How Long to Max an OSRS Account? Full Guide

Maxing an Old School RuneScape (OSRS) account means reaching level 99 in all 23 skills. For an average player, this takes roughly 1,800 to 2,500 hours of in-game playtime, though efficient players using optimal methods can do it in around 1,200–1,500 hours, while casual players may take 3,000+ hours. The exact time depends heavily on your chosen training methods, your efficiency, and how much time you spend on non-experience activities.

Note: The calculator above is a placeholder – it cannot estimate your time without your current XP and average XP/hour. See the formula below for a manual calculation.

Formula

The time to max is simply the total XP remaining divided by your average XP per hour:

Time (hours) = (Total XP needed – Current XP) / Average XP per hour

Total XP needed for level 99 in one skill is 13,034,431. For 23 skills, that’s 299,791,913 XP. If you already have some XP, subtract it. Your average XP per hour varies wildly by skill and method – from 30k XP/hour (Runecrafting) to 300k+ XP/hour (Melee).

Worked Example

Suppose you have 100 million total XP and you average 100,000 XP per hour across all skills.

1. Total XP needed: 299,791,913
2. Remaining XP: 299,791,913 – 100,000,000 = 199,791,913
3. Time = 199,791,913 / 100,000 = 1,997.9 hours

So you’d need about 2,000 hours. This matches the default 2,000 hours in the calculator above, which assumes you start fresh and average 100k XP/hour.

Background: What Does “Maxing” Mean?

In OSRS, you max an account when all 23 skills (Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, Prayer, Hitpoints, Runecrafting, Agility, Herblore, Thieving, Crafting, Fletching, Slayer, Hunter, Mining, Smithing, Fishing, Cooking, Firemaking, Woodcutting, Farming, and Construction) reach level 99. This is the highest level achievable without virtual levels (which go to 126). Maxing is a long-term goal that many players pursue, but few achieve – it requires dedication and often months of real-world time.

How Long Does Each Skill Take?

Not all skills are equal. Some are fast, some are painfully slow. Here are approximate XP rates for common methods (using efficient but not sweaty methods):

• Fast skills (under 50 hours each): Cooking, Fletching, Firemaking, Woodcutting, Thieving – often 200k–500k XP/hour.
• Medium skills (50–150 hours): Fishing, Mining, Smithing, Hunter, Crafting, Herblore – 50k–150k XP/hour.
• Slow skills (150–300 hours): Agility, Runecrafting, Slayer, Prayer – 30k–80k XP/hour.
• Special cases: Hitpoints and Defence train passively while you train combat, so they don’t add extra time if you train combat efficiently.

In total, the sum of these hours typically falls between 1,500 and 2,500 hours for a player who follows guides and uses decent methods.

Efficiency vs. Enjoyment

Your playstyle dramatically affects the total time. Three common approaches:

• Efficient maxing: Follow optimal guides, use tick manipulation, and always train the most efficient skill available. This can cut the time to ~1,200–1,500 hours, but it’s mentally draining and often less fun.
• Balanced play: Use good methods without obsessing over every tick. This is what most players do, and it leads to the 1,800–2,500 hour range.
• Casual/afk: Train while watching TV or at work, using low-attention methods. This can stretch the time to 3,000+ hours, but you might not even notice the time passing.

Remember, the game is meant to be fun. If you burn out, you’ll never max. Many players take breaks and come back, which also extends the real-world time.

Common Mistakes That Slow You Down

Even experienced players make these errors, which add hundreds of hours:

• Not using the best available method: For example, training Runecrafting via lava runes instead of ZMI or blood runes.
• Ignoring quests: Quests give huge XP lamps and unlock essential content (like Ancient Magicks, Piety, and better training spots). Skipping them is a massive mistake.
• Training combat without Slayer: Slayer is slow but essential – you’ll need 99 Slayer anyway, and training combat alongside it saves time.
• Bankstanding: Spending time at the GE chatting or organizing your bank adds up. Try to minimize idle time.
• Not using the Grand Exchange: Buying materials for skills like Herblore or Construction saves hours compared to gathering them yourself.

Costs: How Much GP Do You Need?

Maxing isn’t just time-consuming – it’s also expensive. Some skills are buyable, meaning you can purchase the materials to train them quickly. The total GP cost to max is often cited as around 300–500 million GP, depending on current market prices. Here’s a rough breakdown:

• Buyable skills: Construction, Herblore, Prayer, Smithing, Fletching, Cooking, Crafting – these can cost anywhere from 50k to several million GP per hour of training.
• Free skills: Agility, Runecrafting, Fishing, Woodcutting, Mining – these cost nothing but take longer.
• Money-making methods: If you don’t have the GP, you’ll need to spend extra time earning it. High-level PvM (like Vorkath or Zulrah) can make 2–5M GP/hour, but that adds more hours to your total.

You can reduce costs by doing daily activities (like herb runs) and using the GE wisely, but you’ll still need a substantial bankroll.

Real-World Time vs. In-Game Time

It’s important to distinguish between in-game hours and real-world time. If you play 2 hours a day, 2,000 in-game hours means about 1,000 days – almost 3 years. Many players spread this over several years, taking breaks and playing other games. Some players max in under a year by playing 8+ hours a day, but that’s a huge commitment.

Also, OSRS is a game where you can play efficiently on multiple accounts, but maxing one account is already a marathon. Don’t feel pressured to rush – the journey is part of the fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest skill to max?

Cooking is generally the fastest, with rates up to 300k XP/hour using wines or karambwans. You can reach 99 in under 40 hours from level 1, making it a common first 99.

What is the slowest skill to max?

Runecrafting is widely considered the slowest, with efficient methods like lava runes giving only ~60k XP/hour. It takes around 200–250 hours to go from 1 to 99, making it the most dreaded skill for maxing.

Can I max an OSRS account for free?

Yes, but it will take significantly longer. Free-to-play skills are limited and slower, and you’ll miss out on members’ methods that are much faster. Most players become members to max, as it’s practically required for a reasonable time frame.

How many quests do I need to do to max?

You don’t need to complete all quests, but doing the ones that give XP lamps and unlock essential training areas is crucial. The optimal quest list for maxing includes about 100–150 quests, but you can skip some if you don’t need their rewards.

Is maxing worth it?

That’s subjective. For many, maxing is a prestigious achievement and opens up the “completionist” side of the game. For others, the journey is more important than the destination. If you enjoy the game, it’s worth it; if you’re only doing it for status, you might burn out.

What’s the difference between maxing and completing the collection log?

Maxing is only about level 99 in all skills. The collection log tracks unique item drops from bosses, clues, and activities – that’s a much larger and more RNG-dependent goal that can take thousands more hours. Maxing is a prerequisite for many completionists, but they are separate goals.

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in t | Playtime | hours | 2000 | 0
in xp | Current total XP | xp | 0 | 0
out hours | Estimated hours to max | hours | (13034431 * 23 - xp) / (t * 0) | 0