Smithing XP & Profit Calculator
Smithing Efficiency Chart
Comparison of XP/hour vs. GP/XP for the selected smithing method (current inputs).
What is Smithing in OSRS?
The Smithing skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) allows players to craft a wide array of metal items, from weapons and armour to tools and utility items, using metal bars. It's a cornerstone skill for many combat-oriented accounts, providing essential gear, and can also be a significant source of income or a substantial money sink, depending on the chosen method.
This skill is vital for players looking to create their own equipment, complete quests, or engage in profitable activities like manufacturing cannonballs. Whether you're aiming for the prestigious level 99 Smithing cape or just need to craft a few items, understanding the costs and experience rates is crucial.
Common misunderstandings often revolve around the trade-off between XP rates and profitability. Methods that offer the highest XP per hour (like Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace) are often expensive, while profitable methods (like Cannonballs) might be slower for XP. This smithing osrs calculator aims to clarify these trade-offs, providing a clear picture of your investment.
OSRS Smithing Calculator Formula and Explanation
Our OSRS Smithing Calculator uses a series of formulas to estimate the resources, time, and cost/profit for your desired Smithing levels. Understanding these equations can help you make informed decisions:
- Total XP Needed: This is the difference between the XP required to reach your target level and your current XP.
Total XP Needed = XP to reach Target Level - XP to reach Current Level - Items to Smith: Once you know the total XP, you can determine how many individual items you need to craft.
Items to Smith = Total XP Needed / XP per Item - Bars Required: Each item requires a specific number of bars.
Bars Required = Items to Smith * Bars per Item - Total GP Cost / Profit: This is the net financial impact, accounting for material costs and potential earnings from selling finished products.
Total GP Cost/Profit = (Items to Smith * Product Price) - (Bars Required * Bar Price) - Estimated Time: Calculated based on your estimated actions per hour.
Estimated Time (Hours) = Items to Smith / Actions Per Hour
Here's a table explaining the key variables used in this smithing osrs calculator:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Smithing Level | Your character's current Smithing level. | Levels | 1-99 |
| Target Smithing Level | The desired Smithing level you aim to achieve. | Levels | 1-99 |
| Smithing Method | The specific item or process chosen for training (e.g., Steel Platebodies, Cannonballs). | Method | Varies |
| Bar Price | The Grand Exchange price of the primary raw material (e.g., Steel Bar, Gold Ore). | GP (Gold Pieces) | 50-20,000+ |
| Product Price | The Grand Exchange price of the finished item (e.g., Steel Platebody, 4 Cannonballs). | GP (Gold Pieces) | 50-30,000+ |
| Actions Per Hour | An estimate of how many items you can smith in one hour, depending on the method and your focus. | Items/Hour | 500-7000 |
Practical Examples
Let's look at a few scenarios to demonstrate how this smithing osrs calculator can be used:
Example 1: Efficient 99 Smithing with Steel Platebodies
You want to go from Level 60 to 99 Smithing using Steel Platebodies, a common method for decent XP and manageable costs. You estimate crafting 1000 platebodies per hour.
- Inputs: Current Level = 60, Target Level = 99, Method = Steel Platebody, Steel Bar Price = 400 GP, Steel Platebody Price = 600 GP, Actions Per Hour = 1000.
- Results:
- Total XP Needed: ~12,390,000 XP
- Items to Smith: ~66,080 Steel Platebodies
- Bars Required: ~330,400 Steel Bars
- Estimated Time: ~66 hours
- Total GP Cost: ~6,608,000 GP
Interpretation: This shows a significant cost but a relatively fast path to 99 Smithing. If the Steel Platebody price rises above the cost of 5 Steel Bars, this could even become profitable.
Example 2: Profitable Cannonball Smithing
You're at Level 70 Smithing and want to make some money while gaining XP by smithing Cannonballs. You estimate a high rate of 2000 actions per hour.
- Inputs: Current Level = 70, Target Level = 75, Method = Cannonballs (Steel), Steel Bar Price = 400 GP, Price of 4 Cannonballs = 500 GP, Actions Per Hour = 2000.
- Results:
- Total XP Needed: ~360,000 XP
- Items to Smith: ~14,063 actions (56,252 Cannonballs)
- Bars Required: ~14,063 Steel Bars
- Estimated Time: ~7 hours
- Total GP Profit: ~1,406,300 GP
Interpretation: Cannonballs can be highly profitable, especially with a high actions per hour rate. This example demonstrates turning a profit while working towards a target level. Note that "Items to Smith" here refers to the number of times you smith 4 cannonballs.
Example 3: Fast XP with Gold Bars (Blast Furnace)
You're at Level 40 Smithing and want the fastest XP possible to reach Level 60, using Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace. You estimate 5000 actions per hour.
- Inputs: Current Level = 40, Target Level = 60, Method = Gold Bars (Blast Furnace), Gold Ore Price = 200 GP, Gold Bar Price = 300 GP, Actions Per Hour = 5000.
- Results:
- Total XP Needed: ~2,500,000 XP
- Items to Smith: ~44,484 Gold Bars
- Bars Required: ~44,484 Gold Ore
- Estimated Time: ~9 hours
- Total GP Profit: ~4,448,400 GP
Interpretation: Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace offer very high XP rates and can often be profitable, especially with accurate price inputs and efficient play. The "Bars Required" here refers to Gold Ore.
How to Use This OSRS Smithing Calculator
Using the OSRS Smithing Calculator is straightforward:
- Enter Your Levels: Input your current Smithing level and your desired target level (1-99).
- Select Your Method: Choose from the dropdown menu the specific item you plan to smith (e.g., Steel Platebody, Cannonballs, Gold Bars). The calculator will automatically suggest default prices, but these are estimates.
