Herblore XP & Profit Calculator
Estimate how many potions you need, how much it will cost, and whether your training method earns or loses gold.
What this Herblore calculator does
This calculator is built to answer three practical questions quickly: How much XP do I need?, How many potions do I need to make?, and what will it cost (or profit)? It works well for Old School RuneScape style planning where you already know your expected XP per potion and your item prices.
Instead of switching between wiki pages, spreadsheets, and price tabs, you can enter your values in one place and get a fast estimate for your full training run.
How to use it effectively
1) Set your start and end point
Enter your current and target levels. If you already know your exact XP numbers, enter those instead. XP fields override level-based XP, which is useful if you are halfway through a level.
2) Choose your potion method
You can use a preset as a starting point, then fine-tune values. If you prefer custom methods (or are using live exchange prices), just keep the preset on “Custom values.”
3) Add economic inputs
- Cost per potion: total cost of ingredients used to create one finished potion.
- Sell value per potion: expected sale value of the finished potion.
- XP per potion: XP awarded for your chosen method.
4) Calculate and compare methods
Run one method, note the total cost and time, then change the numbers and run again. This side-by-side comparison is the fastest way to balance speed versus budget.
How the math works
The calculator follows a simple structure:
- XP Needed = Target XP − Current XP
- Potions Needed = Ceiling(XP Needed ÷ XP per Potion)
- Total Cost = Potions Needed × Cost per Potion
- Total Revenue = Potions Needed × Sell Value per Potion
- Net = Total Revenue − Total Cost
When XP values are not entered manually, level XP is generated using the standard RuneScape level curve.
Strategy: speed, budget, or balance?
Fast XP route
If your goal is a quick level milestone, prioritize higher XP-per-potion methods, even when the net gp is negative. You spend more, but finish much sooner.
Low-cost route
For budget-conscious training, look for methods with smaller loss per potion. Progress is slower, but your bankroll stays healthy and consistent.
Break-even or profit route
Some methods can approach break-even depending on market conditions. They may not be the best XP/hour, but they can be great for long-term account growth.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using stale prices from old snapshots.
- Ignoring unfinished potion or secondary ingredient costs.
- Forgetting that buy/sell spread can reduce expected profit.
- Planning with level-only XP when your account already has partial progress.
Final thoughts
Great Herblore planning is less about “the best potion” and more about matching your method to your resources, timeframe, and goals. Use this calculator to test scenarios before you spend millions of gp. A few minutes of planning can save a lot of money—and make your grind much smoother.