OSRS Construction Leveling Cost Guide Fast and Budget Methods

OSRS Construction Leveling Cost Guide Fast and Budget Methods

Leveling Construction in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique journey, offering players the ability to build and customize their player-owned house (POH) with features like teleportation hubs, altars, and rejuvenation pools. However, it’s notorious for being one of the most expensive skills to train. Whether you’re aiming for a maxed house at level 83 or pushing for the coveted level 99, understanding the costs and methods is key to planning your grind efficiently. This guide breaks down the costs of leveling Construction, compares fast and budget-friendly methods, and provides tips to save OSRS gold while achieving your goals.

Construction is more than just a skill—it’s a game-changer for convenience and efficiency. A high Construction level unlocks a POH packed with utilities that make skilling, questing, and PvM easier. Here’s why it’s worth the investment:

  • Teleportation Hub: Build portals for instant travel to key locations, saving time.
  • Rejuvenation Pools: Restore stats, cure poison, and heal at level 90.
  • Altars: Switch spellbooks or train Prayer with a gilded altar.
  • Storage Solutions: Costume rooms and jewellery boxes free up bank space.
  • Bragging Rights: A maxed POH impresses friends and clanmates.

Despite the high costs, the rewards make Construction a must-have for serious players. Let’s dive into how much gold you’ll need and how to spend it wisely.

Starting Construction The Basics

Old School Runescape Construction Skill Leveling Guide 199 Fast

Getting Your Player-Owned House

To begin training, you need a POH. Visit an estate agent in Varrock, Falador, Ardougne, Hosidius, or Seers’ Village to buy one for just 1,000 coins. Alternatively, complete the Daddy’s Home miniquest to get a house for free, plus 944 Construction XP, boosting you to level 8. You’ll also need a hammer, saw, and planks—the primary materials for building.

Key Items for Training

Before you start, gather these essentials:

  • Hammer and Saw: Buy from any general store or sawmill.
  • Planks: Regular, oak, teak, or mahogany, depending on your level and budget.
  • Nails: Bronze or iron for low levels; steel for fewer bends.
  • Teleport to House Tablets: For quick access if you lack 40 Magic.

With these in hand, you’re ready to build furniture and level up. But how much will it cost to go from level 1 to your target?

Cost Breakdown by Level and Method

Construction costs vary based on the training method and plank type. Traditional training (building and removing furniture in your POH) is faster but pricier, while Mahogany Homes is slower but more affordable. Below, we break down the costs for key level milestones using current Grand Exchange prices (as of April 2025).

Level 1-33 Early Training

At low levels, you’ll use regular planks or oak planks for cost efficiency. Here’s a typical path:

  • Levels 1-8: Complete Daddy’s Home for 944 XP (free).
  • Levels 8-19: Build wooden chairs (3 regular planks, 3 nails) for 87 XP each. Costs ~180,000 GP for 1,200 planks at 150 GP each.
  • Levels 19-33: Switch to oak bookcases (4 oak planks) for 180 XP each. Costs ~900,000 GP for 2,000 oak planks at 450 GP each.

Total Cost to Level 33: ~1,080,000 GP (assuming you do the miniquest).

Level 33-52 Oak Larders

From level 33, oak larders become the go-to for budget training. Each larder requires 8 oak planks and grants 480 XP.

Level Range XP Needed Oak Planks Cost (GP)
33-52 237,112 3,952 1,778,400

Cost to Level 52: ~1,778,400 GP (oak planks at 450 GP each).

Level 52-77 Mahogany Tables or Oak Larders

At level 52, you can choose between faster, expensive mahogany tables (6 mahogany planks, 840 XP each) or continue with oak larders for savings.

  • Mahogany Tables: Costs ~16.83 GP/XP with a demon butler. From 52-77, you need ~2,021,151 XP, requiring 14,436 mahogany planks at 2,000 GP each (~28,872,000 GP) plus ~650,000 GP for butler services.
  • Oak Larders: Costs ~7.50 GP/XP. You’ll need ~33,686 oak planks (~15,159,300 GP).

