Calculator:Herblore/Efficient Profit

This calculator shows profit/losses from training the Herblore skill efficiently. This calculator assumes that you are making potions from grimy herbs, using a Portable well, have the Scroll of cleansing, and are decanting into Potion flasks. These numbers are estimates based on the likelihood of the effects of the portable well and the scroll of cleansing, but they are quite reliable. Untradeable potions and potions requiring untradeable ingredients are omitted as this guide/calculator is designed for bulk training with concern for profit.

Reasoning:

Grimy herbs: Grimy herbs are frequently cheaper than their clean alternatives and the experience from cleaning them is not negligible, as opposed to making unfinished potions. If profit/expenditure is your main concern, cleaning your own herbs and making your own unfinished potions is worth the time.

Portable well: The portable well boosts Herblore experience by 10% and gives a 5% chance of making an extra potion. This 5% is applied when making unfinished potions and again when finishing potions with secondary ingredients. Portable wells are frequently hosted at the Lumbridge Market, which you can use at no cost to you, though it is nice to help out the community by deploying some portable wells that you have purchased.

Scroll of cleansing: The scroll of cleansing can be purchased from rewards trader in Daemonheim for 20,000 Dungeoneering tokens. The scroll gives a 12.5% chance that a potion will be created twice as fast as usual. The scroll also gives a 10% chance of salvaging a herb added to a vial of water and salvaging a secondary ingredient when added to an unfinished potion.

Decanting to potion flasks: Decanting to flasks does not always increase profit. To see if decanting is profitable, check the Calculator:Herblore/Flask decanting page. However, decanting to flasks can be done for free, in bulk (noted items), and almost instantly with the help of Teplin Macagan after completion of As a First Resort. Because this can be done so quickly, can be immensely profitable, and if profit is your motive, I highly suggest only making potions which are profitable to decant. Note that the Grand Exchange limits players to buying 1,000 potion flasks per 4 hours. This means that a maximum of 6,000 flasks can be purchased during 1 day under optimal circumstances.

Process (standard potions):

The following is the process to replicate (as close as possible) the optimal calculations shown in the below table. Buying 1,000 herbs was used as a way to calculate more accurate averages for the sake of representation. With smaller sample sizes, results will vary more widely, but over time will average out to the calculations shown in the below table.

1. Buy 1,000 grimy variants of the herb for your selected potion. Herbs can be slower to purchase at GE market prices, but the more profitable potions can still turn a significant profit even while buying herbs at higher-than-market price.

2. Clean your grimy herbs. This is done fastest by setting a bank preset for quick withdrawing.

3. Find a world where a portable well is being hosted. This information can be found by searching for 'portable locations' in the RuneScape forums.

4. Add your herbs to vials of water using the portable well. By adding 1,000 herbs to vials of water, you will yield (on average) 1050 unfinished potions due to the effect of the portable well. Due to the effect of the scroll of cleansing, you will have saved (on average) 100 herbs. By adding those 100 herbs to vials of water, you will yield (on average) 105 unfinished potions and saved (on average) 10 herbs. By adding those 10 herbs to vials of water, you will yield (on average) 10 unfinished potions and saved (on average) 1 herb. This herb (on average) will make 1 unfinished potion and will not be saved. This process will yield in total, and of course on average, 1,166 unfinished potions and use 1,111 vials of water.

5. Due to the 10% chance to save secondary ingredients, your 1,166 unfinished potions will require (on average) 1,060 secondary ingredients. (1,060 * 1.1 = 1,166) Buy a little more than this amount (to avoid having to go back to the Grand exchange) and add them to your unfinished potions at the portable well. The 5% chance to make an extra potion will be applied again over this process at the portable well. This will yield (on average) 1,224 finished 3-dose potions.

6. Buy 612 (half the amount of your 3-dose potions rounded down) Potion flasks at the Grand exchange. Bring your noted potion flasks and noted 3-dose potions to Teplin Macagan and have him decant your potions into your flasks. Sell these flasks at the grand exchange. It may take some time for your flasks to sell at market prices, but again the more profitable potions may still turn a significant profit even selling at a little lower than market price.

• (*) The column "gain" shows Profit * (Experience^Sigma), where Sigma the sign of Profit (Sigma = Profit/abs(Profit)). This way, if making the potion leads to a loss the column show gp/xp (how much money is spent per experience). However, if a profit is made, the column shows the product of Profit and Experience, such that the potion which maximizes both gp and xp ranks the highest.

