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:[edit source]
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 or received from Treasure Hunter.
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):[edit source]
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 using the Herblore cape perk from the action bar with a bank preset.
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 500 (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 1000 Secondary Ingredients |
Total Cost of 1000 Potions |
Price of 1000 Potions |
Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased (no flasks) |
Cost of 500 Potion Flasks |
Total Cost | Price of 500 Full Flasks |
Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased |
Total Profit/Loss |
Profit/Loss per xp | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Attack potion | 1 | 25 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 407,000 |
![]() 14,000 |
421,000 | ![]() 527,000 |
106 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
8,755,000 | ![]() 3,955,000 |
−4,800 | −4,800,000 | −192 |
![]() |
Ranging potion | 3 | 30 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 407,000 |
![]() 786,000 |
1,193,000 | ![]() 1,498,000 |
305 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,527,000 | ![]() 7,106,000 |
−2,421 | −2,421,000 | −80.7 |
![]() |
Magic potion | 5 | 35 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 312,000 |
![]() 814,000 |
1,126,000 | ![]() 1,838,000 |
712 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,460,000 | ![]() 5,977,000 |
−3,483 | −3,483,000 | −99.51 |
![]() |
Strength potion | 7 | 4 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 312,000 |
![]() 272,000 |
584,000 | ![]() 593,000 |
9 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
8,918,000 | ![]() 5,024,500 |
−3,893.5 | −3,893,500 | −973.37 |
![]() |
Defence potion | 9 | 45 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 867,000 |
![]() 1,554,000 |
2,421,000 | ![]() 3,574,000 |
1,153 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
10,755,000 | ![]() 7,668,500 |
−3,086.5 | −3,086,500 | −68.59 |
![]() |
Antipoison | 13 | 50 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 867,000 |
![]() 1,522,000 |
2,389,000 | ![]() 169,000 |
−2,220 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
10,723,000 | ![]() 11,519,500 |
796.5 | 796,500 | 15.93 |
![]() |
Guthix rest | 18 | 59.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 1,060,000 |
1,846,000 | ![]() 2,468,000 |
622 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
10,180,000 | ![]() 16,194,500 |
6,014.5 | 6,014,500 | 101.08 |
![]() |
Restore potion | 22 | 62.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 139,000 |
925,000 | ![]() 177,000 |
−748 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,259,000 | ![]() 8,687,500 |
−571.5 | −571,500 | −9.14 |
![]() |
Energy potion | 26 | 67.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 676,000 |
1,462,000 | ![]() 495,000 |
−967 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,796,000 | ![]() 7,687,500 |
−2,108.5 | −2,108,500 | −31.24 |
![]() |
Agility potion | 34 | 80 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,628,000 |
![]() 2,074,000 |
5,702,000 | ![]() 279,000 |
−5,423 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
14,036,000 | ![]() 6,541,500 |
−7,494.5 | −7,494,500 | −93.68 |
![]() |
Combat potion | 36 | 84 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 634,000 |
1,420,000 | ![]() 421,000 |
−999 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,754,000 | ![]() 7,743,500 |
−2,010.5 | −2,010,500 | −23.93 |
![]() |
Prayer potion | 38 | 87.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,108,000 |
![]() 450,000 |
4,558,000 | ![]() 6,267,000 |
1,709 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
12,892,000 | ![]() 13,905,500 |
1,013.5 | 1,013,500 | 11.58 |
![]() |
Summoning potion | 40 | 92 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 2,585,000 |
![]() 145,000 |
2,730,000 | ![]() 8,069,000 |
5,339 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
11,064,000 | ![]() 16,271,000 |
5,207 | 5,207,000 | 56.6 |
![]() |
Divination potion | 43 | 97.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 2,585,000 |
![]() 19,783,000 |
22,368,000 | ![]() 26,262,000 |
3,894 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
30,702,000 | ![]() 4,246,500 |
−26,455.5 | −26,455,500 | −271.34 |
![]() |
Super attack | 45 | 100 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 681,000 |
![]() 14,000 |
695,000 | ![]() 2,174,000 |
1,479 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,029,000 | ![]() 10,586,000 |
1,557 | 1,557,000 | 15.57 |
![]() |
Super antipoison | 48 | 106.3 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 681,000 |
![]() 1,522,000 |
2,203,000 | ![]() 4,938,000 |
2,735 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
10,537,000 | ![]() 14,021,500 |
3,484.5 | 3,484,500 | 32.78 |
![]() |
Fishing potion | 50 | 112.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,133,000 |
![]() 450,000 |
1,583,000 | ![]() 627,000 |
−956 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,917,000 | ![]() 4,485,000 |
−5,432 | −5,432,000 | −48.28 |
![]() |
Super energy | 52 | 117.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,133,000 |
![]() 1,029,000 |
2,162,000 | ![]() 5,686,000 |
3,524 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
10,496,000 | ![]() 13,746,000 |
3,250 | 3,250,000 | 27.66 |
![]() |
Hunter potion | 53 | 120 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,133,000 |
![]() 17,887,000 |
19,020,000 | ![]() 18,992,000 |
−28 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
27,354,000 | ![]() 18,157,500 |
−9,196.5 | −9,196,500 | −76.64 |
![]() |
Runecrafting potion | 54 | 122.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,528,000 |
![]() 3,181,000 |
7,709,000 | ![]() 13,072,000 |
5,363 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
16,043,000 | ![]() 2,309,000 |
−13,734 | −13,734,000 | −112.11 |
![]() |
Cooking potion | 55 | 125 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 156,000 |
942,000 | ![]() 2,055,000 |
