Construction Cost Calculator OSRS POH Budget Guide

Ever stared at your empty player-owned house in OSRS and thought, man, this place needs some style, but my gold stack is looking thin? Yeah, me too. Construction hits different. It’s that skill where you pour in coins like they’re going out of fashion, all for a fancy throne or a portal that saves you a run. But here’s the kicker: without a solid cost calculator, you’re basically guessing in the dark. And trust me, after years of grinding OSRS as a maxed-out vet, I’ve burned through enough stacks to know that guessing leads to regret.

I’m talking about tools that crunch the numbers on planks, XP gains, and total spend before you even touch your hammer. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the best construction cost calculators out there, break down training paths from 1 to 99, and share some real-talk tips from my own sweaty sessions. Whether you’re a newbie eyeing your first larder or a pro optimizing for 99, we’ve got the deets to keep your wallet happy. Let’s build smart, not broke.

Picture this: you’re level 50, finally unlocked mahogany planks, and your POH is screaming for upgrades. Sounds fun, right? Wrong. Construction is notoriously expensive because every plank, nail, and bolt adds up fast. But why bother? Your house isn’t just decor. It’s teleports, boss arenas, even a spot to chill with the squad. At 83, you can max most features, and that skillcape? Unlimited house teles. Worth it.

From my experience, I skipped construction for ages, sticking to cheap skills like fishing. Big mistake. Once I hit 70, I realized my POH was a joke, no altar, no pool. So I dove in, and let me tell you, the rush of building a superior garden hit harder than a max hit from Vorkath. But the costs? Oof. I once spent 50 mil on a bad flatpack run before I wised up to calculators.

Quick Question: Is Construction Worth the Grind?

Short answer: Absolutely, if you plan it. Long answer? It depends on your bank. For irons or low-budget accounts, it’s a slow burn. For main accounts with billions, it’s a weekend project. I’ve seen players quit mid-grind because they didn’t budget. Don’t be that guy.

Why Every Builder Needs a Construction Cost Calculator

Okay, real talk. Without a calculator, you’re flying blind. These tools spit out exact plank counts, gold per XP, and even profit if you’re flipping flats. They factor in GE prices, which fluctuate like crazy. Remember when mahogany hit 1k each? Now it’s double. A good calculator keeps you ahead.

I use them religiously. Last summer, I was pushing a friend to 99, and the calc showed we’d save 20 mil by switching to mahogany homes at 52. Boom, done in days, not weeks. It’s like having a butler for your budget.

Top Benefits of Using One

• Spot Hidden Costs: Servants, room adds, even unnoting fees at Phials. Calcs include it all.
• Optimize XP/GP: See if oak larders beat flatpacks for your level.
• Plan Milestones: Hit 83 for house maxing without overspending.
• Track Progress: Input current XP, get targets. Super motivating.

Ever wondered, “How many planks to 70?” A calc answers in seconds. Mine says 1,200 oak for that jump. Easy.

The Best OSRS Construction Cost Calculators Reviewed

There are tons out there, but not all are equal. I’ve tested ’em all, from wiki basics to fancy portals. Here’s my roundup, based on ease, accuracy, and extras.

Pro tip: Bookmark the wiki one. It’s gold for real-time prices. I cross-check with OldSchool.tools for bonuses.

How to Use a Calc Like a Pro

Start simple. Plug in your level, say 40. Pick method: oak larders. Hit calculate. Boom: 500 planks, 15 mil gp, 200k XP/hr. Adjust for servants? Add demon butler, watch costs drop 10%. I do this before every session. Saves headaches.

Question: Confused by inputs? Answer: Most have tooltips. Hover, learn, go.

Breaking Down Plank Costs: The Heart of Your Budget

Planks are the backbone. No planks, no build. But prices vary wild. Oak’s cheap but slow, mahogany’s pricey but fast. Let’s table it out with current GE vibes (as of late 2025).

Data pulled from wiki GE tracker. See? Oak’s a steal early on. I stocked up at 300 gp each last year. Flip side, mahogany’s for when you’re balling.

Making Your Own Planks: Worth It?

Short para: Kinda. Use Plank Make spell at 86 Magic. Saves 20-30% gp, but no con XP. I did it for a 70-80 push, cut costs by 5 mil. Long story: Started with lunar spellbook, farmed teaks from hotspots. Tedious, but my bank thanked me. You?

Personal Story: My Wild Ride to 99 Construction

OH MAN, where do I start? Back in 2022, I was a fresh 70 con, house looked like a shack. Decided to go all-in for 99. Grabbed a calc, saw 150 mil estimate. Gulped, but pressed on. First, oak larders to 52. Clicked like a maniac in resizable mode, demon butler hauling planks. Hit 52 in a blur, spent 8 mil. Felt like a god.