- Update Prices: Crucially, enter the current Grand Exchange (GE) prices for the raw material (Bar Price) and the finished product (Product Price). GE prices fluctuate constantly, so always check before committing to a method.
- Estimate Actions Per Hour: Provide an estimate of how many items you can craft per hour. This rate varies significantly based on the method, your focus, and whether you're using efficient techniques like 1.5-tick smithing or the Blast Furnace.
- Click "Calculate": The results will instantly appear, showing your total XP needed, items to smith, bars required, estimated time, and the overall GP cost or profit.
- Interpret Results: A positive "Total GP Cost / Profit" means you'll make money, while a negative number indicates it will cost you. Use the estimated time to plan your training sessions.
- Reset if Needed: The "Reset" button will clear all fields and set them back to their default values, allowing you to start a new calculation.
Key Factors That Affect OSRS Smithing
Several factors can significantly influence your OSRS Smithing journey, impacting both efficiency and cost:
- Grand Exchange Price Fluctuations: The prices of ores, bars, and finished products on the Grand Exchange are constantly changing. A method profitable one day might be a money sink the next. Always check current prices before buying materials. This is why our smithing osrs calculator relies on user-inputted prices.
- Smithing Level Requirements: Higher Smithing levels unlock more efficient or profitable items. For instance, you can't smith a Rune Platebody until level 93. Planning your progression to unlock better methods is key.
- Method Choice (XP vs. Profit vs. AFK):
- Fastest XP: Often involves Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace or high-tier platebodies (e.g., Rune Platebodies). These can be expensive but offer rapid experience.
- Most Profitable: Cannonballs are a classic example, offering moderate XP but consistent profit. Dart tips can also be profitable.
- AFK (Away From Keyboard): Methods like making Platebodies (less click-intensive than cannonballs) or even smelting certain bars can be more AFK-friendly, though generally slower XP.
- Actions Per Hour (Efficiency): Your actual crafting speed plays a huge role in time estimates. Using a banking preset, being near an anvil, and minimizing distractions can significantly boost your hourly output. Blast Furnace methods are often much faster than anvil smithing.
- Boosts and Equipment:
- Smithing Outfit: The full Prospector outfit (from Motherlode Mine) and the Varrock armour (from Varrock Achievement Diary) offer XP bonuses.
- Smithing Skillcape: Provides a chance to save a bar when smithing.
- Dwarven Stout (m): Boosts Smithing level temporarily, allowing access to higher-level items earlier.
- Membership Status: Free-to-Play (F2P) players have limited options, primarily Bronze and Iron items. Members (P2P) unlock the vast majority of profitable and high-XP methods, including the Blast Furnace.
Frequently Asked Questions about OSRS Smithing
Q: What is the fastest smithing method in OSRS?
A: Generally, smithing Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace (requires 40 Smithing) is considered the fastest XP method, offering upwards of 300,000 XP per hour for efficient players. High-tier platebodies (Adamant, Rune) can also provide very fast XP but are more click-intensive at an anvil.
Q: What is the most profitable smithing method in OSRS?
A: Smithing Cannonballs (requires 35 Smithing) is a consistently profitable and popular method, though it's relatively slow for XP. Other methods like high-level Dart Tips or even certain bars at the Blast Furnace can also be profitable depending on GE prices.
Q: How much does 99 Smithing cost?
A: The cost of 99 Smithing varies wildly based on the method chosen and current Grand Exchange prices. Fast methods can cost tens of millions of GP, while some slower methods can break even or even turn a profit. Our smithing osrs calculator will give you a precise estimate based on your inputs.
Q: Can I make money with OSRS Smithing?
A: Yes, absolutely! Methods like Cannonball smithing, certain dart tips, or even smelting specific bars at the Blast Furnace can be profitable. However, profitability depends entirely on the current GE prices of raw materials versus finished products. Always use a tool like this smithing osrs calculator with up-to-date prices.
Q: What are good AFK smithing methods?
A: Methods that involve fewer clicks per item, such as smithing platebodies at an anvil or even just smelting bars (though less XP), tend to be more AFK-friendly. Cannonball smithing is somewhat AFK but requires more attention than some other options.
Q: How often should I update prices in the calculator?
A: Grand Exchange prices can fluctuate frequently, sometimes even hourly during peak times. For critical calculations or large-scale training, it's best to check and update prices immediately before you begin buying materials.
Q: Why are my calculated profits different from actual earnings?
A: Discrepancies can occur due to several reasons: price fluctuations between when you calculate and when you sell, Grand Exchange tax (1% on sales over 100k GP), or slight variations in your actual actions per hour compared to your estimate. The calculator provides an accurate estimate based on the inputs you provide at that moment.
Q: Does this calculator account for all boosts and perks?
A: The calculator primarily focuses on base XP rates and material consumption. It does not directly account for XP boosts from outfits or bar-saving perks like the Smithing skillcape. However, you can adjust the "Actions Per Hour" input to reflect your overall efficiency, which might indirectly include the effects of some boosts.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Enhance your Old School RuneScape experience with these related tools and guides:
- OSRS Fletching Calculator: Plan your Fletching training and profit.
- OSRS Herblore Calculator: Master potion making with cost and XP estimates.
- OSRS Farming Calculator: Optimize your farming runs for maximum profit and XP.
- OSRS Money Making Guide: Discover various ways to earn GP in Gielinor.
- All OSRS Skill Calculators: A comprehensive list of calculators for every OSRS skill.
- OSRS Wiki - Smithing Guide: The official Old School RuneScape Wiki guide for Smithing (external link).