OSRS F2P Coal Mining Guide for Beginners and Pros

OSRS F2P Coal Mining Guide for Beginners and Pros

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), coal mining is a cornerstone of the free-to-play (F2P) experience, offering a reliable way to level up your Mining skill and earn gold pieces (GP) through smithing or selling. Coal is essential for smelting steel and higher-tier bars, making it a high-demand resource. This guide dives deep into the best F2P coal mining spots, strategies, and tips to maximize efficiency and profit, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player grinding toward that Mining cape.

Coal’s importance in OSRS stems from its role in Smithing. It’s used to smelt steel bars (2 coal + 1 iron ore), which are crucial for crafting weapons, armor, and other items. For F2P players, coal mining is not just about skilling—it’s a gateway to self-sufficiency and profit. At 50 Mining experience per coal, it’s also a decent way to progress toward higher Mining levels, unlocking access to better ores like mithril or adamantite.

Benefits of Coal Mining

Here’s why coal mining is worth your time:

  • Profit Potential: Coal sells for around 150-200 GP each on the Grand Exchange, making it a solid income source.
  • Skill Synergy: Mining coal directly supports Smithing, letting you create steel items to sell or use.
  • Accessibility: Coal rocks are available in multiple F2P locations, with no membership required.
  • Experience Gains: At 50 XP per coal, it’s faster than mining lower-tier ores like copper or tin.

Requirements and Gear for Coal Mining

Best Mining Place on Runescape F2P Admant Mithril Coal ore YouTube

Before you swing your pickaxe, let’s cover the essentials. Coal mining in OSRS F2P is straightforward, but having the right setup boosts efficiency.

Minimum Requirements

To mine coal, you need:

  • Mining Level 30: This unlocks the ability to mine coal rocks.
  • Pickaxe: A bronze pickaxe works, but higher-tier options speed things up.
  • Inventory Space: Coal stacks, so clear your inventory for maximum hauls.

Recommended Gear

Your gear doesn’t need to be fancy, but here’s what helps:

Item Why It’s Useful Requirement
Rune Pickaxe Fastest mining speed in F2P 41 Mining, 40 Attack to wield
Steel Pickaxe Budget-friendly upgrade 6 Mining, 5 Attack to wield
Leather Boots Reduces weight for faster banking None
Empty Inventory Maximizes coal per trip None

Pro Tip: Wield your pickaxe to free up an inventory slot. You’ll need a corresponding Attack level (e.g., 40 for a rune pickaxe), but it’s worth training for.

Best F2P Coal Mining Locations

Location is everything in coal mining. The best spots balance coal rock density, proximity to banks, and safety from monsters. Here are the top F2P coal mining locations, ranked by efficiency.

Mining Guild (Falador)

The Mining Guild is the crown jewel for F2P coal miners, but it requires 60 Mining to enter. Located beneath Falador, it boasts 37 coal rocks and a bank deposit box right inside, making it the fastest spot for banking coal.

  • Pros: High coal rock density, close bank, no aggressive monsters.
  • Cons: High Mining requirement, can get crowded.
  • How to Get There: Head to the Dwarven Mine entrance northeast of Falador, descend the ladder, and enter the guild door.

XP/Hour: ~15,000-20,000
Coal/Hour: ~300-400

Dwarven Mine

For players under 60 Mining, the Dwarven Mine is a solid choice. It has 11 coal rocks in the southeastern section, accessible via the entrance northeast of Falador.

  • Pros: Decent coal rock count, relatively safe for higher combat levels.
  • Cons: Scorpions (level 14 and 32) are aggressive if your combat level is below 65. Banking requires a trek to Falador East Bank.
  • Safety Tip: Stick to the northern coal rocks to avoid scorpions if your combat is low.

XP/Hour: ~10,000-15,000
Coal/Hour: ~200-300

Lumbridge Swamp Mine

Located south of Lumbridge, this mine has 7 coal rocks and is quieter than the Dwarven Mine, making it ideal for uninterrupted mining.

  • Pros: Less crowded, no aggressive monsters.
  • Cons: Far from a bank (Lumbridge or Draynor), slower for profit-focused players.
  • How to Get There: Walk south from Lumbridge Castle through the swamp until you spot the mine.

XP/Hour: ~8,000-12,000
Coal/Hour: ~150-250

Barbarian Village Mine

Just west of Varrock, this mine has 4 coal rocks and is super close to the Edgeville bank, making it a favorite for quick banking runs.