	Potion	Level Req.	XP	Cost of Initial Ingredients	Cost of 1060 Secondary Ingredients	Total Cost of 1224 Potions	Price of 1224 Potions	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased (no flasks)	Cost of 612 Potion Flasks	Total Cost	Price of 612 Full Flasks	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased	Gain*
	Attack potion	1	25	1000 X Grimy guam 605,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 674,993	1060 X Eye of newt 12,720	687,713	1224 X Attack potion (3) 510,408	-177.3	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	9,423,401	612 X Attack flask (6) 4,413,132	-5,010.27	-200.41
	Ranging potion	3	30	1000 X Grimy guam 605,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 674,993	1060 X Redberries 899,940	1,574,933	1224 X Ranging potion (3) 1,745,424	170.49	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	10,310,621	612 X Ranging flask (6) 7,672,644	-2,637.98	-87.93
	Magic potion	5	35	1000 X Grimy tarromin 193,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 262,993	1060 X Yellow bead 987,920	1,250,913	1224 X Magic potion (3) 1,629,144	378.23	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	9,986,601	612 X Magic flask (6) 6,670,188	-3,316.41	-94.75
	Strength potion	7	4	1000 X Grimy tarromin 193,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 262,993	1060 X Limpwurt root 5,004,260	5,267,253	1224 X Strength potion (3) 1,100,376	-4,166.88	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	14,002,941	612 X Strength flask (6) 5,687,316	-8,315.62	-2078.91
	Defence potion	9	45	1000 X Grimy marrentill 7,946,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 8,015,993	1060 X Bear fur 784,400	8,800,393	1224 X Defence potion (3) 3,694,032	-5,106.36	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	17,536,081	612 X Defence flask (6) 7,342,164	-10,193.92	-226.53
	Antipoison	13	50	1000 X Grimy marrentill 7,946,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 8,015,993	1060 X Unicorn horn dust 3,355,960	11,371,953	1224 X Antipoison (3) 489,600	-10,882.35	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	20,107,641	612 X Antipoison flask (6) 8,528,220	-11,579.42	-231.59
	Guthix rest	18	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Clean marrentill 8,988,800	10,109,793	1224 X Guthix rest (3) 1,089,360	-9,020.43	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	18,845,481	612 X Guthix rest flask (6) 24,410,844	5,565.36	331139.1
	Restore potion	22	62.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 3,663,360	4,784,353	1224 X Restore potion (3) 323,136	-4,461.22	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	13,520,041	612 X Restore flask (6) 6,537,996	-6,982.04	-111.71
	Energy potion	26	67.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Chocolate dust 624,340	1,745,333	1224 X Energy potion (3) 653,616	-1,091.72	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	10,481,021	612 X Energy flask (6) 7,375,212	-3,105.81	-46.01
	Agility potion	34	80	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,910,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 10,979,993	1060 X Toad's legs 1,650,420	12,630,413	1224 X Agility potion (3) 452,880	-12,177.53	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	21,366,101	612 X Agility flask (6) 6,480,468	-14,885.63	-186.07
	Combat potion	36	84	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Goat horn dust 2,200,560	3,321,553	1224 X Combat potion (3) 447,984	-2,873.57	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	12,057,241	612 X Combat flask (6) 6,793,812	-5,263.43	-62.66
	Prayer potion	38	87.5	1000 X Grimy ranarr 4,394,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 4,463,993	1060 X Snape grass 268,180	4,732,173	1224 X Prayer potion (3) 6,476,184	1,744.01	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	13,467,861	612 X Prayer flask (6) 15,990,336	2,522.48	220716.56
	Summoning potion	40	92	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 17,099,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 17,168,993	1060 X Cockatrice egg 7,337,320	24,506,313	1224 X Summoning potion (3) 28,068,768	3,562.46	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	33,242,001	612 X Summoning flask (6) 35,439,696	2,197.7	202187.94
	Divination potion	43	97.5	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 17,099,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 17,168,993	1060 X Rabbit foot 10,028,660	27,197,653	1224 X Divination potion (3) 30,128,760	2,931.11	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	35,933,341	612 X Divination flask (6) 3,955,356	-31,977.98	-327.98
	Super attack	45	100	1000 X Grimy irit 3,335,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 3,404,993	1060 X Eye of newt 12,720	3,417,713	1224 X Super attack (3) 5,335,416	1,917.7	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	12,153,401	612 X Super attack flask (6) 10,569,852	-1,583.55	-15.84
	Super antipoison	48	106.3	1000 X Grimy irit 3,335,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 3,404,993	1060 X Unicorn horn dust 3,355,960	6,760,953	1224 X Super antipoison (3) 8,736,912	1,975.96	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	15,496,641	612 X Super antipoison flask (6) 18,315,324	2,818.68	299626
	Fishing potion	50	112.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,096,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,165,993	1060 X Snape grass 268,180	1,434,173	1224 X Fishing potion (3) 559,368	-874.8	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	10,169,861	612 X Fishing flask (6) 4,448,016	-5,721.84	-50.86
	Super energy	52	117.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,096,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,165,993	1060 X Mort myre fungus 3,130,180	4,296,173	1224 X Super energy (3) 5,608,368	1,312.2	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	13,031,861	612 X Super energy flask (6) 11,879,532	-1,152.33	-9.81
