OSRS Best Furnace to Use for Smithing and Crafting

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), choosing the right furnace can make or break your Smithing and Crafting efficiency. Furnaces are essential for smelting ores into bars, crafting jewelry, and making molten glass, but not all furnaces are created equal. The best furnace depends on factors like proximity to a bank, accessibility, and specific perks that boost your XP or convenience. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player, a member (P2P), or an Ironman, this guide breaks down the top furnaces to help you maximize your skilling. Let’s dive into the best options and why they shine!
The efficiency of a furnace is largely determined by how close it is to a bank. Shorter travel times mean more trips per hour, which translates to higher XP rates and faster progress. Accessibility is also key—some furnaces require quests or specific levels, while others are open to everyone. For P2P players, additional perks like reduced costs or unique mechanics can tip the scales. Below, we’ll explore the top furnaces based on these criteria.
Top Furnaces for Smithing and Crafting
Here are the best furnaces in OSRS, ranked by their efficiency and accessibility. Each has unique advantages, so your choice will depend on your account type, goals, and unlocked content.
Shilo Village Furnace
The Shilo Village furnace is the closest to a bank in OSRS, sitting just 10 tiles away from the bank chest. This makes it a top pick for members aiming to maximize XP per hour.
- Requirements: Completion of the Shilo Village quest.
- Cost: 20 coins per bank use unless you’ve completed the Elite Karamja Diary, which waives the fee.
- Best For: High-intensity smelting and crafting, especially for gold bars or jewelry.
The minimal distance means you can churn through inventories quickly, making it ideal for players with the quest done. The small fee is negligible compared to the time saved, but Ironmen might prefer other options to avoid the coin cost.
Prifddinas Furnace
The Prifddinas furnace, located in the Trahaearn district, is another elite option, only 11 tiles from a bank. Its proximity to an anvil adds a unique edge for players smithing items right after smelting.
- Requirements: Completion of Song of the Elves quest (a hefty requirement).
- Cost: Free to use.
- Best For: Endgame players and Ironmen who want to combine smelting and smithing.
While the quest requirement is steep, the furnace’s layout makes it a dream for efficient skilling. If you’ve unlocked Prifddinas, it’s a close contender to Shilo Village, especially for players who value the anvil proximity.
Edgeville Furnace
The Edgeville furnace is a fan favorite for both F2P and P2P players, located 15 tiles from the bank. Its accessibility and a special perk make it stand out.
- Requirements: None for F2P; Varrock Diary (Easy or higher) for the smelting perk.
- Cost: Free to use.
- Best For: F2P players and members smelting up to steel bars.
With Varrock Armour 1 or higher, you get a 10% chance to smelt two bars at once (up to steel), saving resources and boosting efficiency. This makes Edgeville a go-to for early-game players or those without high-level quest unlocks.
Neitiznot Furnace
The Neitiznot furnace matches Edgeville’s 15-tile distance to a bank but offers a mobile-friendly advantage for members.
- Requirements: Start The Fremennik Isles quest.
- Cost: Free to use.
- Best For: Mobile players and AFK smelting.
With proper camera positioning, you can click both the bank and furnace without moving the screen, making it ideal for mobile or low-effort skilling. It’s a great alternative if you haven’t unlocked Shilo or Prifddinas.
The Blast Furnace: A Unique Smelting Option
Unlike traditional furnaces, the Blast Furnace in Keldagrim is a members-only minigame designed for bulk smelting. It’s not about bank proximity but efficiency in coal usage and XP rates.
Why Choose the Blast Furnace?
The Blast Furnace uses half the coal compared to regular furnaces for bars like steel, mithril, adamantite, and runite. It’s also the fastest way to smelt gold bars, offering up to 400k Smithing XP per hour with goldsmith gauntlets.
- Requirements: Start The Giant Dwarf quest; 60 Smithing to avoid the 2,500-coin fee every 10 minutes.
- Cost: 72,000 coins per hour on official Blast Furnace worlds (free on other worlds, but you’ll need to operate it manually).
