Tanning cowhide

Introduction to Tanning Cowhide

Tanning cowhide in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a timeless and accessible money-making method that transforms raw cowhide into valuable leather or hard leather, offering players a straightforward way to earn gold pieces (gp). Ideal for both free-to-play (F2P) and pay-to-play (P2P) adventurers, this method requires minimal skills, a small initial investment, and leverages basic game mechanics to generate consistent profits. Whether you’re a beginner gathering cowhide from Lumbridge cows or a seasoned player buying in bulk from the Grand Exchange, tanning cowhide provides a scalable and reliable income stream that thrives on efficiency and market demand.

Requirements

Tanning cowhide is one of the most beginner-friendly money-making methods in OSRS due to its low entry barriers. It requires no specific skill levels, making it accessible to players fresh off Tutorial Island, though a few optional enhancements can streamline the process. Below is a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need to get started:

Membership Status: This method is viable in both F2P and P2P worlds. F2P players can tan cowhide profitably using basic locations like Al Kharid, while P2P players gain access to additional conveniences such as the Crafting Guild or teleports that speed up the process.
Initial Capital: You’ll need a modest amount of gold—typically 1,000 to 5,000 gp—to cover tanning fees and potentially purchase cowhide if you opt not to gather it yourself. This low startup cost ensures that even players with minimal wealth can participate.
Inventory Space: A standard inventory holds 28 items, which is perfect for carrying cowhide or tanned leather. If banking frequently, 27 slots are usable after reserving one for coins or teleport items.
Access to a Bank: Proximity to a bank is crucial for storing cowhide, withdrawing coins, and depositing tanned leather. Popular banks include Lumbridge Castle (F2P) and the Crafting Guild bank chest (P2P).
Access to Cows: If you’re collecting cowhide manually, you’ll need a location with cows. Common spots include the Lumbridge cow fields, Falador farm, or the Crafting Guild cow pen (P2P). Cows are low-level (Combat Level 2), requiring no advanced combat skills to kill.
Access to a Tanner: Tanning requires an NPC like Ellis in Al Kharid (F2P), the Tanner in the Crafting Guild (P2P with 40 Crafting), or Sbott in Canifis (P2P). These NPCs charge a small fee to process cowhide into leather or hard leather.
Optional Combat Levels: While not mandatory, having 10–20 Attack and Strength speeds up cow-killing for those gathering cowhide. A basic weapon like a bronze or iron sword suffices.
Optional Transportation: For efficiency, P2P players can use teleports such as the Lumbridge Teleport (Level 31 Magic), an Amulet of Glory (to Al Kharid), or the Al Kharid glider (unlocked via The Grand Tree quest). F2P players rely on walking or the Lumbridge Home Teleport (30-minute cooldown).

The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity and inclusivity. With just a handful of coins and access to basic game areas, anyone can begin tanning cowhide. As you gain experience and resources, small investments in teleports or higher combat levels can enhance your efficiency, but the core requirements remain minimal, making it an evergreen option for wealth-building.

Obtaining Cowhide

Acquiring cowhide is the foundation of this money-making method, and players have two primary options: gathering it by killing cows or purchasing it directly from the Grand Exchange. Each approach caters to different playstyles, time constraints, and financial situations, allowing flexibility in how you approach the process.

Killing Cows

Gathering cowhide manually is the go-to method for players with little starting capital or those looking to combine money-making with combat training. Cows drop cowhide 100% of the time, making them a reliable source. Here are the best locations and strategies:

Lumbridge Cow Fields: Located east of Lumbridge, this F2P spot is a classic for new players. It features multiple cows and is a short walk from the Lumbridge Castle bank. While often crowded, it’s perfect for beginners due to its accessibility.
Falador Farm: North of Port Sarim in F2P, this farm has cows and a deposit box nearby, reducing banking time. It’s less busy than Lumbridge, offering a quieter alternative.
Crafting Guild: For P2P players with 40 Crafting, the guild’s cow pen is ideal. It’s close to a bank chest and a tanner, creating a near-perfect loop for gathering and tanning.
Yanille: A P2P location with cows near a bank, suitable for players with access to this southern town. It’s less frequented but requires travel to reach.
Taverley: Another P2P option near Burthorpe, with cows and a bank nearby, though it’s slightly less efficient than the Crafting Guild.

