Calculator:Herblore/Efficient Profit

This is a static calculator. It does not take user inputs, but it does use changing prices from the Grand Exchange Market Watch. If prices appear to be outdated, purge the page by clicking here.

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 (10% with Brooch of the Gods. 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.

Modified botanist's mask: This provides a 5% chance of duplicate potions.

Factory outfit: This provides a 10% chance of creating 4-dose potions.

Botanist's amulet: This provides an additional 5% chance of creating 4-dose potions.

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.

All of these boosts should net on average 1476 3-dose potions.

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) 1100 unfinished potions due to the effect of the portable well with the Brooch of the Gods. 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 723 (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 1111 Secondary Ingredients	Total Cost of 1475 Potions	Price of 1475 Potions	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased (no flasks)	Cost of 723 Potion Flasks	Total Cost	Price of 723 Full Flasks	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased	Gain*
	Attack potion	1	25	1000 X Grimy guam 396,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 522,654	1111 X Eye of newt 19,998	542,652	1475 X Attack potion (3) 744,875	202.22	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	14,223,258	723 X Attack flask (6) 5,454,312	−8,768.95	−350.76
	Ranging potion	3	30	1000 X Grimy guam 396,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 522,654	1111 X Redberries 607,717	1,130,371	1475 X Ranging potion (3) 1,497,125	366.75	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	14,810,977	723 X Ranging flask (6) 10,076,451	−4,734.53	−157.82
	Magic potion	5	35	1000 X Grimy tarromin 186,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 312,654	1111 X Yellow bead 1,330,978	1,643,632	1475 X Magic potion (3) 1,604,800	−38.83	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,324,238	723 X Magic flask (6) 8,227,740	−7,096.5	−202.76
	Strength potion	7	4	1000 X Grimy tarromin 186,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 312,654	1111 X Limpwurt root 841,027	1,153,681	1475 X Strength potion (3) 769,950	−383.73	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	14,834,287	723 X Strength flask (6) 7,090,461	−7,743.83	−1,935.96
	Defence potion	9	45	1000 X Grimy marrentill 5,443,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 5,569,654	1111 X Bear fur 959,904	6,529,558	1475 X Defence potion (3) 3,280,400	−3,249.16	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	20,210,164	723 X Defence flask (6) 9,970,893	−10,239.27	−227.54
	Antipoison	13	50	1000 X Grimy marrentill 5,443,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 5,569,654	1111 X Unicorn horn dust 1,153,218	6,722,872	1475 X Antipoison (3) 566,400	−6,156.47	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	20,403,478	723 X Antipoison flask (6) 16,014,450	−4,389.03	−87.78
	Guthix rest	18	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Clean marrentill 6,720,439	8,323,093	1475 X Guthix rest (3) 2,368,850	−5,954.24	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	22,003,699	723 X Guthix rest flask (6) 32,122,890	10,119.19	602,091.86
	Restore potion	22	62.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Red spiders' eggs 347,743	1,950,397	1475 X Restore potion (3) 342,200	−1,608.2	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,631,003	723 X Restore flask (6) 9,997,644	−5,633.36	−90.13
	Energy potion	26	67.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Chocolate dust 922,130	2,524,784	1475 X Energy potion (3) 649,000	−1,875.78	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	16,205,390	723 X Energy flask (6) 10,240,572	−5,964.82	−88.37
	Agility potion	34	80	1000 X Grimy toadflax 7,972,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 8,098,654	1111 X Toad's legs 2,189,781	10,288,435	1475 X Agility potion (3) 647,525	−9,640.91	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	23,969,041	723 X Agility flask (6) 8,791,680	−15,177.36	−189.72
	Combat potion	36	84	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Goat horn dust 968,792	2,571,446	1475 X Combat potion (3) 522,150	−2,049.3	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	16,252,052	723 X Combat flask (6) 9,652,050	−6,600	−78.57
	Prayer potion	38	87.5	1000 X Grimy ranarr 4,510,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 4,636,654	1111 X Snape grass 377,740	5,014,394	1475 X Prayer potion (3) 9,739,425	4,725.03	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	18,695,000	723 X Prayer flask (6) 22,597,365	3,902.37	341,456.94
	Summoning potion	40	92	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 15,085,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 15,211,654	1111 X Cockatrice egg 336,633	15,548,287	1475 X Summoning potion (3) 24,923,075	9,374.79	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	29,228,893	723 X Summoning flask (6) 35,813,082	6,584.19	605,745.39
	Divination potion	43	97.5	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 15,085,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 15,211,654	1111 X Rabbit foot 17,028,297	32,239,951	1475 X Divination potion (3) 42,095,025	9,855.07	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	45,920,557	723 X Divination flask (6) 5,496,246	−40,424.31	−414.61
	Super attack	45	100	1000 X Grimy irit 1,124,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,250,654	1111 X Eye of newt 19,998	1,270,652	1475 X Super attack (3) 5,124,150	3,853.5	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	14,951,258	723 X Super attack flask (6) 16,289,913	1,338.66	133,865.5
	Super antipoison	48	106.3	1000 X Grimy irit 1,124,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,250,654	1111 X Unicorn horn dust 1,153,218	2,403,872	1475 X Super antipoison (3) 6,953,150	4,549.28	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	16,084,478	723 X Super antipoison flask (6) 22,486,023	6,401.55	680,484.23
	Fishing potion	50	112.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,628,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,754,654	1111 X Snape grass 377,740	2,132,394	1475 X Fishing potion (3) 750,775	−1,381.62	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,813,000	723 X Fishing flask (6) 5,937,999	−9,875	−87.78
