OSRS Herb Profit Calculator

Calculate your Old School RuneScape herb farming profits accurately and efficiently. Optimize your runs for maximum GP!

Herb Data & Profitability

Herb	GE Buy Price	GE Sell Price	Profit Per Herb	Profit Per Inventory (10 plants)

What is the OSRS Herb Profit Calculator?

The OSRS Herb Profit Calculator is a specialized tool designed for players of Old School RuneScape. It helps farmers determine the profitability of growing various herbs by calculating the potential profit per inventory, per plant, and per herb. This calculator takes into account the fluctuating Grand Exchange (GE) prices for buying seeds/herbs and selling the harvested produce, along with the costs associated with farming, such as composts and potentially other consumables. Understanding these figures is crucial for optimizing your time and resources in one of RuneScape’s most popular non-combat skills: Farming.

Who should use it?

• Players aiming to train their Farming skill efficiently while making a profit.
• Players looking to maximize their Old School RuneScape GP through passive or active farming methods.
• Anyone curious about the current market value and profitability of different herb types.
• Players who want to compare the effectiveness of Supercompost versus Ultracompost.

Common Misconceptions:

• Profit is always guaranteed: While the calculator aims for accuracy, GE prices are volatile. Sudden market shifts can impact actual profits.
• Yield is always fixed: The calculator uses averages and bonuses; actual yields can vary slightly due to RNG (Random Number Generation).
• This calculator accounts for everything: It doesn’t include the cost of seeds, ultracompost *unless specified*, or other consumables like the Stamina potions needed for faster runs. Always factor in all potential expenses.

OSRS Herb Profit Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The core of the OSRS Herb Profit Calculator relies on a series of calculations to determine the net profit from farming herbs. Here’s a breakdown of the formula and its components:

1. Yield Bonus Calculation:

Farming level directly influences the amount of herbs you get per plant. The bonus increases up to level 99.

Yield Bonus (%) = MIN(Farming Level, 99) / 100 * 5%

For example, at Farming level 99, the bonus is 0.99 * 5% = 4.95%.

2. Effective Yield Calculation:

This combines the base yield with the calculated farming level bonus.

Effective Yield per Plant = Base Yield * (1 + (Yield Bonus (%) / 100))

3. Cost Per Plant Calculation:

This sums up all the input costs associated with tending to a single plant.

Cost Per Plant = Supercompost Cost + Ultracompost Cost + Pouches Cost

(Note: If using both Super and Ultracompost, you’d add both costs. The calculator assumes you use one or the other, or none. If you want to use both, adjust the input logic accordingly. Typically, players choose one or the other.)

4. Profit Per Plant Calculation:

This is the net profit generated from a single plant after accounting for buying price and farming costs.

Profit Per Plant = (Effective Yield per Plant * Herb Sell Price) - (Herb Buy Price + Cost Per Plant)

5. Total Profit Calculation (Per Inventory/Patch):

This scales the profit per plant to the total number of plants in a farming patch.

Total Profit = Profit Per Plant * Number of Plants in Patch

Variable Explanations:

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Herb Name	The specific herb being farmed (e.g., Ranarr Weed).	N/A	See dropdown list
Herb Buy Price	Grand Exchange price to buy one unit of the herb (often used for seed prices, though seeds vary). This calculator assumes it’s the cost basis per “unit” of herb yield.	GP	10 – 10,000+ GP
Herb Sell Price	Grand Exchange price to sell one unit of the harvested herb.	GP	100 – 15,000+ GP
Base Yield	The standard number of herbs harvested from a single plant without any bonuses.	Herbs per plant	2 – 5 (varies by herb, typically 3-4)
Farming Level	Player’s current level in the Farming skill.	Level	1 – 99
Yield Bonus	Percentage increase in herb yield based on Farming level.	%	0% – ~5%
Effective Yield	Actual number of herbs harvested per plant, including the yield bonus.	Herbs per plant	2 – 6 (approx)
Supercompost Cost	Cost of using Supercompost per plant.	GP per plant	~200 – 400 GP (based on GE price)
Ultracompost Cost	Cost of using Ultracompost per plant.	GP per plant	~500 – 1000 GP (based on GE price)
Pouches Cost	Cost of using Farming Pouches (if applicable) per plant.	GP per plant	0 – 100 GP (approx)
Cost Per Plant	Total combined cost of consumables per plant.	GP per plant	Varies greatly based on compost usage.
Profit Per Plant	Net profit generated from a single harvested plant.	GP per plant	Can be positive or negative.
Number of Plants	Number of planting spots in the herb patch.	Plants	Typically 10
Total Profit	Overall profit for a full farming patch run.	GP	Varies greatly.

