Cheap Construction Guide OSRS: Level 1-99 on a Budget

Training Construction in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is notoriously expensive, often requiring millions of gold to reach level 99. However, with the right strategies, you can level up this skill without breaking the bank. This Cheap Construction Guide OSRS will walk you through cost-effective methods, tips to save gold, and alternative approaches to hit 99 Construction affordably. Whether you’re a new player or an ironman looking to stretch your resources, this guide has you covered. Let’s dive into the most budget-friendly ways to train Construction in OSRS!

Construction is a members-only skill that lets you build and customize your Player-Owned House (POH). While it’s not essential for combat or quests, a high Construction level unlocks incredible utility, like teleportation portals, ornate rejuvenation pools, and altars for spellbook switching. The catch? It’s one of the most expensive skills to train. But with this guide, you’ll learn how to maximize experience (XP) while minimizing costs.

Benefits of a High Construction Level

• Teleportation Hub: Build portals to key locations, saving inventory space and time.
• Rejuvenation Pools: Restore hitpoints, prayer, and stats instantly.
• Altars: Switch spellbooks or recharge prayer without leaving your POH.
• Storage: Store gear and items like the ornate jewellery box.

Why Go Cheap?

Most Construction guides focus on fast XP rates using mahogany planks, costing upwards of 200M GP. For players on a budget, this isn’t feasible. By focusing on cheaper materials like oak and teak planks, you can still progress efficiently while keeping costs manageable.

Getting Started with Construction

Before you begin, you’ll need a few basics: a Player-Owned House (POH), a hammer, a saw, and some gold. Here’s how to kick off your Construction journey on the cheap.

Buying Your First House

Head to an Estate Agent in Varrock, Falador, Seers’ Village, East Ardougne, or Hosidius. A starter house costs just 1,000 GP and starts in Rimmington. Alternatively, complete the Daddy’s Home miniquest for a free house, some supplies, and enough XP to reach level 8—perfect for budget players!

Essential Tools

• Hammer: Buy one for a few coins from any general store.
• Saw: Grab one from the sawmill operator north-east of Varrock for 500 GP.
• Nails: Cheap iron or steel nails work fine for early levels (buy from the sawmill or GE).

Early Level Strategy (1-19)

Start in your POH’s Parlour room by building Crude Wooden Chairs. Each chair requires 2 planks and 2 nails, granting 58 XP. You’ll need about 61 chairs to hit level 19, costing roughly 15-20K GP with regular planks (around 400 GP each on the Grand Exchange). Nails bend often, so stock up extra—iron nails are dirt cheap at 10-20 GP each.

Cheap Construction Training Methods

Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to scale up. Below are the most affordable methods to train Construction from level 19 to 99, focusing on oak and teak planks instead of pricier mahogany.

Level 19-33: Oak Plank Furniture

Switch to Oak Planks (around 400-500 GP each) for better XP at a low cost. Build Oak Chairs in the Parlour (2 oak planks, 120 XP each) until level 26, then upgrade to Oak Armchairs (3 oak planks, 180 XP each). You’ll need about 150 oak planks to reach level 33, costing roughly 60-75K GP.

Level 33-52: Oak Larders

At level 33, unlock the Kitchen room and start building Oak Larders. Each larder uses 8 oak planks and gives 480 XP. This method is a sweet spot for cost and efficiency. To hit level 52, you’ll need around 570 oak planks (285K-340K GP total). Use the Rimmington portal and unnote planks at Phials in the general store for quick runs.

Level 52-63: Teak Furniture

Teak Planks (around 800-900 GP each) become viable at level 52. Build Teak Armchairs in the Parlour (3 teak planks, 180 XP) or Teak Tables in the Dining Room (4 teak planks, 360 XP). This is slower but cheaper than mahogany. You’ll need about 1,200 teak planks to reach level 63, costing 960K-1.1M GP.

Level 63-99: Teak Prawnbrokers

From level 63, build Teak Prawnbrokers in the Aquarium room (unlocked at 63 with 200K GP). Each uses 6 teak planks and 10 mahogany planks, granting 2,160 XP. To keep costs low, focus on teak-only methods until you can afford some mahogany. Without mahogany, stick to Teak Tables or Dining Room furniture. Reaching 99 with teak alone takes around 14,000 planks (11-12M GP), a fraction of mahogany’s 200M+ cost.

Cost-Saving Tips for Construction

Stretching your gold further is key to training Construction cheaply. Here are proven ways to save money and still gain XP efficiently.

Use the Sawmill for Planks

Instead of buying planks from the Grand Exchange, cut logs yourself and convert them at the sawmill (north-east of Varrock). Regular logs cost 250 GP per plank, oak 250 GP, and teak 500 GP. With decent Woodcutting, this cuts costs significantly—especially for ironmen.

Leverage Managing Miscellania

After completing the Throne of Miscellania quest, assign workers to gather teak logs. You’ll get a steady supply of teak (up to 892 logs daily with full approval), reducing reliance on the GE. Combine this with sawmill runs for maximum savings.

Double XP Weekends

Training during Double XP (DXP) weekends halves the planks needed, slashing costs by 50%. Stockpile planks ahead of time and grind hard—your wallet will thank you. For example, 99 with teak drops from 12M to 6M GP on DXP.

Alternative XP Sources

• Quests: Daddy’s Home (400 XP), Tower of Life (500 XP).
• Mahogany Homes: Earn XP by repairing NPC houses—slower but cheaper than traditional methods.
• Lamps: Use XP lamps from Treasure Hunter or minigames like Tears of Guthix.

Cost Comparison Table

Here’s a breakdown of costs and XP rates for the cheapest Construction methods:

Method	Level	Planks Needed	XP per Item	Approx. Cost (GP)
Crude Wooden Chairs	1-19	122 (regular)	58	15K-20K
Oak Larders	33-52	570 (oak)	480	285K-340K
Teak Tables	52-63	1,200 (teak)	360	960K-1.1M
Teak Prawnbrokers	63-99	14,000 (teak)	2,160	11M-12M

Total Cost to 99 (Teak Route): ~12-14M GP (non-DXP), ~6-7M GP (DXP).

Final Thoughts on Cheap Construction Training

Reaching level 99 Construction in OSRS doesn’t have to drain your bank. By sticking to oak and teak planks, using the sawmill, and timing your training with DXP weekends, you can achieve this skill for under 15M GP—far less than the 200M+ of mahogany methods. It’s slower, sure, but the savings are worth it for budget-conscious players.

Next Steps

Start small with Crude Wooden Chairs, scale up to Oak Larders, and transition to Teak Prawnbrokers when ready. Supplement with quests and Miscellania for even more savings. Your POH will be maxed out in no time, all without selling your soul to the Grand Exchange!

Got your own cheap Construction tips? Share them below, and happy building!