping with an AK-47 or a Desert Eagle, you know exactly when your recoil has reset and you next bullet will be perfectly or near perfectly accurate. It is also useful for knowing exactly how much your aim is affected by your movement. For example, it is safe to strafe or run while firing a pistol or SMG, but you would probably want to crouch when firing a rifle. Dynamic CHs are mostly used by newer players that are not yet comfortable with recoil and movement inaccuracy. They can, however, be distracting as they are a constant source of motion on your screen.

Static CHs are used for pinpoint accuracy. Most players that use static crosshairs have enough playtime to be familiar with movement acceleration, recoil patterns, and recoil reset timing. Recoil compensation is much easier to perform accurately with a static crosshair. Static crosshairs are also useful for pre-aiming around corners.

Some players prefer to combine the two, having a constant static crosshair in the center. This allows them to always see where the center of their aim is and at the same time see how accurate their shot will be.

Dot vs Classic Crosshair

A dot can potentially cover an enemy peeking a corner if it is not sized properly or is completely opaque.

Dots are preferred for pinpoint accuracy. They are most useful at close to mid range, but can obscure vision at longer ranges by covering small targets. Adjusting the transparency of the dot can help with this. Players that change their crosshair depending on their weapon prefer the dot for pistol rounds for accurate close-range headshots. One downside of using that dot that some of its users have found is that they start to focus too much on their precision. Trying too hard for a clean headshot can waste precious time that could otherwise be spent going for a body kill. This, however, depends on the person and doesn’t happen to everyone.

Classic crosshairs do not cover targets at long distances and are more easily seen than dots. Most professional players use classic crosshairs, sometimes as a personal preference from CS 1.6. Although a larger gap increases visibility, it also decreases accuracy. Having a dot in the center of the crosshair can help with precision without covering too much of your vision. I still, however, prefer decreasing gap size for increasing precision.

Border vs Borderless

Borders are mainly used to increase a crosshair’s visibility. A border that contrasts with your main CH color will guarantee visibility on both dark and light backgrounds. White crosshairs with a black border have the highest contrast, but I believe cyan with a black border is the most easily visible. It will, however, slightly thicken your CH which may make it block more things behind it. It may also not be necessary if you choose the right CH color.

Color

Color mainly comes down to personal preference, but there are a few colors that are the most popular. Yellow has high visibility on dark backgrounds, but can get lost on light-colored walls such as those on Dust 2. Cyan is another light color, but unlike yellow it is not a common color on maps, so it is less likely to get lost in the background. Along with cyan, lime green is one of the most popular CH colors among professional CS players, for similar reasons. Hot pink is another color that is preferred as it is highly visible on both dark and light backgrounds (so it doesn’t need a border) and it never appears on maps.

The 7 CS:GO Crosshair Styles

Style 0 (Default, cl_crosshairstyle 0)

This is CS:GO’s default crosshair. It’s reactive to all sources of motion (running/walking, jumping, crouching, shooting, and weapon switching) so it is almost constantly moving in-game and can be very distracting. It is also much larger than necessary, so it is very difficult to have precise aim with it. Only the color is customizable.

Style 1 (Default Static, cl_crosshairstyle 1)

This is the static version of CH style 1. It is not responsive to any movement or shooting. Only the color and gap size can be changed.

Style 2 (Classic, cl_crosshairstyle 2)

Style 2 is a combination of the classic CS crosshair and a dynamic one. The four lines in the center slightly move, while the four dots at the outer ends move outward with all movement, crouching, and recoil. Its gap changes with weapon switching. The split ratio, or the relative size of the stems to the dots, can be modified. You can also decide whether or not to keep the center dot. Size, thickness, gap, outline, and transparency are all fully customizable.

Style 3 (Classic Dynamic, cl_crosshairstyle 3)

This is the classic CS crosshair with dynamic behavior in the four lines, rather than in dots like in Style 2. The CH is responsive to all movement, crouching, and recoil. Its gap also changes with weapon switching. I used this crosshair for a while until I learned how to coordinate my shots between my movement and how to compensate for recoil. I would recommend this CH to beginners over style 1 because it is more customizable and makes for an easier transition to Style 4. The size, thickness, gap, outline, transparency, and center dot are all customizable.

Style 4 (Classic Static, cl_crosshairstyle 4)

This crosshair is the static version of Style 3. Its appearance is completely customizable and is used by most professional players.

Style 5 (cl_crosshairstyle 5)

Style 5 resembles the 1.6 CH the most closely out of the CS:GO crosshairs. It is dynamic, but only for recoil and weapon switching. The gap will increase or decrease in size depending on the current accuracy of the weapon. It does not respond to running, jumping, or crouching. Its appearance is completely customizable.

Style 6 (cl_crosshairstyle 6)

Like styles 3, 4, and 5, this CH is in the classic CH shape. But its only dynamic behavior is the gap change when switching between weapons. Its appearance is completely customizable.

A Workshop to Help You: crashz's Crosshair Generator

All aspects of your CH can be altered using the developer console, but I don’t believe this is the easiest way. I prefer to use crashz’s Crosshair Generator for my CH customization. Its customization hub allows you to gradually adjust each appearance aspect with buttons so you can see your crosshair as it changes. It’s easy to select which base style you want to start with (with the exception of Style 6, which must be accessed and modified through the developer console). The dot can be selected from the premade crosshair board or you can create your own by adjusting the classic crosshair's size, thickness, and gap. This workshop also provides many premade crosshairs used by professional CS:GO players, but I would recommend playing with different crosshairs to find the one that best suits you. Every player is different and there is no single crosshair that works best for everyone.

It may take a while to adjust to the quirks of a new crosshair, so be open-minded when trying a new one. And most of all, be patient. Almost nobody finds the perfect crosshair right away and your tastes may change as you spend more time in the game. Hopefully this guide gave you a good starting point for customizing your own crosshair. Good luck!