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.

	Potion	Level Req.	XP	Cost of Initial Ingredients	Cost of 1060 Secondary Ingredients	Cost of 612 Potion Flasks	Total Cost	Price of 612 Full Flasks	Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased
	Attack potion	1	25	1000 X Grimy guam 711,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 808,768	1060 X Eye of newt 11,660	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	5,178,480	612 X Attack flask (6) 4,080,204	-1,098.28
	Ranging potion	3	30	1000 X Grimy guam 711,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 808,768	1060 X Redberries 972,020	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	6,138,840	612 X Ranging flask (6) 7,197,120	1,058.28
	Magic potion	5	35	1000 X Grimy tarromin 96,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 193,768	1060 X Yellow bead 1,064,240	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	5,616,060	612 X Magic flask (6) 6,782,184	1,166.12
	Strength potion	7	4	1000 X Grimy tarromin 96,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 193,768	1060 X Limpwurt root 7,237,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	11,789,500	612 X Strength flask (6) 5,072,256	-6,717.24
	Defence potion	9	45	1000 X Grimy marrentill 2,133,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 2,230,768	1060 X Bear fur 1,097,100	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	7,685,920	612 X Defence flask (6) 6,571,044	-1,114.88
	Antipoison	13	50	1000 X Grimy marrentill 2,133,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 2,230,768	1060 X Unicorn horn dust 2,940,440	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	9,529,260	612 X Antipoison flask (6) 5,851,944	-3,677.32
	Guthix rest	18	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Clean marrentill 2,454,960	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	7,762,780	612 X Guthix rest flask (6) 14,452,380	6,689.6
	Restore potion	22	62.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 1,531,700	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	6,839,520	612 X Restore flask (6) 4,659,768	-2,179.75
	Energy potion	26	67.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Chocolate dust 771,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	6,079,500	612 X Energy flask (6) 6,017,796	-61.7
	Agility potion	34	80	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,254,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 10,351,768	1060 X Toad's legs 781,220	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	15,491,040	612 X Agility flask (6) 5,616,324	-9,874.72
	Combat potion	36	84	1000 X Grimy harralander 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Goat horn dust 5,580,900	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	10,888,720	612 X Combat flask (6) 6,780,348	-4,108.37
	Prayer potion	38	87.5	1000 X Grimy ranarr 1,812,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,909,768	1060 X Snape grass 188,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	6,456,500	612 X Prayer flask (6) 9,058,824	2,602.32
	Summoning potion	40	92	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 19,473,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 19,570,768	1060 X Cockatrice egg 8,584,940	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	32,513,760	612 X Summoning flask (6) 33,583,500	1,069.74
	Divination potion	43	97.5	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 19,473,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 19,570,768	1060 X Rabbit foot 7,767,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	31,696,500	612 X Divination flask (6) 3,239,928	-28,456.57
	Super attack	45	100	1000 X Grimy irit 4,456,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 4,553,768	1060 X Eye of newt 11,660	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	8,923,480	612 X Super attack flask (6) 9,737,532	814.05
	Super antipoison	48	106.3	1000 X Grimy irit 4,456,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 4,553,768	1060 X Unicorn horn dust 2,940,440	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	11,852,260	612 X Super antipoison flask (6) 15,553,368	3,701.11
	Fishing potion	50	112.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,116,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,213,768	1060 X Snape grass 188,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	5,760,500	612 X Fishing flask (6) 4,297,464	-1,463.04
	Super energy	52	117.5	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,116,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,213,768	1060 X Mort myre fungus 2,926,660	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	8,498,480	612 X Super energy flask (6) 9,921,132	1,422.65
	Hunter potion	53	120	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,116,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,213,768	1060 X Kebbit teeth dust 15,106,060	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	20,677,880	612 X Hunter flask (6) 24,177,672	3,499.79
	Runecrafting potion	54	122.5	1000 X Grimy wergali 4,511,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 4,608,768	1060 X Fallfaced wool 174,900	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	9,141,720	612 X Runecrafting flask (6) 2,145,672	-6,996.05
	Super strength	55	125	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 9,705,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 9,802,768	1060 X Limpwurt root 7,237,680	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	21,398,500	612 X Super strength flask (6) 22,051,584	653.08
	Fletching potion	58	132	1000 X Grimy wergali 4,511,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 4,608,768	1060 X Wimpy feather 648,720	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	9,615,540	612 X Fletching flask (6) 4,336,020	-5,279.52
	Weapon poison	60	137.5	1000 X Grimy kwuarm 9,705,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 9,802,768	1060 X Dragon scale dust 1,090,740	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	15,251,560	612 X Weapon poison flask (6) 3,785,832	-11,465.73
	Super restore	63	142.5	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,692,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,789,768	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 1,531,700	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	7,679,520	612 X Super restore flask (6) 7,209,360	-470.16
	Super defence	66	150	1000 X Grimy cadantine 5,134,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 5,231,768	1060 X White berries 3,022,060	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	12,611,880	612 X Super defence flask (6) 14,600,484	1,988.6
	Antipoison+	68	155	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,254,000 1111 X Coconut milk 9,472,386 Total cost: 19,726,386	1060 X Yew roots 834,220	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	24,918,658	612 X Antipoison+ flask (6) 16,856,316	-8,062.34
	Antifire	69	157.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 7,746,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 7,843,768	1060 X Dragon scale dust 1,090,740	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	13,292,560	612 X Antifire flask (6) 16,396,092	3,103.53
	Super ranging potion	72	162.5	1000 X Grimy dwarf weed 12,199,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 12,296,768	1060 X Wine of Zamorak 15,058,360	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	31,713,180	612 X Super ranging flask (6) 31,428,648	-284.53
	Super magic potion	76	172.5	1000 X Grimy lantadyme 7,746,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 7,843,768	1060 X Potato cactus 6,109,840	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	18,311,660	612 X Super magic flask (6) 18,195,984	-115.68
	Invention potion	77	175	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,692,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,789,768	1060 X Chinchompa residue 142,040	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	6,289,860	612 X Invention flask (6) 2,905,776	-3,384.08
	Zamorak brew	78	175	1000 X Grimy torstol 5,360,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 5,457,768	1060 X Jangerberries 1,458,560	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	11,274,380	612 X Zamorak brew flask (6) 5,862,960	-5,411.42
	Antipoison++	79	177.5	1000 X Grimy irit 4,456,000 1111 X Coconut milk 9,472,386 Total cost: 13,928,386	1060 X Magic roots 4,162,620	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	22,449,058	612 X Antipoison++ flask (6) 11,011,716	-11,437.34
	Saradomin brew	81	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,254,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 10,351,768	1060 X Crushed nest 9,541,060	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	24,250,880	612 X Saradomin brew flask (6) 23,022,216	-1,228.66
	Aggression potion	82	185	1000 X Grimy bloodweed 23,092,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 23,189,768	1060 X Searing ashes 68,156,940	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	95,704,760	612 X Aggression flask (6) 100,357,596	4,652.84
	Prayer renewal	94	190	1000 X Grimy fellstalk 8,277,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 8,374,768	1060 X Morchella mushroom 6,533,840	612 X Potion flask 4,358,052	19,266,660	612 X Prayer renewal flask (6) 16,760,844	-2,505.82

