A Professional Tool for Old School RuneScape Players
osrs herb run calculator
Calculate your profit from herb runs by selecting your herb, patches, and gear. This tool uses average yield data to provide a reliable estimate of your earnings per run.
Price for a single seed.
Price for a single grimy herb.
The total number of herb patches you will be using (1-10).
Ultracompost provides the best yield and disease prevention.
Select all the yield-boosting items and achievements you have.
Total Estimated Profit Per Run
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| Herb | Estimated Profit per Run | Required Level |
|---|
What is an OSRS Herb Run?
An OSRS herb run is a recurring, time-based activity in the game Old School RuneScape where players travel to various herb patches across the world to plant and harvest herbs. It is widely considered one of the most consistent and profitable low-effort money makers in OSRS. The core concept involves planting a valuable herb seed, waiting for it to grow (typically around 80 minutes), and then returning to harvest the herbs, which can be sold for a significant profit.
This activity is ideal for any player looking to supplement their income, as it can be done in short bursts between other activities like slayer tasks, questing, or bank standing. The profitability of an osrs herb run calculator depends heavily on efficiency, the number of patches unlocked, and using the right items to maximize yield.
OSRS Herb Run Formula and Explanation
While the exact number of herbs from a patch is random, we can calculate the average expected profit using a straightforward formula. This osrs herb run calculator uses this formula to give you a reliable estimate.
The basic formula is:
Total Profit = (Average Total Herbs Harvested × Herb Price) - (Number of Patches × Seed Price)
The most complex variable is the Average Total Herbs Harvested. This is determined by the average yield per patch multiplied by the number of patches. The average yield itself is influenced by several factors, which this calculator accounts for:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit (Auto-Inferred) | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compost Type | Affects the base minimum yield and chance of disease. | Categorical | None, Compost, Super, Ultra |
| Farming Level | Slightly increases the chance to not deplete a “harvest life” from a patch. | Level | 1-99 |
| Magic Secateurs | Provides a 10% bonus to herb yield. | Boolean / Percentage | +10% |
| Farming Cape | Provides a 5% bonus to herb yield when worn. | Boolean / Percentage | +5% |
| Diary Bonuses | Certain achievement diaries increase yield from specific patches. | Boolean / Percentage | +5% to +10% (patch specific) |
| Herb Choice | The specific herb being planted, which determines prices. | Categorical | Guam, Ranarr, Snapdragon, etc. |
Practical Examples
Let’s look at two common scenarios to understand how profits can vary. For more personalized results, refer to a detailed OSRS Farming Guide.
Example 1: Mid-Level Player Farming Ranarrs
A player with 7 herb patches, using Ultracompost and Magic Secateurs, decides to farm Ranarr Weed.
- Inputs:
- Herb: Ranarr Weed
- Seed Price: 25,000 GP
- Herb Price: 7,000 GP
- Patches: 7
- Bonuses: Magic Secateurs, Ultracompost
- Results (Estimated):
- Average herbs per patch: ~8.8
- Total Herbs Harvested: ~62
- Total Revenue: 62 * 7,000 = 434,000 GP
- Total Seed Cost: 7 * 25,000 = 175,000 GP
- Estimated Profit: 259,000 GP
Example 2: High-Level Player Farming Snapdragons
A maxed player with all 9 patches unlocked and all yield-boosting gear farms Snapdragon.
- Inputs:
- Herb: Snapdragon
- Seed Price: 45,000 GP
- Herb Price: 9,500 GP
- Patches: 9
- Bonuses: Magic Secateurs, Farming Cape, Ultracompost, Kandarin Diary
- Results (Estimated):
- Average herbs per patch: ~9.7
- Total Herbs Harvested: ~87
- Total Revenue: 87 * 9,500 = 826,500 GP
- Total Seed Cost: 9 * 45,000 = 405,000 GP
- Estimated Profit: 421,500 GP
How to Use This osrs herb run calculator
Using this tool is simple and designed to give you quick, actionable information for your farming runs.
- Select Herb: Choose the herb you plan to farm from the dropdown. This automatically fills the average seed and herb prices, but you can change them.
- Adjust Prices (GP): Check the current Grand Exchange prices for your chosen seed and grimy herb and enter them for the most accurate calculation.
- Enter Patch Count: Input the total number of herb patches you have unlocked and plan to use.
- Choose Compost: Select the type of compost you are using. Ultracompost is highly recommended.
- Select Bonuses: Check the boxes for any yield-boosting items and diaries you have.
- Review Results: The calculator instantly updates your total estimated profit, total herbs, revenue, and cost. The chart and table below will also update automatically.
Key Factors That Affect Herb Run Profit
Maximizing your profit from herb runs involves controlling several key variables. Being aware of these will help you make better decisions and increase your GP per hour.
- Herb Choice: The profit margin between the seed cost and herb price is the single most important factor. This changes daily with market fluctuations, so an osrs herb run calculator is vital for checking profitability.
- Number of Patches: The more patches you use, the higher your total profit. Unlocking all available patches through quests like My Arm’s Big Adventure is crucial.
- Compost Type: Ultracompost is non-negotiable for serious herb runners. It not only increases the minimum number of herbs but also dramatically reduces the chance of disease.
- Yield Boosts: Items like Magic Secateurs (+10%) and the Farming Cape (+5%), plus diary rewards, provide a direct and significant boost to your harvest and should always be used.
- Farming Level: A higher Farming level provides a small but noticeable increase in the chance to save a “harvest life” from a patch, resulting in more herbs over time. It’s a core part of any OSRS 1-99 Farming guide.
- Market Volatility: Grand Exchange prices for seeds and herbs can swing wildly. Always check prices before investing in a large number of seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the best herb to farm for profit?
- This changes constantly. Generally, high-level herbs like Ranarr, Snapdragon, and Torstol are the most profitable. Use this osrs herb run calculator with current GE prices to be sure.
- How many herb patches are there in OSRS?
- There are 9 standard herb patches and a 10th disease-free patch in the Farming Guild (requiring 85 Farming). Unlocking all of them is key.
- Do my herbs always die without compost?
- Not always, but the chance of disease is significantly higher. Using at least Supercompost, and ideally Ultracompost, is a vital investment to protect your seeds.
- How important are Magic Secateurs?
- Extremely important. They provide a flat 10% bonus to your herb yield. The return on investment from the “Fairy Tale I – Growing Pains” quest is massive.
- How long does a herb run take?
- An efficient run with good teleports takes 5-7 minutes. Since herbs take about 80 minutes to grow, you can perform several runs per day.
- Should I use a bottomless compost bucket?
- If you plan on doing many herb runs, yes. The bottomless compost bucket saves a significant amount of money on Ultracompost over time and is a top-tier upgrade.
- Is it worth it to do runs with only a few patches?
- Yes, even with just the 4-5 easily accessible patches, herb runs are a decent source of income and one of the best money makers OSRS offers for new accounts.
- Why does this calculator use average yield?
- The number of herbs from a patch is random. Using a statistically-backed average provides a much more reliable long-term profit estimate than hoping for a lucky harvest every time.