Crafting is one of Old School RuneScape’s (OSRS) most versatile and essential skills, offering players a variety of benefits from creating powerful armor and jewelry to crafting essential items for other skills like Herblore. It's often regarded as a "buyable" skill, meaning that with enough in-game currency, players can purchase the necessary materials and focus solely on the experience grind to reach level 99. However, this approach typically involves significant financial loss, as the fastest Crafting methods often sacrifice profit for speed.

Whether you're looking to level Crafting efficiently, on a budget, or even make a profit along the way, this guide will cover the most effective methods to reach level 99 Crafting in OSRS.

1. Level 1-10: Crafting Leather Gloves

Starting from level 1, the most efficient way to train Crafting is by making Leather Gloves. To craft Leather Gloves, you need leather and a needle with thread. These can be purchased from the Al Kharid crafting store or the Grand Exchange. While crafting leather gloves, each piece of leather provides 13.75 Crafting experience. You’ll need around 48 leather to reach level 10.

This method is incredibly cheap and provides a straightforward way to kickstart your Crafting journey. Although the XP rates are low, it's a quick and inexpensive way to get through the early levels.

Materials Needed: Leather, Needle, Thread

Experience per hour: 5,000 – 7,000

Approximate cost: Very low

2. Level 10-20: Crafting Leather Boots

After reaching level 10, you can start crafting Leather Boots. This method offers a slightly better experience rate, with each piece of leather providing 16.25 XP. Crafting Leather Boots is similar to crafting Leather Gloves but yields higher experience.

It’s a good idea to continue using this method until level 20, as the materials remain affordable and the experience gains are steady.

Materials Needed: Leather, Needle, Thread

Experience per hour: 7,000 – 10,000

Approximate cost: Low

3. Level 20-46: Crafting Sapphire Rings

At level 20, you unlock the ability to craft Sapphire Rings, which provide 40 Crafting experience per ring. This method is slightly more expensive than crafting leather items but offers much faster experience gains.

To craft Sapphire Rings, you’ll need gold bars and sapphire gems. You can purchase these from the Grand Exchange or mine the gold ore and cut the sapphires yourself for some extra profit. Each ring can be enchanted later for some extra Magic experience or sold on the Grand Exchange.

Materials Needed: Gold Bars, Sapphires, Ring Mould

Experience per hour: 25,000 – 30,000

Approximate cost: Moderate

4. Level 46-54: Crafting Unpowered Orbs

Once you reach level 46, crafting Unpowered Orbs becomes one of the best training methods. Each Unpowered Orb grants 52.5 Crafting experience, and the materials required are quite inexpensive. To craft Unpowered Orbs, you need molten glass, which can either be purchased or made using the Superglass Make spell.

Unpowered Orbs are used to create Battlestaves, which are in demand, making this method relatively cost-effective. Continue crafting Unpowered Orbs until you reach level 54.

Materials Needed: Molten Glass, Glassblowing Pipe

Experience per hour: 35,000 – 40,000

Approximate cost: Moderate

5. Level 54-61: Crafting Battlestaves

Starting at level 54, you can begin crafting Battlestaves, one of the most popular Crafting methods due to its decent experience rates and potential for profit. Each Battlestaff provides 137.5 Crafting experience. The materials needed include Unpowered Orbs and Battlestaves, both of which can be purchased from the Grand Exchange.

While the cost per hour is higher than previous methods, the experience rates are significantly better, and the staves can be alchemized or sold for profit.

Materials Needed: Unpowered Orbs, Battlestaves

Experience per hour: 40,000 – 50,000

Approximate cost: High (potential profit)

6. Level 61-87: Crafting Dragonhide Bodies

When you reach level 61, crafting Dragonhide Bodies becomes available. Crafting Green Dragonhide Bodies is the most cost-effective option until level 63, after which you can switch to crafting Blue Dragonhide Bodies for slightly better experience rates. Crafting Green Dragonhide Bodies grants 186 Crafting experience per body, while Blue Dragonhide Bodies grant 210 Crafting experience per body.

This method is significantly more expensive than previous methods but offers much faster experience rates. You’ll be crafting these until level 87, at which point you can switch to the highest-level Dragonhide Bodies.

Materials Needed: Green/Blue Dragonhide, Needle, Thread

Experience per hour: 80,000 – 90,000

Approximate cost: Very high

7. Level 87-99: Crafting Black Dragonhide Bodies

From level 87 to 99, the fastest experience method is crafting Black Dragonhide Bodies. Each Black Dragonhide Body provides 258 Crafting experience, making it the most efficient way to train Crafting in OSRS.

This method is extremely expensive, but the experience rates are unparalleled, reaching up to 300,000 experience per hour with optimal efficiency. Crafting Black Dragonhide Bodies is recommended for those who have a significant amount of gold to invest and want to reach 99 Crafting as quickly as possible.

Materials Needed: Black Dragonhide, Needle, Thread

Experience per hour: 250,000 – 300,000

Approximate cost: Very high

Alternative Training Methods

While the above methods are the fastest for reaching level 99, there are alternative methods that offer a balance between experience and profit.

Flax to Bowstring (Level 10-99)

Turning flax into bowstring is one of the few profitable Crafting methods in OSRS. While the experience rates are much lower, ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 XP per hour, this method provides a consistent profit. If you're looking to train Crafting without losing money, or even turning a small profit, this method is worth considering.

Materials Needed: Flax, Spinning Wheel

Experience per hour: 15,000 – 25,000

Approximate profit: Low to moderate

Molten Glass (Level 1-99)

Using the Superglass Make spell to turn sand and seaweed into molten glass can be profitable and provides decent experience. This method requires the Lunar Spellbook and access to the spell. The experience rates are lower than crafting Dragonhide Bodies, but the cost is significantly reduced, and you can even make a profit.

Materials Needed: Buckets of Sand, Giant Seaweed, Astral Runes, Fire Runes, Air Runes

Experience per hour: 50,000 – 70,000

Approximate profit: Moderate

Conclusion

Reaching level 99 Crafting in Old School RuneScape requires a significant amount of time, effort, and often OSRS gold. The methods outlined in this guide range from the most efficient, albeit expensive, to more cost-effective and even profitable alternatives. Depending on your in-game goals, budget, and time, you can mix and match these methods to suit your needs. Whether you choose to spend money for fast experience or take a more budget-conscious approach, the journey to 99 Crafting is a rewarding one that opens up new opportunities in the game.