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 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Red spiders' eggs 1,531,700	1114 X Garlic 27,850 1114 X Silver dust 1,687,710 Total cost: 1,715,560	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	8,768,710	642 X Guthix balance flask (6) 13,436,418	4,667.71
	Super hunter	64	145	1000 X Grimy avantoe 1,116,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,213,768	1060 X Kebbit teeth dust 15,106,060	1114 X Rabbit teeth 1,210,918	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	22,102,428	642 X Super hunter flask (6) 5,238,720	-16,863.71
	Super divination	70	160	1000 X Grimy spirit weed 19,473,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 19,570,768	1060 X Rabbit foot 7,767,680	1114 X Zygomite fruit 3,015,598	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	34,925,728	642 X Super divination flask (6) 8,286,936	-26,638.79
	Super runecrafting	75	170	1000 X Grimy wergali 4,511,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 4,608,768	1060 X Fallfaced wool 174,900	1114 X Yak milk 157,218,820	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	166,574,170	642 X Super runecrafting flask (6) 60,746,040	-105,828.13
	Super invention	87	220	1000 X Grimy snapdragon 1,692,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 1,789,768	1060 X Chinchompa residue 142,040	1114 X Spider fangs 4,947,274	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	11,450,764	642 X Super invention flask (6) 9,115,116	-2,335.65
	Super Saradomin brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy toadflax 10,254,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 10,351,768	1060 X Crushed nest 9,541,060	1114 X Wine of Saradomin 73,654,338	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	98,118,848	642 X Super Saradomin brew flask (6) 102,202,548	4,083.7
	Super Zamorak brew	93	180	1000 X Grimy torstol 5,360,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 5,457,768	1060 X Jangerberries 1,458,560	1114 X Wine of Zamorak 15,825,484	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	27,313,494	642 X Super Zamorak brew flask (6) 12,771,948	-14,541.55
	Super Guthix rest	93	59.5	1000 X Grimy harralander 852,000 1111 X Vial of water 97,768 Total cost: 949,768	1060 X Clean marrentill 2,454,960	1114 X Wine of Guthix 1,664,316	642 X Potion flask 4,571,682	9,640,726	642 X Super Guthix brew flask (6) 13,162,284	3,521.56

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!