	Super energy	52	117.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,628,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,754,654	1111 X Mort myre fungus 1,367,641	3,122,295	1475 X Super energy (3) 9,236,450	6,114.16	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	16,802,901	723 X Super energy flask (6) 19,341,696	2,538.8	298,308.41
	Hunter potion	53	120	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,628,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,754,654	1111 X Kebbit teeth dust 23,387,661	25,142,315	1475 X Hunter potion (3) 33,776,025	8,633.71	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	38,822,921	723 X Hunter flask (6) 25,399,713	−13,423.21	−111.86
	Runecrafting potion	54	122.5	1000 X Grimy wergali 9,851,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 9,977,654	1111 X Fallfaced wool 1,788,710	11,766,364	1475 X Runecrafting potion (3) 16,947,750	5,181.39	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	25,446,970	723 X Runecrafting flask (6) 3,065,520	−22,381.45	−182.71
	Cooking potion	55	125	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Swordfish 226,644	1,829,298	1475 X Cooking potion (3) 2,393,925	564.63	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,509,904	723 X Cooking flask (6) 2,666,424	−12,843.48	−102.75
	Super strength	55	125	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 3,634,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 3,760,654	1111 X Limpwurt root 841,027	4,601,681	1475 X Super strength (3) 9,428,200	4,826.52	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	18,282,287	723 X Super strength flask (6) 21,212,097	2,929.81	366,226.25
	Fletching potion	58	132	1000 X Grimy wergali 9,851,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 9,977,654	1111 X Wimpy feather 423,291	10,400,945	1475 X Fletching potion (3) 823,050	−9,577.89	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	24,081,551	723 X Fletching flask (6) 6,843,195	−17,238.36	−130.59
	Weapon poison	60	137.5	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 3,634,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 3,760,654	1111 X Dragon scale dust 1,560,955	5,321,609	1475 X Weapon poison (3) 3,655,050	−1,666.56	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	19,002,215	723 X Weapon poison flask (6) 5,874,375	−13,127.84	−95.48
	Super restore	63	142.5	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,822,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,948,654	1111 X Red spiders' eggs 347,743	2,296,397	1475 X Super restore (3) 4,280,450	1,984.05	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,977,003	723 X Super restore flask (6) 18,449,514	2,472.51	352,332.82
	Super defence	66	150	1000 X Grimy cadantine 3,988,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 4,114,654	1111 X White berries 5,122,821	9,237,475	1475 X Super defence (3) 15,484,550	6,247.08	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	22,918,081	723 X Super defence flask (6) 23,970,342	1,052.26	157,839.15
	Antipoison+	68	155	1000 X Grimy toadflax 7,972,000 1111 X Coconut milk 11,886,589 Total cost: 19,858,589	1111 X Yew roots 923,241	20,781,830	1475 X Antipoison+ (3) 6,330,700	−14,451.13	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	34,462,436	723 X Antipoison+ flask (6) 31,086,831	−3,375.6	−21.78
	Antifire	69	157.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 12,246,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 12,372,654	1111 X Dragon scale dust 1,560,955	13,933,609	1475 X Antifire (3) 24,663,475	10,729.87	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	27,614,215	723 X Antifire flask (6) 35,179,011	7,564.8	1,191,455.37
	Super ranging potion	72	162.5	1000 X Grimy dwarf weed 12,745,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 12,871,654	1111 X Wine of Zamorak 7,433,701	20,305,355	1475 X Super ranging potion (3) 29,569,325	9,263.97	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	33,985,961	723 X Super ranging flask (6) 34,917,285	931.32	151,340.15
	Super magic potion	76	172.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 12,246,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 12,372,654	1111 X Potato cactus 955,460	13,328,114	1475 X Super magic potion (3) 22,151,550	8,823.44	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	27,008,720	723 X Super magic flask (6) 26,616,522	−392.2	−2.27
	Invention potion	77	175	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,822,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,948,654	1111 X Chinchompa residue 105,545	2,054,199	1475 X Invention potion (3) 1,877,675	−176.52	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	15,734,805	723 X Invention flask (6) 4,570,806	−11,164	−63.79
	Zamorak brew	78	175	1000 X Grimy torstol 9,519,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 9,645,654	1111 X Jangerberries 852,137	10,497,791	1475 X Zamorak brew (3) 1,371,750	−9,126.04	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	24,178,397	723 X Zamorak brew flask (6) 8,725,887	−15,452.51	−88.3
	Antipoison++	79	177.5	1000 X Grimy irit 1,124,000 1111 X Coconut milk 11,886,589 Total cost: 13,010,589	1111 X Magic roots 5,926,074	18,936,663	1475 X Antipoison++ (3) 4,941,250	−13,995.41	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	32,617,269	723 X Antipoison++ flask (6) 18,250,689	−14,366.58	−80.94
	Saradomin brew	81	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 7,972,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 8,098,654	1111 X Crushed nest 351,076	8,449,730	1475 X Saradomin brew (3) 14,398,950	5,949.22	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	22,130,336	723 X Saradomin brew flask (6) 29,294,514	7,164.18	1,289,552.04
	Aggression potion	82	185	1000 X Grimy bloodweed 29,006,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 29,132,654	1111 X Searing ashes 145,908,741	175,041,395	1475 X Aggression potion (3) 176,625,350	1,583.96	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	188,722,001	723 X Aggression flask (6) 215,851,650	27,129.65	5,018,985.07
	Prayer renewal	94	190	1000 X Grimy fellstalk 13,100,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 13,226,654	1111 X Morchella mushroom 10,615,605	23,842,259	1475 X Prayer renewal (3) 29,587,025	5,744.77	723 X Potion flask 13,680,606	37,522,865	723 X Prayer renewal flask (6) 35,000,430	−2,522.43	−13.28