	Hunter potion	53	120	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,096,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,165,993	1060 X Kebbit teeth dust 14,465,820	15,631,813	1224 X Hunter potion (3) 17,095,608	1,463.8	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	24,367,501	612 X Hunter flask (6) 21,856,968	-2,510.53	-20.92
	Runecrafting potion	54	122.5	1000 X Grimy wergali 6,055,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 6,124,993	1060 X Fallfaced wool 501,380	6,626,373	1224 X Runecrafting potion (3) 6,204,456	-421.92	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	15,362,061	612 X Runecrafting flask (6) 2,303,568	-13,058.49	-106.6
	Cooking potion	55	125	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Swordfish 815,140	1,936,133	1224 X Cooking potion (3) 1,128,528	-807.6	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	10,671,821	612 X Cooking flask (6) 2,089,980	-8,581.84	-68.65
	Super strength	55	125	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 14,552,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 14,621,993	1060 X Limpwurt root 5,004,260	19,626,253	1224 X Super strength (3) 23,718,672	4,092.42	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	28,361,941	612 X Super strength flask (6) 24,320,880	-4,041.06	-32.33
	Fletching potion	58	132	1000 X Grimy wergali 6,055,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 6,124,993	1060 X Wimpy feather 385,840	6,510,833	1224 X Fletching potion (3) 828,648	-5,682.18	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	15,246,521	612 X Fletching flask (6) 5,015,952	-10,230.57	-77.5
	Weapon poison	60	137.5	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 14,552,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 14,621,993	1060 X Dragon scale dust 1,069,540	15,691,533	1224 X Weapon poison (3) 11,244,888	-4,446.65	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	24,427,221	612 X Weapon poison flask (6) 4,246,056	-20,181.16	-146.77
	Super restore	63	142.5	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,564,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,633,993	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 3,663,360	5,297,353	1224 X Super restore (3) 5,284,008	-13.34	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	14,033,041	612 X Super restore flask (6) 15,609,672	1,576.63	224669.92
	Super defence	66	150	1000 X Grimy cadantine 5,411,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 5,480,993	1060 X White berries 2,429,520	7,910,513	1224 X Super defence (3) 10,175,112	2,264.6	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	16,646,201	612 X Super defence flask (6) 16,820,820	174.62	26192.85
	Antipoison+	68	155	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,910,000 1111 X Coconut milk 10,590,052 Total cost: 21,500,052	1060 X Yew roots 913,720	22,413,772	1224 X Antipoison+ (3) 4,766,256	-17,647.52	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	31,149,460	612 X Antipoison+ flask (6) 21,289,644	-9,859.82	-63.61
	Antifire	69	157.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 8,619,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 8,688,993	1060 X Dragon scale dust 1,069,540	9,758,533	1224 X Antifire (3) 12,810,384	3,051.85	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	18,494,221	612 X Antifire flask (6) 18,266,364	-227.86	-1.45
	Super ranging potion	72	162.5	1000 X Grimy dwarf weed 14,885,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 14,954,993	1060 X Wine of Zamorak 10,525,800	25,480,793	1224 X Super ranging potion (3) 28,422,504	2,941.71	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	34,216,481	612 X Super ranging flask (6) 32,383,980	-1,832.5	-11.28
	Super magic potion	76	172.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 8,619,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 8,688,993	1060 X Potato cactus 1,800,940	10,489,933	1224 X Super magic potion (3) 12,040,488	1,550.56	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	19,225,621	612 X Super magic flask (6) 17,317,152	-1,908.47	-11.06
	Invention potion	77	175	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,564,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,633,993	1060 X Chinchompa residue 101,760	1,735,753	1224 X Invention potion (3) 957,168	-778.58	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	10,471,441	612 X Invention flask (6) 3,411,900	-7,059.54	-40.34
	Zamorak brew	78	175	1000 X Grimy torstol 5,534,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 5,603,993	1060 X Jangerberries 1,263,520	6,867,513	1224 X Zamorak brew (3) 1,474,920	-5,392.59	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	15,603,201	612 X Zamorak brew flask (6) 6,621,840	-8,981.36	-51.32
	Antipoison++	79	177.5	1000 X Grimy irit 3,335,000 1111 X Coconut milk 10,590,052 Total cost: 13,925,052	1060 X Magic roots 3,634,740	17,559,792	1224 X Antipoison++ (3) 4,412,520	-13,147.27	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	26,295,480	612 X Antipoison++ flask (6) 14,937,084	-11,358.4	-63.99
	Saradomin brew	81	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,910,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 10,979,993	1060 X Crushed nest 5,189,760	16,169,753	1224 X Saradomin brew (3) 17,315,928	1,146.18	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	24,905,441	612 X Saradomin brew flask (6) 26,876,592	1,971.15	354807.18
	Aggression potion	82	185	1000 X Grimy bloodweed 26,945,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 27,014,993	1060 X Searing ashes 105,303,580	132,318,573	1224 X Aggression potion (3) 122,306,976	-10,011.6	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	141,054,261	612 X Aggression flask (6) 133,083,684	-7,970.58	-43.08
	Prayer renewal	94	190	1000 X Grimy fellstalk 11,470,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 11,539,993	1060 X Morchella mushroom 8,761,960	20,301,953	1224 X Prayer renewal (3) 21,998,952	1,697	612 X Potion flask 8,735,688	29,037,641	612 X Prayer renewal flask (6) 28,803,168	-234.47	-1.23