1,113 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,276,000 | ![]() 1,971,500 |
−7,304.5 | −7,304,500 | −58.44 |
![]() |
Super strength | 55 | 125 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 2,545,000 |
![]() 272,000 |
2,817,000 | ![]() 6,002,000 |
3,185 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
11,151,000 | ![]() 10,938,000 |
−213 | −213,000 | −1.7 |
![]() |
Fletching potion | 58 | 132 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,528,000 |
![]() 260,000 |
4,788,000 | ![]() 464,000 |
−4,324 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
13,122,000 | ![]() 5,470,000 |
−7,652 | −7,652,000 | −57.97 |
![]() |
Weapon poison | 60 | 137.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 2,545,000 |
![]() 873,000 |
3,418,000 | ![]() 1,457,000 |
−1,961 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
11,752,000 | ![]() 4,390,000 |
−7,362 | −7,362,000 | −53.54 |
![]() |
Super restore | 63 | 142.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,387,000 |
![]() 139,000 |
1,526,000 | ![]() 2,756,000 |
1,230 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,860,000 | ![]() 12,252,000 |
2,392 | 2,392,000 | 16.79 |
![]() |
Super defence | 66 | 150 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,853,000 |
![]() 5,837,000 |
7,690,000 | ![]() 10,574,000 |
2,884 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
16,024,000 | ![]() 13,727,000 |
−2,297 | −2,297,000 | −15.31 |
![]() |
Antipoison+ | 68 | 155 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 13,210,000 |
![]() 2,167,000 |
15,377,000 | ![]() 4,515,000 |
−10,862 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
23,711,000 | ![]() 23,089,500 |
−621.5 | −621,500 | −4.01 |
![]() |
Antifire | 69 | 157.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,592,000 |
![]() 873,000 |
5,465,000 | ![]() 6,922,000 |
1,457 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
13,799,000 | ![]() 13,277,000 |
−522 | −522,000 | −3.31 |
![]() |
Super ranging potion | 72 | 162.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 6,038,000 |
![]() 1,051,000 |
7,089,000 | ![]() 7,753,000 |
664 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
15,423,000 | ![]() 17,396,500 |
1,973.5 | 1,973,500 | 12.14 |
![]() |
Super magic potion | 76 | 172.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,592,000 |
![]() 843,000 |
5,435,000 | ![]() 6,463,000 |
1,028 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
13,769,000 | ![]() 15,893,000 |
2,124 | 2,124,000 | 12.31 |
![]() |
Invention potion | 77 | 175 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,387,000 |
![]() 101,000 |
1,488,000 | ![]() 1,419,000 |
−69 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
9,822,000 | ![]() 3,535,000 |
−6,287 | −6,287,000 | −35.93 |
![]() |
Zamorak brew | 78 | 175 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,943,000 |
![]() 1,118,000 |
5,061,000 | ![]() 1,161,000 |
−3,900 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
13,395,000 | ![]() 6,662,500 |
−6,732.5 | −6,732,500 | −38.47 |
![]() |
Antipoison++ | 79 | 177.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 10,263,000 |
![]() 8,732,000 |
18,995,000 | ![]() 2,422,000 |
−16,573 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
27,329,000 | ![]() 10,346,000 |
−16,983 | −16,983,000 | −95.68 |
![]() |
Saradomin brew | 81 | 180 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,628,000 |
![]() 165,000 |
3,793,000 | ![]() 4,844,000 |
1,051 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
12,127,000 | ![]() 13,783,000 |
1,656 | 1,656,000 | 9.2 |
![]() |
Aggression potion | 82 | 185 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 14,895,000 |
![]() 63,053,000 |
77,948,000 | ![]() 64,700,000 |
−13,248 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
86,282,000 | ![]() 76,730,500 |
−9,551.5 | −9,551,500 | −51.63 |
![]() |
Prayer renewal | 94 | 190 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,243,000 |
![]() 9,480,000 |
12,723,000 | ![]() 13,979,000 |
1,256 | ![]() 8,334,000 |
21,057,000 | ![]() 20,314,500 |
−742.5 | −742,500 | −3.91 |
Process (potions made from other potions):[edit source]
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 1000 Secondary Ingredients |
Cost of 1000 Tertiary Ingredients |
Cost of 642 Potion Flasks |
Total Cost | Price of 1000 Full Flasks |
Profit/Loss Per Herb Purchased | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Guthix balance | 22 | 50 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 139,000 |
![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,379,134 |
![]() 10,700,856 |
16,004,990 | ![]() 19,882,098 |
3,877.11 |
![]() |
Super hunter | 64 | 145 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,133,000 |
![]() 17,887,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
29,857,878 | ![]() 26,438,844 |
−3,419.03 |
![]() |
Super divination | 70 | 160 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 2,585,000 |
![]() 19,783,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
33,546,762 | ![]() 34,862,526 |
1,315.76 |
![]() |
Super runecrafting | 75 | 170 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 4,528,000 |
![]() 3,181,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
163,657,632 | ![]() 98,308,176 |
−65,349.46 |
![]() |
Super invention | 87 | 220 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 1,387,000 |
![]() 101,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
12,525,284 | ![]() 11,649,090 |
−876.19
|
![]() |
Super Saradomin brew | 93 | 180 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,628,000 |
![]() 165,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
78,749,376 | ![]() 80,594,754 |
1,845.38 |
![]() |
Super Zamorak brew | 93 | 180 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 3,943,000 |
![]() 1,118,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
16,932,670 | ![]() 13,852,434 |
−3,080.24 |
![]() |
Super Guthix rest | 93 | 59.5 | ![]() ![]() Total cost: 786,000 |
![]() 1,060,000 |
![]() |
![]() 10,700,856 |
15,912,250 | ![]() 32,654,046 |
16,741.8 |
Conclusion:[edit source]
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!