OSRS Money Making Guide 2025: Top Methods to Get Rich in Old School RuneScape
Welcome to the ultimate OSRS money making guide for 2025! Whether you’re a new player starting from scratch or a seasoned adventurer looking to boost your gold stash, this guide has you covered. Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game where gold (GP) fuels your journey—better gear, faster skilling, and epic adventures all depend on it. In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of money-making methods suited for different levels, playstyles, and time commitments. From low-level grinds to high-end bossing, let’s dive into the best ways to get rich in Gielinor!
In OSRS, gold is the backbone of progression. Without it, you’re stuck with basic gear, slow training methods, and limited access to the game’s best content. Whether you’re aiming to buy a Twisted Bow, train expensive skills like Prayer, or simply enjoy the freedom of a hefty bank, mastering money-making is essential. The good news? There are methods for everyone—free-to-play (F2P), members (P2P), low levels, and maxed accounts alike. Let’s break it down.
The Importance of Starting Capital
Like real life, having some initial gold in OSRS can kickstart your wealth-building. Methods like flipping or shop-running often require a small cash stack to begin, but don’t worry—there are zero-investment options too. The snowball effect applies here: the more gold you have, the easier it becomes to make more.
F2P vs. P2P Money Making
Free-to-play players have fewer options, but they’re still viable. Members, however, unlock a world of opportunities—higher profits, diverse methods, and access to exclusive content. If you’re on the fence about membership, many methods below can help you earn a bond (around 7-8M GP as of April 2025) to play for free!
Low-Level Money Making Methods
Starting fresh? These beginner-friendly methods require minimal skills or gear, making them perfect for new accounts. They won’t make you millions per hour, but they’ll build a solid foundation.
Collecting Cowhides (F2P)
One of the simplest F2P methods, collecting cowhides in Lumbridge is a classic. Cows drop hides consistently, and each sells for around 200-300 GP on the Grand Exchange (GE).
- Requirements: None
- Profit: 50K-100K GP/hour
- How to Do It: Kill cows near Lumbridge, collect hides, bank them in the castle, and sell on the GE.
- Tip: Bring a weapon to speed up kills— even a bronze dagger works!
Tanning Leather (P2P)
For members, tanning cowhides into leather is a step up. It’s low-effort and scales with your starting gold.
- Requirements: 1M+ GP recommended
- Profit: 200K-400K GP/hour
- How to Do It: Buy cowhides on the GE, tan them at the Al Kharid tanner (cost: 1 GP/hide), and sell the leather for a profit.
- Tip: Use a bank preset for quick inventory management.
Mining Iron Ore (F2P/P2P)
Mining iron ore is a reliable early-game method that also trains a useful skill.
- Requirements: Level 15 Mining, pickaxe
- Profit: 100K-150K GP/hour
- How to Do It: Mine iron rocks (e.g., Varrock East), bank the ore, and sell on the GE.
- Tip: Upgrade to a steel pickaxe for faster mining.
Mid-Level Money Making Methods
Got some levels under your belt? These mid-tier methods offer better profits and variety, balancing effort and reward. They’re ideal for players with moderate stats (40-70) and a bit of game knowledge.
Flipping on the Grand Exchange (F2P/P2P)
Flipping involves buying low and selling high on the GE. It’s low-effort and scales with your cash stack.
- Requirements: 1M+ GP, market knowledge
- Profit: 500K-2M+ GP/hour
- How to Do It: Pick high-volume items (e.g., runes, ores, potions), buy below market price, and sell above. Test small batches first.
- Tip: Use GE Tracker or price-checking tools to spot trends.
Killing Chaos Druids (P2P)
Chaos Druids in Taverley Dungeon drop valuable herbs, making them a combat favorite for mid-levels.
- Requirements: 30+ Combat, access to Taverley Dungeon
- Profit: 200K-300K GP/hour
- How to Do It: Head to Taverley Dungeon, kill druids, loot herbs (e.g., ranarr, avantoe), and bank in Falador.
- Tip: Bring a teleport for quick banking.
Blast Furnace (P2P)
The Blast Furnace minigame combines Smithing training with decent profits.
