How to Make Money with Farming in Old School RuneScape

How to Make Money with Farming in Old School RuneScape

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a versatile skill that not only levels up your character but also offers profitable money-making opportunities. While it requires patience due to crop growth times, the minimal active effort makes it ideal for players seeking passive income. This guide explores the best farming methods to maximize gold, tailored for both beginners and seasoned players. Whether you’re planting herbs or trees, our SEO-optimized strategies will help you rake in millions.

Farming stands out in OSRS because it combines low-effort gameplay with high-profit potential. Unlike combat or skilling methods that demand constant attention, farming involves planting crops, waiting, and harvesting for profit. Here’s why it’s worth your time:

  • Passive Income: Crops grow even when you’re offline, making it perfect for busy players.
  • Scalability: Higher farming levels unlock more profitable crops like ranarr weeds and snapdragons.
  • Market Demand: Herbs and other produce are always in demand on the Grand Exchange for herblore training.

With the right setup, you can earn up to 1M GP per hour or more, depending on your level and strategy. Let’s dive into the best methods.

Getting Started with Farming for Profit

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Basic Requirements

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

  • Farming Level: At least 32 for profitable herbs like ranarr; higher levels (50+) unlock better crops.
  • Tools: Rake, spade, seed dibber, and watering can (or magic secateurs for better yields).
  • Teleportation: Access to teleports like amulet of glory or Ardougne cloak speeds up patch visits.
  • Starting Gold: Around 50,000–100,000 GP for seeds and compost.

Completing quests like Troll Stronghold or Eadgar’s Ruse unlocks key herb patches and teleports, boosting efficiency.

Understanding Farming Patches

OSRS has various patch types, but herb and tree patches are the most profitable for money-making. Here’s a quick overview:

Patch Type Location Best Crops Profit Potential
Herb Falador, Catherby, Ardougne, Trollheim Ranarr, Snapdragon, Toadflax High
Tree Falador Park, Lumbridge, Varrock Yew, Magic Moderate
Fruit Tree Catherby, Gnome Stronghold Palm, Dragonfruit Moderate to High

Focus on herb patches for consistent profits, as they have shorter growth cycles (70–90 minutes) compared to trees (hours or days).

Top Farming Money-Making Methods

Herb Runs: The Gold Standard

Herb runs are the most popular and profitable farming method in OSRS. By planting high-value herbs like ranarr weed or snapdragon across multiple patches, you can earn significant gold in short bursts of activity. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Buy Seeds: Purchase ranarr seeds (25,000–30,000 GP each) or snapdragon seeds (40,000–50,000 GP each) from the Grand Exchange.
  2. Prepare Patches: Use ultracompost (created with compost potion and volcanic ash) to minimize crop disease and boost yields.
  3. Plant and Harvest: Visit all herb patches (e.g., Falador, Catherby, Ardougne, Trollheim) every 70–90 minutes. Harvested herbs sell for 10,000–20,000 GP each.
  4. Sell Profits: Sell grimy herbs on the Grand Exchange for maximum profit.

Profit Example: With 6 herb patches, an average yield of 8 ranarr weeds per patch (12,000 GP each) nets ~576,000 GP per run, minus ~150,000 GP for seeds and compost. That’s ~426,000 GP profit every 90 minutes.

Tree and Fruit Tree Runs

For players with higher farming levels (60+), tree and fruit tree runs offer steady profits with less frequent attention. Plant palm trees (level 68) or magic trees (level 75) for the best returns. Steps include:

  • Planting: Use saplings (costing 50,000–100,000 GP for palm or magic) in fruit tree or tree patches.
  • Waiting: Trees take 8–16 hours to grow, so plan runs daily.
  • Harvesting/Selling: Palm coconuts sell for ~2,000 GP each, while magic logs fetch ~1,000 GP each.

Profit Example: 6 palm trees yielding 6 coconuts each (36 total) at 2,000 GP each generates 72,000 GP, minus ~60,000 GP for saplings, for a modest 12,000 GP profit per run. Magic trees are similar but slower.

Supercompost and Ultracompost Flipping

A lesser-known method is crafting and selling supercompost or ultracompost. This is ideal for low-level players or those with limited time. Follow these steps:

  1. Gather Materials: Buy compost (100 GP), compost potion (4-dose, ~5,000 GP), and volcanic ash (~200 GP each).
  2. Craft Supercompost: Combine compost with potion to make supercompost (~500 GP profit per bucket).
  3. Craft Ultracompost: Add 2 volcanic ash to supercompost for ultracompost (~1,000 GP profit per bucket).
  4. Sell: List on the Grand Exchange for quick sales.

Profit Example: Crafting 22 buckets of supercompost yields ~11,000 GP profit in minutes. Scaling to ultracompost can net ~22,000 GP per batch.

Optimizing Your Farming Runs

Maximizing Efficiency with Teleports

Time is money in OSRS, so use teleports to minimize travel time between patches. Recommended teleports include:

Equip an amulet of glory for quick Grand Exchange access to sell harvests.

Boosting Yields with Tools and Boosts

Increase your crop yields to maximize profits:

  • Magic Secateurs: Obtained from A Fairy Tale Part I, increases herb yield by 10%.
  • Farming Cape: At level 99, acts as a permanent yield boost.
  • Ultracompost: Reduces disease chance and increases average yield by ~20% compared to regular compost.

These tools can turn a good run into a great one, adding thousands of GP per patch.

Tips for Long-Term Success

Invest in Your Farming Level

Higher farming levels unlock better crops and improve yields. Focus on training through low-cost crops like guam or marrentill early on, then switch to high-value herbs. Quests like The Grand Tree or Song of the Elves provide XP boosts to speed up progress.

Monitor Grand Exchange Prices

OSRS item prices fluctuate, so check the Grand Exchange regularly. For example, ranarr weeds might drop to 8,000 GP or spike to 15,000 GP. Use tools like GE Tracker to time your sales for maximum profit. If herb prices crash, consider holding or making potions (e.g., prayer potions) for better margins.

Combine with Other Skills

Farming pairs well with skills like Herblore or Slayer. For instance:

  • Herblore: Use harvested herbs to make potions for additional profit.
  • Slayer: Kill chaos druids for herb drops to supplement your farming income.

This synergy boosts your overall GP per hour while leveling multiple skills.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Steer clear of these pitfalls:

  • Skipping Compost: Always use ultracompost to prevent crop loss.
  • Ignoring Patches: Missing a run wastes time and money.
  • Overbuying Seeds: Buy only what you need to avoid tying up capital.

Stay disciplined, and your farming empire will grow steadily.

Farming in OSRS is a reliable way to make money, offering flexibility for players of all levels. Whether you’re running herb patches for quick profits or crafting ultracompost for steady gains, the key is consistency and optimization. Start small, reinvest your earnings, and watch your bank grow. Ready to plant your first seeds? Head to the Grand Exchange, grab some ranarr seeds, and begin your journey to millions!