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Let’s illustrate the OSRS Herb Profit Calculator with practical scenarios:

Example 1: Farming Ranarr Weeds with Supercompost

A player wants to farm Ranarr Weeds for profit. They are level 90 Farming and decide to use Supercompost.

• Herb Name: Ranarr Weed
• Herb Buy Price (GE): 1,800 GP (representing seed cost/value)
• Herb Sell Price (GE): 2,500 GP
• Base Yield Per Plant: 3 Herbs
• Farming Level: 90
• Supercompost Cost Per Plant: 380 GP
• Ultracompost Cost Per Plant: 0 GP
• Pouches Cost Per Plant: 0 GP
• Number of Plants in Patch: 10

Calculation Steps:

• Yield Bonus: 90 / 100 * 5% = 4.5%
• Effective Yield: 3 * (1 + 0.045) = 3.135 Herbs per plant
• Cost Per Plant: 380 GP (Supercompost)
• Profit Per Plant: (3.135 * 2500) – (1800 + 380) = 7837.5 – 2180 = 5657.5 GP
• Total Profit (Per Inventory/Patch): 5657.5 * 10 = 56,575 GP

Financial Interpretation: Farming Ranarr Weeds with Supercompost at level 90 provides a substantial profit of over 56,000 GP per patch, making it a highly lucrative activity.

Example 2: Farming Torstols with Ultracompost and Pouches

Another player, aiming for maximum yield and profit, is level 99 Farming and uses Ultracompost and Farming Pouches for Torstols.

• Herb Name: Torstol
• Herb Buy Price (GE): 6,500 GP (representing seed cost/value)
• Herb Sell Price (GE): 9,000 GP
• Base Yield Per Plant: 4 Herbs
• Farming Level: 99
• Supercompost Cost Per Plant: 0 GP
• Ultracompost Cost Per Plant: 850 GP
• Pouches Cost Per Plant: 75 GP
• Number of Plants in Patch: 10

Calculation Steps:

• Yield Bonus: 99 / 100 * 5% = 4.95%
• Effective Yield: 4 * (1 + 0.0495) = 4.198 Herbs per plant
• Cost Per Plant: 850 (Ultracompost) + 75 (Pouches) = 925 GP
• Profit Per Plant: (4.198 * 9000) – (6500 + 925) = 37782 – 7425 = 30357 GP
• Total Profit (Per Inventory/Patch): 30357 * 10 = 303,570 GP

Financial Interpretation: Even with higher initial costs for Ultracompost and Torstol seeds, the combination yields an impressive profit of over 300,000 GP per patch. This highlights the importance of high-level farming and optimal resource usage for maximizing OSRS GP gains.

How to Use This OSRS Herb Profit Calculator

Using the OSRS Herb Profit Calculator is straightforward and designed to provide quick, actionable insights.

1. Select Herb: Choose the herb you intend to farm from the dropdown menu. This pre-fills some typical data and sets the context.
2. Enter GE Prices: Input the current ‘Buy’ price for the herb/seed and the ‘Sell’ price for the harvested herb. You can find these on the Grand Exchange interface in-game or via OSRS GE tracking websites.
3. Input Farming Details: Enter your current Farming Level, the average Yield Per Plant (consult OSRS Wiki for accurate base yields), and the Number of Plants in the patch (usually 10).
4. Specify Compost & Pouch Costs: Accurately enter the cost per plant for any composts (Supercompost or Ultracompost) and Farming Pouches you plan to use. If you don’t use them, enter 0.
5. Click ‘Calculate Profit’: Once all fields are populated, click the button. The calculator will instantly update the results.
6. Interpret Results:
   • Main Result (Profit Per Inventory): This is your primary profit figure for a full farming patch run (all plants).
   • Intermediate Values: These show the Yield Bonus, Effective Yield per plant, Total Herbs harvested, and Cost per plant, offering a deeper understanding of the calculation.
   • Profit Per Plant: Useful for quick per-plant comparisons.
7. Decision Making: Compare the ‘Profit Per Inventory’ figures for different herbs and compost methods to decide which is most profitable for your current goals and resources. The chart also helps visualize profit potential across different farming levels.
8. Reset: Use the ‘Reset Defaults’ button to clear current entries and re-enter data, or to revert to the pre-filled values.
9. Copy Results: Click ‘Copy Results’ to copy the calculated profit figures and key assumptions to your clipboard, useful for sharing or noting down your findings.