- Requirements: 30+ Smithing, 1M+ GP
- Profit: 300K-500K GP/hour
- How to Do It: Buy ore (e.g., mithril, adamantite), smelt bars at the Blast Furnace in Keldagrim, and sell on the GE.
- Tip: Join a Blast Furnace world (e.g., World 358) for efficiency.
High-Level Money Making Methods
For players with advanced stats (70+), these methods unlock OSRS’s top-tier profits. They often require gear, skills, or quest completions, but the rewards are worth it.
Bossing: Zulrah (P2P)
Zulrah is a solo boss with consistent high-value drops like scales and uniques.
- Requirements: 80+ Combat stats, Regicide quest, decent gear (e.g., Trident, Void)
- Profit: 1.5M-2.5M GP/hour
- How to Do It: Teleport to Zul-Andra, fight Zulrah, and bank loot in Prifddinas or Clan Wars.
- Tip: Practice rotations to minimize deaths—watch a guide first!
Raids: Tombs of Amascut (P2P)
Tombs of Amascut (ToA) offers scalable difficulty and massive loot potential.
- Requirements: 85+ Combat stats, Beneath Cursed Sands quest
- Profit: 3M-12M GP/hour (depending on team and drops)
- How to Do It: Form a team, enter ToA in the Jaltevas Pyramid, and tackle the raid for loot like Masori armor or Tumeken’s Shadow.
- Tip: Solo runs are viable with high stats and practice.
Mining Runite Ore (P2P)
For skillers, mining runite ore is a high-profit, AFK-friendly option.
- Requirements: 85+ Mining, rune pickaxe
- Profit: 800K-1.2M GP/hour
- How to Do It: Mine runite rocks (e.g., Wilderness, Mining Guild), bank, and sell on the GE.
- Tip: Wear Varrock Armour for bonus ore chances.
Passive and AFK Money Making Methods
Short on time? Passive and AFK methods let you earn gold with minimal effort. These are perfect for multitasking or long-term gains.
Birdhouse Runs (P2P)
Birdhouse runs are a Hunter-based method that takes just minutes every hour.
- Requirements: 5+ Hunter, Bone Voyage quest, birdhouses
- Profit: 200K-300K GP/hour (spread over runs)
- How to Do It: Craft birdhouses, place them on Fossil Island, wait 50 minutes, harvest nests, and sell.
- Tip: Use digsite pendant for quick travel.
Managing Miscellania (P2P)
This passive method generates resources daily after completing quests.
- Requirements: Throne of Miscellania quest, 10M GP investment
- Profit: 50K-150K GP/day
- How to Do It: Invest gold in your kingdom, assign workers (e.g., coal, herbs), and collect rewards daily.
- Tip: Check GE prices to optimize worker allocation.
Tips to Maximize Your Profits
Ready to rake in the gold? Here are some pro tips to boost your efficiency and earnings across all methods.
Use the Right Gear and Tools
Upgrading your pickaxe, weapon, or armor can drastically improve your hourly rates. For example, a dragon pickaxe speeds up mining, while Void Knight gear boosts bossing efficiency.
Leverage the Grand Exchange
The GE is your best friend. Always check prices before selling—sometimes holding onto items until demand spikes can double your profits. Flipping also thrives here if you master market trends.
Combine Methods for Efficiency
Pair money-making with skilling or questing. For instance, mine runite while training Mining, or kill Chaos Druids while working toward Slayer goals.
| Method | Requirements | Profit (GP/hour) | F2P/P2P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collecting Cowhides | None | 50K-100K | F2P |
| Tanning Leather | 1M+ GP | 200K-400K | P2P |
| Flipping on GE | 1M+ GP | 500K-2M+ | F2P/P2P |
| Zulrah | 80+ Combat, Regicide | 1.5M-2.5M | P2P |
| Tombs of Amascut | 85+ Combat, Beneath Cursed Sands | 3M-12M | P2P |
Conclusion: OSRS offers endless ways to make money, from humble cowhide collecting to epic raids like Tombs of Amascut. Start with what suits your level and goals, then scale up as you grow. With patience and strategy, you’ll be swimming in gold by 2025. Happy grinding, adventurers!