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 1111 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 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Red spiders' eggs 347,743	1114 X Garlic 76,866 1114 X Silver dust 3,470,110 Total cost: 3,546,976	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	17,645,297	642 X Guthix balance flask (6) 15,217,968	−2,427.33
	Super hunter	64	145	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,628,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,754,654	1111 X Kebbit teeth dust 23,387,661	1114 X Rabbit teeth 130,338	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	37,420,577	642 X Super hunter flask (6) 15,532,548	−21,888.03
	Super divination	70	160	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 15,085,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 15,211,654	1111 X Rabbit foot 17,028,297	1114 X Zygomite fruit 2,088,750	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	46,476,625	642 X Super divination flask (6) 26,216,712	−20,259.91
	Super runecrafting	75	170	1000 X Grimy wergali 9,851,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 9,977,654	1111 X Fallfaced wool 1,788,710	1114 X Yak milk 130,958,498	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	154,872,786	642 X Super runecrafting flask (6) 80,255,778	−74,617.01
	Super invention	87	220	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,822,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,948,654	1111 X Chinchompa residue 105,545	1114 X Spider fangs 485,704	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	14,687,827	642 X Super invention flask (6) 11,388,438	−3,299.39
	Super Saradomin brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 7,972,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 8,098,654	1111 X Crushed nest 351,076	1114 X Wine of Saradomin 75,080,258	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	95,677,912	642 X Super Saradomin brew flask (6) 99,186,432	3,508.52
	Super Zamorak brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy torstol 9,519,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 9,645,654	1111 X Jangerberries 852,137	1114 X Wine of Zamorak 7,453,774	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	30,099,489	642 X Super Zamorak brew flask (6) 14,424,456	−15,675.03
	Super Guthix rest	93	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 1,476,000 1111 X Vial of water 126,654 Total cost: 1,602,654	1111 X Clean marrentill 6,720,439	1114 X Wine of Guthix 3,880,062	642 X Potion flask 12,147,924	24,351,079	642 X Super Guthix brew flask (6) 27,525,750	3,174.67

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!