To gather cowhide, equip a basic weapon, attack cows, and pick up the cowhide they drop. Each cow yields one hide, and with 28 inventory slots, you can collect a full load in minutes. Cows deal minimal damage (1–2 hitpoints), posing no real threat even to level 3 players. For added value, you can bury bones (Prayer XP) or cook meat (Cooking XP), though this slows your focus on cowhide collection. Aim for 100–200 hides per hour depending on competition and banking speed.

Buying Cowhide

For players with some gold to invest or those prioritizing time over effort, buying cowhide from the Grand Exchange is a faster route. Cowhide typically sells for 100–200 gp each, fluctuating with market trends. Purchasing in bulk—say, 1,000 cowhides at 150 gp each—costs 150,000 gp but eliminates gathering time. This method suits P2P players with teleports or those scaling up operations. To buy, visit the Grand Exchange in Varrock, search “cowhide,” and place a buy order slightly above the market price for a quick fill.

Hybrid Approach

Some players combine both methods: killing cows to build initial capital, then using profits to buy cowhide in bulk. This hybrid strategy balances cost and efficiency, transitioning from labor-intensive gathering to a streamlined tanning process as wealth grows.

Whether you grind it out in the cow fields or leverage the Grand Exchange, obtaining cowhide is the critical first step. Gathering offers zero-cost materials, while buying maximizes output—choose based on your goals and resources.

Tanning Process

With cowhide in hand, the tanning process turns raw materials into profitable leather or hard leather. This step involves interacting with a tanner NPC, who processes your hides for a small fee. Here’s a detailed guide to tanning:

Locate a Tanner:

Ellis in Al Kharid: The primary F2P tanner, located near the bank and furnace. A short walk from Lumbridge or a teleport (e.g., Amulet of Glory) gets you there fast.
Tanner in Crafting Guild: A P2P option requiring 40 Crafting, situated steps from cows and a bank chest, making it highly efficient.
Sbott in Canifis: A P2P tanner in Morytania, convenient for players near this region after completing Priest in Peril.
Other Tanners: Minor options like the Burthorpe tanner exist, but they’re less practical due to distance from banks.

Choose Your Product:

Leather: Costs 1 gp per cowhide to tan. Sells for 200–300 gp, offering a solid profit with minimal investment.
Hard Leather: Costs 3 gp per cowhide to tan. Sells for 250–350 gp, providing higher margins but requiring more upfront gold.

Tan the Cowhide:

Withdraw cowhide (unnoted if gathered, noted if bought) and enough coins for tanning fees (e.g., 28 gp for leather, 84 gp for hard leather per inventory).
Travel to the tanner. In Al Kharid, it’s a few steps north of the bank; in the Crafting Guild, it’s inside the building.
Right-click the tanner, select “Tan Hides,” and choose “Tan All” for your desired product. The process is instant, converting all cowhide in your inventory.
Pay attention to your cash stack—ensure you have enough gp to avoid interruptions.

Bank the Leather:

Return to the nearest bank (e.g., Al Kharid bank or Crafting Guild chest).
Deposit your tanned leather, withdraw more cowhide and coins, and repeat.

The tanning process is lightning-fast, taking seconds per inventory. Efficiency hinges on minimizing travel time: F2P players favor Al Kharid’s tight bank-tanner loop, while P2P players with 40 Crafting can exploit the Crafting Guild’s all-in-one setup. Teleports like the Amulet of Glory (P2P) or Lumbridge Home Teleport (F2P) further reduce downtime. For large batches, tanning 500–1,000 hides in one session cuts down on banking trips, boosting hourly output.

