How to Make Your Inventory Bigger in OSRS: A Complete Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game where inventory management is key to success. With only 28 slots available by default, players often find themselves juggling items during quests, skilling, or combat. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your inventory bigger in OSRS, you’re not alone—it’s a common question among new and veteran players alike. While the base inventory size can’t be permanently increased, there are clever ways to effectively expand your carrying capacity using in-game mechanics, items, and strategies. In this guide, we’ll explore practical methods to maximize your inventory space, optimize your gameplay, and ensure you’re always prepared for any adventure in Gielinor.

Before diving into solutions, it’s worth understanding why inventory space is limited in OSRS. The 28-slot inventory is a deliberate design choice, rooted in the game’s nostalgic roots and balance mechanics. Unlike modern MMOs that might offer expandable bags, OSRS keeps things old-school, challenging players to strategize within constraints. However, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with just those 28 slots—there are ways to work around it.

Why Inventory Size Matters

A cramped inventory can slow you down. Whether you’re gathering resources like logs or ores, looting drops from monsters, or carrying quest items, running out of space forces you to make frequent bank trips. This eats into your efficiency, XP gains, and gold per hour. Expanding your effective inventory size means more time playing and less time managing items.

The Base 28-Slot Rule

Every player starts with 28 inventory slots, and there’s no direct way to add more slots permanently. However, items and mechanics in the game can temporarily hold additional items or free up space, effectively giving you more room to work with. Let’s explore how to achieve this.

Using Items to Expand Your Inventory

One of the simplest ways to make your inventory bigger in OSRS is by using specific items designed to hold other items. These act like portable storage, letting you carry more without clogging your main inventory. Here are the best options:

Looting Bags

The Looting Bag is a game-changer for players in the Wilderness. Obtained from medium or higher Clue Scrolls or by purchasing it from other players, this bag adds an extra 28 slots—but only for items picked up in the Wilderness. It’s perfect for PvM activities like killing Chaos Druids or Green Dragons.

• How to Use: Click the bag to store items while in the Wilderness.
• Limitation: You can’t access its contents until you leave the Wilderness and bank it.
• Tip: Upgrade to the Looting Bag Upgrade (from Bounty Hunter points) for even more convenience.

Coal Bag

For miners and smithers, the Coal Bag is a must-have. Available from the Prospector Kit shop at the Motherlode Mine for 100 gold nuggets, it holds up to 27 coal (or 36 with the Smithing Cape perk). This frees up your inventory for other ores or items.

• Best For: Blast Furnace runs or power-mining.
• Pro Tip: Pair it with a gem bag for ultimate mining efficiency.

Gem Bag and Seed Box

The Gem Bag (from Motherlode Mine, 100 nuggets) holds up to 60 uncut gems, while the Seed Box (from Tithe Farm, 250 points) stores up to 2.1 billion seeds of six different types. These are niche but incredibly useful for specific skilling tasks.

• Gem Bag: Great for gem mining or Slayer tasks with gem drops.
• Seed Box: Ideal for farming runs or herb gathering.

Leveraging Familiars for Extra Storage

Summoning familiars aren’t just for combat—they can double as inventory extenders. By training Summoning, you unlock creatures that carry items for you, effectively increasing your capacity. Here’s how:

Pack Yak

The Pack Yak (level 96 Summoning) is the king of inventory expansion. It has 30 extra slots and can bank items via its special move, making it a favorite for high-level PvM and bossing.

• Requirement: Yak-hide, yak pouch, and 211 Summoning shards.
• Use Case: Extended trips like Zulrah or GWD.

Beast of Burden Familiars

Lower-level options like the War Tortoise (level 67, 18 slots) or Spirit Terrorbird (level 52, 12 slots) are more accessible. They’re perfect for mid-tier skilling or Slayer.

• War Tortoise: Great for prolonged combat or gathering.
• Spirit Terrorbird: Affordable and useful for early-game players.

Summoning Training Tips

To unlock these familiars, focus on Summoning XP. Complete quests like “Wolf Whistle” to start, then gather charms and shards. It’s a grind, but the payoff is worth it for inventory management.

Optimizing Inventory Space with Strategies

Beyond items and familiars, smart gameplay habits can stretch your 28 slots further. These strategies don’t add slots but make the most of what you have.

Stackable Items

Prioritize items that stack, like runes, arrows, or coins. They take up just one slot regardless of quantity, leaving room for unstackable gear or loot.

• Example: Use noted items when trading or banking.
• Tip: Alch or drop low-value unstackables to free space.

Efficient Loadouts

Tailor your inventory to your task. For example, bring only essential potions and food for Slayer, or use combination runes for magic training to save slots.

• Slayer Loadout: Slayer ring, weapon, armor, food, potions.
• Magic Training: Staff, combo runes, teleports.

Banking and Teleports

Use teleports (e.g., Ring of Dueling, Amulet of Glory) to bank quickly when full. Place a Bank Chest in your Player-Owned House (POH) for even faster access with a teleport tab.

Comparing Inventory Expansion Options

Not sure which method suits you? Here’s a quick comparison of the top tools and familiars to help you decide:

Method	Extra Slots	Requirement	Best For
Looting Bag	28	Wilderness, Clue Scroll	Wilderness PvM
Coal Bag	27 (36 w/ perk)	100 Nuggets	Mining/Smithing
Pack Yak	30	96 Summoning	Bossing, PvM
War Tortoise	18	67 Summoning	Mid-tier Skilling
Gem Bag	60 (gems only)	100 Nuggets	Gem Mining

Which Option Is Right for You?

If you’re a low-level player, start with affordable items like the Coal Bag or Spirit Terrorbird. Mid-tier players can aim for the War Tortoise, while end-game adventurers should invest in the Pack Yak. Wilderness enthusiasts can’t go wrong with a Looting Bag.

Combining Methods

For maximum efficiency, stack these options. Use a Pack Yak with a Looting Bag in the Wilderness, or pair a Coal Bag with a Gem Bag at Motherlode Mine. The more you combine, the bigger your effective inventory becomes.

Making your inventory bigger in OSRS isn’t about breaking the 28-slot limit—it’s about mastering the tools and tactics the game offers. From Looting Bags to Pack Yaks, these methods can transform your gameplay, letting you carry more, stay longer, and profit harder. Start small with accessible items, then work your way up as you progress. With these strategies, you’ll never feel cramped in Gielinor again!