- Best For: High-level players, gold bar smelting, and profit-focused Ironmen.
The bank chest is just one click away, and NPC dwarves handle the mechanics on designated worlds, making it low-effort. However, the hourly cost can sting for budget-conscious players.
Blast Furnace Tips
To get the most out of the Blast Furnace:
- Use Ice Gloves: Cool bars instantly, saving time over buckets of water.
- Equip Goldsmith Gauntlets: Boost XP for gold bars significantly.
- Bring a Coal Bag: Carry up to 27 coal, reducing trips for high-coal bars like runite.
- Stock Up on Stamina Potions: Maintain run energy for continuous smelting.
For Ironmen or profit-seekers, combining gold with mithril or adamantite bars can balance XP and GP gains.
Comparing the Best Furnaces
Choosing the right furnace depends on your account’s progress and priorities. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
Furnace | Distance to Bank (Tiles) | Requirements | Cost | Unique Perk |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shilo Village | 10 | Shilo Village quest | 20 coins per bank use (free with Elite Karamja Diary) | Closest to bank |
Prifddinas | 11 | Song of the Elves quest | Free | Closest to anvil |
Edgeville | 15 | None (Varrock Diary for perk) | Free | 10% chance to smelt double bars (up to steel) |
Neitiznot | 15 | Start The Fremennik Isles | Free | Mobile-friendly camera alignment |
Blast Furnace | 1 click | Start The Giant Dwarf; 60 Smithing (optional) | 72k coins/hour (official worlds) | Half coal usage; up to 400k XP/hour |
Note: Tile distances are approximate and based on optimal paths. Always test routes for your setup.
F2P vs. P2P Furnace Options
Your account type heavily influences furnace choice. Here’s how it breaks down:
F2P Furnaces
Free-to-play players have limited options, but the Edgeville furnace reigns supreme:
- Edgeville: 15 tiles from the bank, no requirements, and accessible to all. The Varrock Diary perk (members-only) doesn’t apply, but it’s still the best F2P choice.
- Al-Kharid: Roughly 30 tiles from the bank, making it less efficient. Use only if you’re stuck near Al-Kharid for story reasons.
- Lumbridge: Over 40 tiles from the bank, but handy for new players near the spawn point. Avoid for serious skilling.
For F2P, Edgeville is the clear winner due to its balance of accessibility and proximity.
P2P Furnaces
Members have access to all furnaces, with Shilo Village and Prifddinas leading for traditional smelting. The Blast Furnace is a wildcard for bulk smelting, especially for gold or high-tier bars. If you’re early in your P2P journey, Neitiznot and Edgeville are easier to unlock than Prifddinas.
Tips for Maximizing Furnace Efficiency
Regardless of which furnace you choose, these tips will boost your productivity:
- Optimize Inventory: Use weight-reducing gear like Graceful armor to maintain run energy.
- Teleport Strategically: For Shilo Village, use Karamja gloves or a teleport to Duradel. For Prifddinas, a crystal teleport seed is a must.
- Plan Your Bars: Smelt high-XP bars like gold or mithril at the Blast Furnace; save Edgeville for steel or lower.
- Track Costs: The Blast Furnace and Shilo Village have fees, so calculate if the XP gains justify the expense.
- Use Superheat Item (Optional): With 43 Magic, you can smelt bars anywhere, earning both Magic and Smithing XP, but it’s costly (1 nature rune + 4 fire runes per bar).
For mobile players, Neitiznot’s camera trick can save mental energy, while PC players might prefer Shilo’s raw speed.
Choosing the best furnace in OSRS comes down to your goals and unlocks. For F2P, Edgeville is unbeatable. For P2P, Shilo Village offers the fastest trips, Prifddinas excels for combined smelting and smithing, and the Blast Furnace dominates for bulk XP. Neitiznot is a solid middle ground for mobile or early-game members. Test each option with your setup, and you’ll find the perfect furnace to power your Smithing and Crafting grind. Happy smelting!