Key Factors That Affect OSRS Herb Profit Results

Several factors significantly influence the profitability of herb farming in Old School RuneScape. Understanding these can help you make better decisions and maximize your OSRS GP:

1. Grand Exchange Prices: This is the most volatile factor. Herb prices fluctuate based on supply (player farming activity) and demand (use in Potion making, other PVM/skilling needs). Always check current GE prices before and during farming. A high sell price drastically increases profit, while a low buy price (for seeds) reduces costs.
2. Farming Level: As demonstrated, higher Farming levels grant a yield bonus, increasing the number of herbs harvested per plant without additional cost. This directly boosts profit margins, making high-level farming exceptionally rewarding.
3. Compost Usage: Using Supercompost or Ultracompost increases yield and reduces the chance of disease, respectively. While Ultracompost is more expensive, its higher yield bonus (compared to Supercompost) and disease prevention can lead to greater net profit, especially for valuable herbs, provided the GE sell price justifies the cost.
4. Herb Type: Different herbs have vastly different GE prices and base yields. High-tier herbs like Torstol and Snapdragon are generally more profitable per inventory slot than lower-tier herbs like Guam Leaf, though their seeds are also more expensive.
5. Pouches and Other Consumables: The use of Farming Pouches can slightly increase yield and reduce the chance of plants dying. If these have a GE price, their cost must be factored into the ‘Cost Per Plant’. Other consumables like Stamina potions for faster travel also represent an indirect cost.
6. Seed Prices vs. Herb Prices: The calculator uses ‘Herb Buy Price’ as a proxy for seed cost. The margin between the cost of acquiring the seeds/seedlings and the selling price of the harvested herbs is the fundamental driver of profitability. A large margin makes farming lucrative.
7. RNG (Random Number Generation): While the calculator uses averages, actual results can vary slightly. Plants might die (reducing yield), or you might get slightly more or fewer herbs than the calculated ‘Effective Yield’.
8. Time Investment vs. Profit: Some herbs require more frequent visits or have longer growth cycles. While the calculator focuses on pure GP profit, the ‘profit per hour’ might be a more relevant metric for some players, factoring in the time spent traveling, planting, and harvesting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does the calculator include the cost of seeds?

A: The ‘Herb Buy Price’ field is intended to represent the cost of acquiring the herb seeds or seedlings. For simplicity and because seed prices fluctuate independently, players should input the current GE price of the seeds they are using into this field.

Q2: What is the difference between Supercompost and Ultracompost for profit?

A: Supercompost slightly increases the base yield. Ultracompost significantly increases the base yield AND prevents plants from dying. The calculator helps you weigh the higher cost of Ultracompost against its benefits based on current GE prices.

Q3: Can I use this calculator for Magic Trees or other Farming runs?

A: This specific calculator is optimized for herbs. While the underlying principles of yield and cost apply, calculating profit for trees, hops, or fruit trees requires different input parameters (e.g., log/fruit prices, different yields, longer growth times) and is not directly supported by this tool.

Q4: My profit per plant is negative. What does that mean?

A: A negative profit per plant indicates that the combined cost of seeds and consumables is higher than the revenue generated from selling the harvested herbs. In such cases, farming that specific herb under those conditions is not profitable for making GP.

Q5: How accurate is the ‘Yield Bonus’?

A: The formula used (Level/100 * 5%) is the standard in-game mechanic for Farming level yield bonuses up to level 99. The calculator applies this accurately.

Q6: Should I always use Ultracompost for maximum profit?

A: Not necessarily. While Ultracompost offers the best yield, its higher cost means you must compare the ‘Profit Per Inventory’ generated using Ultracompost versus Supercompost. For very high-value herbs, Ultracompost is often worth it. For lower-value herbs, Supercompost might be more cost-effective.

Q7: What if the GE price changes drastically?

A: You should re-run the calculation with the updated GE prices. The calculator provides a snapshot based on current market conditions. Profitability is dynamic.

Q8: Can I input custom yield values?

A: The ‘Yield Per Plant’ field allows for customization. If you have specific knowledge or want to test scenarios with different yields, you can override the typical values. However, for standard calculations, refer to the OSRS Wiki for accurate base yields.

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