Selling Tanned Leather

Selling your tanned leather completes the money-making cycle, turning your efforts into gold. The Grand Exchange in Varrock is the most efficient marketplace due to its high traffic and ease of use. Here’s how to sell effectively:

Check Market Prices: Before selling, search “leather” or “hard leather” on the Grand Exchange to see current prices—typically 200–300 gp for leather and 250–350 gp for hard leather. Prices shift based on Crafting demand, so monitor trends.
Prepare Inventory: At a bank, note your tanned leather (right-click “Note” on the bank interface) to carry large quantities in one slot. Withdraw noted leather and head to Varrock.
Place Sell Offers: At the Grand Exchange, select an empty slot, choose your leather type, and set a sell price. Pricing 1 gp below the market value ensures a quick sale; for example, if leather is 250 gp, offer it at 249 gp.
Collect Profits: Once sold, collect your gp from the Grand Exchange clerk or bank interface. Bulk sales (e.g., 1,000 leathers) minimize trips.

Leather and hard leather enjoy steady demand from players crafting armor, shields, and other items, ensuring reliable sales. For maximum efficiency, tan and sell in large batches—500–1,000 units—rather than small, frequent trips. P2P players can use teleports (e.g., Ring of Wealth) to reach the Grand Exchange faster, while F2P players walk from Lumbridge or Falador.

Profitability in tanning cowhide depends on how you acquire cowhide, tanning costs, and market prices. Below is a detailed breakdown:

Gathered Cowhide

Cost: 0 gp (free from cows).
Tanning Fee: 1 gp (leather) or 3 gp (hard leather).
Sell Price: 250 gp (leather) or 300 gp (hard leather, example prices).
Profit per Hide: 249 gp (leather) or 297 gp (hard leather).
Per Inventory (28 hides): 6,972 gp (leather) or 8,316 gp (hard leather).

Bought Cowhide

Cost: 150 gp per cowhide (example GE price).
Tanning Fee: 1 gp or 3 gp.
Total Cost: 151 gp (leather) or 153 gp (hard leather).
Sell Price: 250 gp or 300 gp.
Profit per Hide: 99 gp (leather) or 147 gp (hard leather).
Per Inventory (28 hides): 2,772 gp (leather) or 4,116 gp (hard leather).

Hourly Estimates

Gathering Speed: Killing cows yields 100–200 cowhides per hour in busy areas, up to 300 in quieter spots like the Crafting Guild.
Tanning Speed: Tanning and banking 500–1,000 hides per hour is realistic with optimized routes.
Profits:
Gathered: 125k–300k gp/hour (leather: ~125k–250k; hard leather: ~150k–300k).
Bought: 50k–150k gp/hour (leather: ~50k–100k; hard leather: ~75k–150k).

Hard leather often edges out leather in profit per hide due to its higher sell price outweighing the extra 2 gp tanning cost. However, leather’s lower upfront cost makes it less risky during price dips. Check the Grand Exchange daily to pivot between products based on margins.

Tips and Efficiency

Maximize your tanning cowhide profits with these strategies:

Optimize Travel: Use teleports—Lumbridge Home Teleport (F2P), Amulet of Glory (P2P to Al Kharid), or Ring of Wealth (P2P to GE)—to cut downtime. In P2P, the Crafting Guild’s all-in-one setup is unmatched.
Bulk Processing: Tan and sell in batches of 500–1,000 to reduce banking and GE trips. Stockpile cowhide during off-hours if gathering.
Price Monitoring: Use the GE to track leather vs. hard leather margins daily. Switch products to chase higher profits.
Multi-Task: Train combat, Prayer (burying bones), or Cooking (meat) while killing cows, adding value to gathering trips.
P2P Advantages: Leverage the Crafting Guild (40 Crafting), Canifis (post-Priest in Peril), or teleports to outpace F2P efficiency.
Inventory Management: Carry noted cowhide and coins to tan on the go, reserving slots for teleports or emergency food if gathering.
Avoid Crowds: In F2P, try Falador farm over Lumbridge for fewer players. In P2P, the Crafting Guild rarely sees competition.

By refining your route and timing, tanning cowhide can evolve from a starter method into a steady goldmine, offering 100k–300k gp/hour with practice. Its simplicity and scalability keep it a staple in the OSRS economy.