  • Pros: Very close to a bank, no monsters.
  • Cons: Only 4 coal rocks, so you’ll need to world-hop or compete.
  • Tip: Use busy worlds (1,500+ players) to minimize competition.

XP/Hour: ~7,000-10,000
Coal/Hour: ~100-200

Wilderness Coal Mine

Located in level 9 Wilderness, north of Edgeville, this mine has 34 coal rocks, rivaling the Mining Guild’s density. However, it’s risky due to aggressive skeletons and potential player killers (PKers).

  • Pros: Tons of coal rocks, decent XP rates if undisturbed.
  • Cons: Wilderness risks (PKers, level 22 skeletons), far from a safe bank.
  • Safety Tip: Bring minimal gear (just a pickaxe), carry a few pieces of food, and bank via Edgeville or an Amulet of Glory teleport if you’re a member dabbling in F2P.

XP/Hour: ~12,000-18,000
Coal/Hour: ~250-350

Strategies to Maximize Efficiency

Mining coal is repetitive, but smart strategies can make it faster and more profitable. Here’s how to optimize your sessions.

Power Mining vs. Banking

You’ve got two main approaches:

  • Power Mining: Drop coal as you mine to maximize XP rates. Great for leveling to 60 Mining to unlock the Mining Guild. Expect ~20,000 XP/hour in the Dwarven Mine.
  • Banking: Store coal for profit or Smithing. Best in the Mining Guild or Barbarian Village due to nearby banks. Yields ~100-400 coal/hour depending on the spot.

World Hopping

Coal rocks respawn every 30 seconds, which can feel slow with limited rocks (e.g., Barbarian Village). Switch worlds to find fresh rocks, especially in low-density mines. Use the “Hop World” option in the logout menu, but avoid hopping too fast to prevent server kicks.

Boosting Mining Speed

No F2P boosts like Varrock Armour or Mining Gloves exist, but you can still improve speed:

  • Upgrade Pickaxes: A rune pickaxe mines coal ~30% faster than a bronze one.
  • Train Attack: Wield your pickaxe to save inventory space, requiring Attack levels (e.g., 40 for rune).
  • Minimize Weight: Wear lightweight gear (e.g., leather boots) to run to banks faster.

Avoiding Crowds

Popular spots like the Mining Guild can get packed. Try these tricks:

  • Play Off-Peak: Mine during early mornings or late nights in your time zone.
  • Use High-Pop Worlds: Worlds with 1,500+ players often have more bots, but human competition is lower.
  • Check Quieter Mines: Lumbridge Swamp or Barbarian Village are less busy than the Dwarven Mine.

Tips for Profit and Progression

Coal mining isn’t just about grinding—it’s about building wealth and skills. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Selling vs. Smithing

You’ve got two ways to profit from coal:

  • Sell on Grand Exchange: At ~150-200 GP per coal, 300 coal/hour nets ~45,000-60,000 GP/hour. Best for pure cash.
  • Smelt Steel Bars: Combine 2 coal with 1 iron ore to make steel bars (~400-500 GP each). Requires 30 Smithing and iron ore, but yields higher profit (~80,000 GP/hour if you mine both). Bank at Al Kharid furnace for efficiency.

Leveling Milestones

Coal mining fits into a broader F2P Mining progression:

Level Ore Why Mine It?
1-15 Copper/Tin Fast XP to unlock iron
15-30 Iron Best XP until coal unlocks
30-60 Coal Balanced XP and profit
60-99 Coal/Mithril Max efficiency in Mining Guild

Bonus Rewards

While mining coal, you might get lucky:

  • Uncut Gems: A 1/256 chance per rock (1/64 with a charged Amulet of Glory) yields sapphires, emeralds, or rubies, worth 200-1,000 GP.
  • Clue Geodes: Rare drops that start beginner clue scrolls, offering potential loot like trimmed armor.

Note: Gems don’t grant XP and replace a coal drop, so they’re a profit bonus, not an XP boost.

Coal mining in OSRS F2P is a grind, but it’s a rewarding one. Whether you’re stacking GP, fueling your Smithing dreams, or chasing 99 Mining, the Mining Guild, Dwarven Mine, and other spots offer something for everyone. Grab your rune pickaxe, pick a mine, and start swinging—Gielinor’s coal veins are waiting!