The Fastest Way to Tan Leather in OSRS: A Complete Guide

The Fastest Way to Tan Leather in OSRS: A Complete Guide


If you’re an Old School RuneScape (OSRS) player looking to maximize efficiency while tanning leather, you’ve come to the right place. Tanning leather is a popular method for making gold and training skills like Crafting and Magic. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) newbie or a seasoned member (P2P), this guide will walk you through the fastest ways to tan leather in OSRS, optimized for speed, profit, and ease. Let’s dive into the best methods, tips, and strategies to get those hides turned into leather as quickly as possible!

Tanning leather is a cornerstone activity in OSRS, bridging the gap between raw hides and usable crafting materials. It’s not just about making leather armor or ranged gear—it’s also a lucrative money-making method. The faster you can tan hides, the more profit and experience you can rack up in less time. Speed is key, especially if you’re aiming to process thousands of hides per hour.

Benefits of Fast Tanning

  • Profit: Turning cheap hides into valuable leather can net millions of gold per hour.
  • Skill Training: Methods like the Tan Leather spell offer Magic XP alongside tanning.
  • Efficiency: Faster tanning means more time for other in-game goals.

F2P Tanning: The Fastest Method for Free Players

Al Kharid Global RuneScape

For F2P players, tanning options are limited, but there’s still a fast and reliable method using a tanner NPC. The goal is to minimize travel time and streamline the process.

Using Ellis in Al Kharid

The quickest way to tan leather in F2P is by using Ellis, the tanner in Al Kharid. His proximity to a bank makes him the go-to choice.

  1. Gather Cowhides: Kill cows (e.g., in Lumbridge) or buy cowhides from the Grand Exchange (GE).
  2. Bank Prep: Withdraw 27 cowhides and 81 coins (3 coins per hide for hard leather; 1 coin for soft leather).
  3. Tan Hides: Run north from the Al Kharid bank to Ellis, right-click “Trade,” and tan your hides.
  4. Repeat: Run back to the bank and reload your inventory.

Each trip takes about 25 seconds if running, allowing you to tan around 2,000 hides per hour. This method works for both soft leather (used for basic items) and hard leather (ideal for Crafting training).

Tips for F2P Speed

  • Use the bank south of Ellis to cut travel time.
  • Pre-check GE prices for cowhides vs. leather to ensure profit.
  • Avoid walking—keep your run energy up with energy potions if needed.

P2P Tanning: Portable Crafters for Maximum Speed

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For members, the game changes dramatically. Portable crafters are the fastest way to tan leather in OSRS, offering unmatched efficiency when paired with a bank chest. This method scales up to tanning tens of thousands of hides per hour.

Setting Up with Portable Crafters

Portable crafters are deployable items that let you tan hides instantly. Here’s how to use them:

  1. Acquire a Portable Crafter: Buy one from the GE (around 10k-15k GP) or use one placed by another player.
  2. Location: Deploy it near a bank chest, like at Fort Forinthry (World 84) or Lumbridge Market.
  3. Preset: Set a bank preset with 28 hides (e.g., green dragonhides) and 15k coins.
  4. Tan Hides: Load your preset, right-click the crafter, select “Tan Leather,” and confirm with the spacebar.
  5. Optimize: Click the banker as the tanning finishes to instantly reload.

With perfect timing and low ping, you can tan up to 60,000-80,000 hides per hour, depending on your setup and hide type (e.g., royal dragonhides peak at 80k).

Best Hides for Portable Crafters

Hide Type Tanning Cost Profit per Hour (Approx.)
Cowhide (Hard Leather) 3 GP 1M-2M GP
Green Dragonhide 20 GP 10M-12M GP
Royal Dragonhide 20 GP 15M-20M GP

Note: Profits vary based on GE prices—always test with small batches first.

Maximizing Speed with Portable Crafters

  • Low Ping World: Join a world with under 40 ping for minimal lag.
  • Camera Angle: Zoom in and position the crafter and bank chest side-by-side on your screen.
  • Keybinds: Use a preset keybind (e.g., “2”) and spacebar to confirm tanning without delays.

This method is click-intensive but unrivaled for speed and profit, especially with high-demand hides like green or royal dragonhides.

The Tan Leather Spell: Fast Tanning with Magic XP

For P2P players with high Magic and specific diary requirements, the Lunar spell “Tan Leather” offers a fast, cost-effective alternative that doubles as Magic training.

How to Use Tan Leather Spell

This spell tans up to 5 hides per cast with no NPC tanning fees. Requirements include:

Steps:

  1. Prep Inventory: Fill your inventory with hides (e.g., green dragonhides) and runes (1 Nature, 2 Astral, 5 Fire per cast).
  2. Cast Spell: Manually cast Tan Leather on 5 hides at a time—right-click to toggle between soft/hard leather for cowhides.
  3. Bank: Use a nearby bank to restock hides and runes.

With good timing, you can tan around 8,000 hides per hour, earning ~130k Magic XP alongside decent profits.

Cost and Profit Breakdown

The spell costs about 70-80 GP per hide (rune prices fluctuate), but eliminates NPC tanning fees. Here’s a quick comparison:

Method Hides per Hour Cost per Hide Magic XP per Hour
Tan Leather Spell 8,000 70-80 GP 130k
Portable Crafter 60,000-80,000 20 GP 0

The spell is slower but ideal if you want Magic XP and lower upfront costs.

Comparing the Fastest Methods

Each tanning method has its strengths. Here’s how they stack up for speed:

F2P vs. P2P Speed

  • F2P (Ellis): 2,000 hides/hour—simple, low-cost, but limited by manual trips.
  • P2P (Portable Crafter): 60,000-80,000 hides/hour—fastest overall, high profit, but requires setup.
  • P2P (Tan Leather Spell): 8,000 hides/hour—slower but offers Magic XP and no NPC fees.

Which Method Should You Choose?

  • F2P Players: Stick to Ellis in Al Kharid for accessibility and decent profit.
  • P2P Profit Seekers: Use portable crafters for maximum hides/hour and gold.
  • Magic Trainers: Opt for the Tan Leather spell to level Magic while tanning.

Tips to Boost Tanning Efficiency

Regardless of your chosen method, these tips will help you tan leather faster in OSRS:

General Efficiency Hacks

  • Stockpile Hides: Buy in bulk from the GE (e.g., 10k green dragonhides) to avoid interruptions.
  • World Hopping: Find low-population worlds for portable crafters or quieter bank areas.
  • Energy Management: Use stamina potions for F2P trips or P2P banking runs.
  • Price Checking: Monitor GE prices daily—small margins can make or break profits.

Advanced Optimization

For portable crafter users, consider using alternate accounts to bypass buy limits (e.g., 10k hides every 4 hours) or trade directly with other players. For the Tan Leather spell, equip a staff (e.g., fire staff) to reduce rune costs.

By mastering these methods, you’ll turn tanning leather into a fast, profitable, and efficient process in OSRS. Whether you’re banking millions or leveling skills, speed is your ally. Happy tanning!