OSRS Herb Cleaning Profit: Maximize Your Gold in Old School RuneScape

OSRS Herb Cleaning Profit: Maximize Your Gold in Old School RuneScape


Herb cleaning in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a classic money-making method that combines simplicity with profitability. Whether you’re a new player looking to fund your adventures or a veteran seeking a low-effort gold grind, cleaning herbs offers a reliable way to boost your bank. In this guide, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of OSRS herb cleaning profit, exploring how it works, which herbs to focus on, and strategies to maximize your earnings. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to turn grimy herbs into gleaming gold piles—all while training your Herblore skill.

Herb cleaning is one of the foundational activities in OSRS’s Herblore skill. Players take grimy herbs, obtained from drops, farming, or the Grand Exchange (GE), and clean them to make them usable for potions. The process is straightforward: click a grimy herb in your inventory, and if your Herblore level meets the requirement, it transforms into a clean herb, granting a small amount of experience. The profit comes from the price difference between grimy and clean herbs on the GE.

Why Herb Cleaning is Profitable

The profitability of herb cleaning stems from supply and demand. Grimy herbs are often cheaper because they’re dropped by monsters or harvested in bulk via Farming, while clean herbs are in higher demand for potion-making. This price gap creates an opportunity for players to buy low, clean, and sell high. Plus, it’s a low-barrier method—requiring only a decent Herblore level and some starting capital.

Requirements to Get Started

To begin cleaning herbs for profit, you’ll need:

  • A Herblore level matching the herb: Each herb has a minimum level to clean (e.g., Guam at 3, Ranarr at 25).
  • Starting gold: At least 1-2 million GP to buy grimy herbs in bulk.
  • Access to the Grand Exchange: For buying and selling.
  • Patience: It’s click-intensive, but the payoff is worth it.

Optional but helpful: a touchscreen device or mouse keys to speed up cleaning and reduce strain.

Top Herbs for Cleaning Profit in 2025

Profit margins fluctuate with GE prices, so it’s crucial to check the market regularly. As of April 07, 2025, here are some of the best herbs to clean for profit, based on historical trends and current player demand. Always test small batches before investing heavily.

Low-Level Herbs (Under 40 Herblore)

  • Guam Leaf (Level 3): Small profit (5-10 GP each), but fast to clean and great for beginners.
  • Marrentill (Level 5): Often yields 10-20 GP profit per herb; steady demand for low-tier potions.
  • Tarromin (Level 11): Around 20-30 GP profit, widely available and easy to flip.
  • Harralander (Level 20): Can net 30-50 GP each, popular for energy potions.

Mid-Level Herbs (40-70 Herblore)

  • Ranarr Weed (Level 25): A fan favorite, often yielding 50-100 GP profit due to prayer potion demand.
  • Toadflax (Level 30): Profits of 50-80 GP; used in agility and Saradomin brews.
  • Irit Leaf (Level 40): Steady 40-70 GP profit, key for super attacks.
  • Kwuarm (Level 54): Around 60-100 GP profit, essential for super strengths.

High-Level Herbs (70+ Herblore)

  • Snapdragon (Level 59): High demand for super restores, often 100-150 GP profit.
  • Lantadyme (Level 67): 80-120 GP profit, used in antifire and magic potions.
  • Torstol (Level 75): The king of herbs, with profits up to 150-200 GP each for overloads.
Herb Herblore Level Approx. Profit (GP) XP per Herb
Guam 3 5-10 2.5
Ranarr 25 50-100 7.5
Snapdragon 59 100-150 11.8
Torstol 75 150-200 15

How to Maximize Your Herb Cleaning Profits

Cleaning herbs is simple, but optimizing your profits takes strategy. Here’s how to get the most out of every click.

Buy Low, Sell High

Use the GE to your advantage. Place buy offers for grimy herbs at slightly below market price and sell clean herbs at or just under the going rate. Check prices daily—herbs like Ranarr or Snapdragon can spike with updates or events.

Manual vs. Auto-Cleaning

OSRS offers two cleaning methods since the 2020 update:

  • Auto-Cleaning: Right-click your inventory and select “clean herbs” to process a full stack at once. Caps at ~3,000 herbs per hour.
  • Manual Cleaning: Click each herb individually for up to 10,000-12,000 herbs per hour. More effort, but triples your output.

For maximum profit, manual cleaning is king if you can handle the intensity.

Timing the Market

Prices fluctuate based on player activity. Weekends or double XP events often increase demand for clean herbs, driving up profits. Conversely, bulk sell-offs after herb runs can lower grimy herb prices—perfect for buying cheap.

Use Efficient Tools

Speed up cleaning with:

  • Mouse Keys: Glide over herbs while spamming the “+” key.
  • Touchscreen: Tap herbs directly for comfort over long sessions.
  • Herb Cape (optional): At 99 Herblore, it auto-cleans with a teleport perk, but it’s niche for profit-focused players.

Calculating Your Hourly Profits

Profit per hour depends on the herb, cleaning speed, and market prices. Let’s break it down with examples as of April 07, 2025.

Example 1: Ranarr Weed

  • Buy Grimy: 7,500 GP
  • Sell Clean: 7,600 GP
  • Profit per Herb: 100 GP
  • Manual Cleaning: 10,000 herbs/hour = 1,000,000 GP/hour
  • Auto-Cleaning: 3,000 herbs/hour = 300,000 GP/hour

Example 2: Torstol

  • Buy Grimy: 4,800 GP
  • Sell Clean: 5,000 GP
  • Profit per Herb: 200 GP
  • Manual Cleaning: 10,000 herbs/hour = 2,000,000 GP/hour
  • Auto-Cleaning: 3,000 herbs/hour = 600,000 GP/hour

Factors Affecting Profit

Your actual earnings may vary due to:

  • GE Buy Limits: Herbs like Torstol have a 10,000 limit every 4 hours.
  • Competition: More cleaners can shrink margins.
  • Time Investment: Manual cleaning boosts profits but demands focus.

Tips and Tricks for Long-Term Success

Herb cleaning can be a grind, but these tips will keep your profits flowing and your sanity intact.

Start Small and Scale Up

Test the waters with 100-1,000 herbs to confirm profitability before buying millions in GP worth. This avoids losses if prices shift unexpectedly.

Combine with Herb Runs

Farm your own herbs to clean and sell. With ultracompost and magic secateurs, you can average 6-9 herbs per patch, cutting costs and boosting profits. A full run across 9 patches can net 50,000-100,000 GP or more.

Avoid Over-Saturation

If too many players flood the market with clean herbs, prices drop. Diversify by cleaning multiple herb types or switching to other methods like unfinished potions if margins tighten.

Track Your Progress

Keep a log of buy/sell prices and hourly rates. Tools like GE Tracker or OSRS Wiki calculators can help you stay ahead of trends and optimize your approach.

Herb cleaning in OSRS is a timeless money-maker that blends profit with Herblore training. Whether you’re clicking away at Ranarrs or banking big with Torstol, the key is to stay informed, act efficiently, and scale your efforts. With the right strategy, you can turn a modest investment into millions of GP—all from the comfort of the Grand Exchange. So, grab your grimy herbs, check those prices, and start cleaning your way to riches today!