Then mahogany tables. XP flew at 800k/hr, but gold vanished. One night, I misclicked, built wrong room. Lost 2 mil in adds. Lesson learned: Always double-check hotspots. By 77, I was at 120 mil down, but gnome benches? Game-changer. 1 mil XP/hr, superior garden setup. Finished 99 watching a movie, butler doing the work.

Total spend: 180 mil. Regrets? Nah. Now my POH’s a beast, crystal throne and all. Yours next?

Efficient Training Paths: From Noob to 99 Boss

Let’s map your journey. I’ll break it by brackets, with calcs baked in. Use these with your fave tool for tweaks.

Levels 1-33: Baby Steps on a Budget

Start with Daddy’s Home quest. Free XP to 8, plus supplies crate. Smart move. Then, basic builds.

Quick List of Builds:

• 1-4: Crude wooden chairs (5x, 58 XP each, 10 planks).
• 4-9: Wooden bookcases (7x, 115 XP, 28 planks).
• 9-15: Wooden larders (7x, 228 XP, 28 oak planks).
• 15-33: Oak dining tables to larders (mix, ~300 oak planks total).

Cost: Under 200k. Time: 30 mins. XP/hr: 100k. I did this hungover once. Still worked.

Calc says 94 regular + 270 oak to 33. Unnote at Phials, save runs.

Levels 33-52: Oak Larder Grind

The workhorse. 480 XP per larder, 4 oak planks. To 52: 220 larders, 880 planks, ~360k gp.

XP/hr: 500k. With butler? 600k. I hired mine at 40, human first. Demon at 50. Pro tip: Build moneybag at 58. No more payments mid-grind.

Question: Hate clicking? Answer: Runelite plugins, screen markers. Changed my life.

Long para time. This phase sucked for me. Early 2023, GE crashed oak to 200 gp. Bought bulk, but still clicked 10 hours straight. Arms hurt, but levels popped. Hit 52, unlocked tables. Relief. If you’re here, push through. Rewards huge.

Levels 52-77: Mahogany Tables Dominate

Unlock kitchen, grab demon butler. 840 XP per table, 8 mahogany planks. To 77: 1,610 tables, 12,880 planks, ~26 mil gp.

XP/hr: 900k. Fastest bang for buck traditional. Calc shows 21 mil total here.

My twist: Alternate with flatpacks at 55. Cheaper, but slower. Did 20% flats, saved 3 mil. You pick pace.

Levels 77-99: Gnome Benches or Homes?

Two paths. Benches: 1,100k XP/hr, 82k mahogany planks, 180 mil gp. Superior garden, two spaces, butler fetch.

Or Mahogany Homes: Slower 400-600k XP/hr, but 30 mil total to 99. Novice contracts early, expert later. Rewards planks free.

I went benches. Too impatient. But for budget? Homes all day. Calc it: Homes GP/XP at 40, benches 14.

Pros/Cons Table:

From theoatrix guide, mix ’em for balance.

Advanced Tips: Stretch Your Gold Further

Want more? Here’s gold from my playbook.

Strong Savings Hacks:

• Carpenter’s Outfit: 2.5% XP boost. Farm minigame, free over time.
• Bulk Buy Planks: Watch GE, buy dips. I timed mahogany at 1.8k, saved 10%.
• Servant Upgrades: Demon > Human. Faster hauls, less downtime.
• Passive XP: Wintertodt for low levels, 4x level XP. Did 1-10 there, zero cost.

Question: Flats or builds? Answer: Flats post-50, teak picture for 300 XP, low planks. Calc shows 10 gp/XP vs 14 for mahogany.

Ever tried mounted mythics at 50? Dragon Slayer 2 req, but 300 XP, cape returns. Cheapest high level. I did 52-60 there, saved mil.

Long ramble: One grind, I hit a streak. 77 to 85 in 4 hours, benches popping. Friend joined, we raced. Lost, but laughs forever. OSRS magic, right? Builds bonds too.

Upgrading Your POH: Post-99 Perks

Hit 99? Now furnish. Calc room costs: Quest hall 25k, superior garden 200k. Total max house? 50 mil extra.

Top must-haves:

1. Portal nexus (84, all teles).
2. Regen pool (faster heals).
3. Achievement gallery (costumes, pets).

I splurged on obsidian cape rack. Looks sick. Calc your dream setup first.

Common Pitfalls to Dodge

• Forgetting nails early. Steel bends less.
• Bad portal spot. Rimmington fine, but Yanille closer for some.
• Ignoring boosts. Crystal saw +3 levels.

Short answer to “Is 83 enough?”: Yes for most. 99 flex.

Wrapping It Up: Build Bold, Calc Smart

There you have it, your blueprint to con mastery without the bankruptcy. Grab a calculator, pick your path, and grind. From my 180 mil benches to your potential 30 mil homes run, it’s all doable. What’s your next build? Drop in comments, share war stories.

I’ve maxed con thrice now, each time smarter. You got this. Happy hammering.

Sources: Pulled from wiki, theoatrix, rpgstash guides for accuracy. Stay updated, prices shift.