Cost to Level 77:

  • Mahogany: ~29,522,000 GP
  • Oak: ~15,159,300 GP

Level 77-99 Gnome Benches or Mahogany Homes

Level 77 unlocks gnome benches (6 mahogany planks, 840 XP each), the fastest traditional method at up to 1,100,000 XP/hour. Mahogany Homes is a cheaper alternative but slower (~200,000 XP/hour).

Method Level Range XP Needed Cost (GP) Notes
Gnome Benches 77-99 10,938,153 ~189,000,000 94,500 mahogany planks at 2,000 GP each
Mahogany Homes (Adept) 77-99 10,938,153 ~50,000,000 Uses mixed planks, ~418,433 GP/hour

Total Cost to Level 99 (from 1):

  • Fast Method (Gnome Benches): ~220,000,000 GP (including earlier levels).
  • Budget Method (Oak + Mahogany Homes): ~70,000,000 GP.

Fast vs. Budget Training Methods

Your choice of method depends on your gold stack and patience. Here’s a deeper look at the pros and cons of each approach.

Traditional Training (Fast but Expensive)

Traditional training involves repeatedly building and removing furniture in your POH. It’s click-intensive but delivers high XP rates.

Pros:

  • Fastest XP (up to 1,100,000 XP/hour with gnome benches).
  • Consistent and predictable leveling.

Cons:

  • Extremely costly (~220M GP to 99).
  • Requires focus and precise clicks.

Best For: Players with deep pockets aiming for a max cape or quick POH upgrades.

Mahogany Homes (Budget-Friendly)

Mahogany Homes is a minigame where you repair NPC houses across Gielinor. It’s less click-intensive and uses fewer planks.

Pros:

  • Cheaper (~70M GP to 99).
  • Less repetitive, with variety in tasks.
  • Earns contract credits for rewards like the plank sack.

Cons:

  • Slower XP (~200,000 XP/hour at higher tiers).
  • Requires travel between locations.

Best For: Ironmen, budget players, or those who prefer a relaxed grind.

Mounted Mythical Capes (Middle Ground)

If you’ve completed Dragon Slayer II, mounted mythical capes (level 50+, 3 teak planks, 370 XP each) offer a balance of cost and speed.

Cost: ~99,000,000 GP to 99 (105,078 teak planks at 941 GP each).

XP Rate: ~300,000 XP/hour.

This method is great if you want decent XP without breaking the bank like mahogany methods.

Tips to Save Gold While Leveling

Construction can drain your GP fast, but these strategies can help you stretch your budget:

Use a Butler Efficiently

At level 40, hire a butler (or demon butler at 50) to unnote planks, saving trips to the bank. To maximize efficiency:

  • Build a servant’s moneybag at level 58 to auto-pay wages.
  • Request the maximum items per trip (26 for demon butler) to reduce costs.

Boost for Key Upgrades

You don’t need level 99 for a maxed POH. At level 83, you can boost with a crystal saw (+3) and spicy stew (+5) to build high-level features like the ornate jewellery box. This saves millions compared to grinding to 92.

Leverage Quests and Minigames

Complete quests like The Eyes of Glouphrie (6,000 XP) or Cold War (1,500 XP) for early boosts. Mahogany Homes also offers XP through contracts, doubling as training and reward farming.

Check Grand Exchange Prices

Plank prices fluctuate. Always check the GE before buying in bulk, and consider buying during price dips to save millions over time.

By combining these tips with the right method, you can level Construction without bankrupting your account.

Leveling Construction in OSRS is a hefty investment, but the rewards—a fully decked-out POH and unmatched convenience—make it worthwhile. Whether you choose the lightning-fast gnome bench method or the wallet-friendly Mahogany Homes route, planning your budget and method is crucial. With costs ranging from 70M to 220M GP for level 99, there’s a path for every player, from gold-rich adventurers to frugal Ironmen. Start building your dream house today, and enjoy the perks of a high Construction level!