Process (potions made from other potions):

Some potions such as Super Guthix rest and Super Zamorak brew are made by adding additional ingredients to a complete potion. This changes the calculations slightly, so this type of potion is in a separate table. This guide/table assumes that you are making the initial potion from scratch.

1. Make the initial potions just as described in the first process, but do not decant the potions into flasks. This will leave you with (on average) 1,224 complete potions.

2. Due to the 10% chance to save secondary ingredients, your 1,224 potions will require (on average) 1,114 tertiary ingredients. (1,113.72 * 1.1 ≈ 1,224) Buy a little more than this amount (to avoid having to go back to the Grand exchange) and add them to your potions at the portable well. The 5% chance to make an extra potion will be applied again over this process at the portable well. This will yield (on average) 1,285 finished 3-dose potions.

3. Buy 642 (half the amount of your 3-dose potions rounded down) Potion flasks at the Grand exchange. Bring your noted potion flasks and noted 3-dose potions to Teplin Macagan and have him decant your potions into your flasks. Sell these flasks at the grand exchange. It may take some time for your flasks to sell at market prices, but again the more profitable potions may still turn a significant profit even selling at a little lower than market price.

	Potion	Level Req.	XP	Cost of Initial Ingredients	Cost of 1060 Secondary Ingredients	Cost of 1114 Tertiary Ingredients	Cost of 642 Potion Flasks	Total Cost	Price of 642 Full Flasks	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased
	Guthix balance	22	50	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 3,663,360	1114 X Garlic 50,130 1114 X Silver dust 2,440,774 Total cost: 2,490,904	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	16,439,165	642 X Guthix balance flask (6) 13,837,026	-2,602.14
	Super hunter	64	145	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,096,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,165,993	1060 X Kebbit teeth dust 14,465,820	1114 X Rabbit teeth 165,986	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	24,961,707	642 X Super hunter flask (6) 8,660,580	-16,301.13
	Super divination	70	160	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 17,099,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 17,168,993	1060 X Rabbit foot 10,028,660	1114 X Zygomite fruit 6,559,232	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	42,920,793	642 X Super divination flask (6) 15,310,416	-27,610.38
	Super runecrafting	75	170	1000 X Grimy wergali 6,055,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 6,124,993	1060 X Fallfaced wool 501,380	1114 X Yak milk 81,248,476	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	97,038,757	642 X Super runecrafting flask (6) 71,681,868	-25,356.89
	Super invention	87	220	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,564,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,633,993	1060 X Chinchompa residue 101,760	1114 X Spider fangs 2,894,172	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	13,793,833	642 X Super invention flask (6) 7,365,666	-6,428.17
	Super Saradomin brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,910,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 10,979,993	1060 X Crushed nest 5,189,760	1114 X Wine of Saradomin 114,350,986	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	139,684,647	642 X Super Saradomin brew flask (6) 134,570,904	-5,113.74
	Super Zamorak brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy torstol 5,534,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 5,603,993	1060 X Jangerberries 1,263,520	1114 X Wine of Zamorak 11,062,020	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	27,093,441	642 X Super Zamorak brew flask (6) 13,496,766	-13,596.67
	Super Guthix rest	93	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,051,000 1111 X Vial of water 69,993 Total cost: 1,120,993	1060 X Clean marrentill 8,988,800	1114 X Wine of Guthix 2,441,888	642 X Potion flask 9,163,908	21,715,589	642 X Super Guthix brew flask (6) 19,699,770	-2,015.82

Conclusion:

Making the flasks in the bottom table is generally not worth it if your interest is profit. The only exception is the Super Guthix rest, which can be solid money and decent experience. If your goal is to maximize experience without losing any money, it's generally best to sort the top table by XP in descending order and pick the first potion that you can make that yields a profit. It may be that there is a higher experience, profitable potion for you if you don't decant to flasks so be sure to check out other methods!