Track WoW Auction House Prices for Crafting Profit

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains how to track World of Warcraft auction house prices and use that data to find profitable crafting materials. You’ll learn to set up a simple spreadsheet, record prices consistently, and calculate which materials are worth buying for crafting. No addons are required, though one optional tool is mentioned.

What You’ll Need

A WoW character with access to the Auction House (any level).
A spreadsheet program (Excel, Google Sheets, or similar).
About 10 minutes per day for data entry.
Optional: a notepad or second monitor to jot down prices while browsing.

Step-by-Step

Decide which materials to track. Start with 5–10 crafting materials you commonly use or sell. Examples include herbs, ores, cloth, leather, and enchanting materials like dusts or shards. Pick items with steady demand, not seasonal novelties.
Create your spreadsheet. Open a new sheet and label columns: Date, Item, Buyout Price, Stack Size, Quantity, and Notes. Add a row for each material you’re tracking. If you want to track multiple items, create a separate tab for each or add an “Item” column.
Set a consistent recording time. Choose a time of day when you usually play. AH prices fluctuate with server population and reset times, so recording at the same time daily gives you a consistent baseline.
Visit the Auction House and search for your first item. Use the exact item name in the search bar. Sort by buyout price (lowest first) to see the cheapest current listings.
Record the lowest buyout price per single unit. Note the price for one item, not the stack price. If a stack of 20 sells for 40 gold, the unit price is 2 gold. Write this in the Buyout Price column.
Record the stack size and quantity available. In the Stack Size column, note the most common stack size (e.g., 20). In Quantity, write the total number of that item currently listed at the lowest price tier (e.g., 5 stacks of 20 = 100 units).
Repeat for each material. Go through your list, searching and recording each item. This takes about 5–10 minutes once you’re familiar with the process.
Calculate the crafting cost. For each recipe you want to craft, sum the unit prices of its materials. For example, if a crafted item needs 5 of Herb A and 2 of Ore B, and Herb A costs 2g each and Ore B costs 3g each, the material cost is 5*2 + 2*3 = 16g.
Compare to the crafted item’s sell price. Search the AH for the crafted item you plan to sell. Record its current buyout price. Subtract the material cost from this price to get your profit margin.
Track trends over time. After a week of data, look at the minimum, maximum, and average unit prices for each material. If a material is consistently cheaper on weekends, or if its price spikes after a patch, you’ll see it in the data.
Identify profitable materials. A material is profitable to craft with when the crafted item’s sell price consistently exceeds the material cost by a margin you find acceptable (e.g., 20% or more). Also consider the auction house cut (5% of the sale price) and deposit fees.
Act on your data. When you see a material at a low price, buy it in bulk and either craft items to sell or resell the material later when the price rises. This is the core of AH flipping and crafting profit.

Common Mistakes

Recording stack prices instead of unit prices. Always divide the total buyout by the stack size to get the per-unit cost.
Ignoring the auction house cut. When you sell, the AH takes 5% of the sale price. If your profit margin is less than that, you lose gold.
Tracking too many items. Starting with 20+ materials leads to burnout. Stick to a small list and expand slowly.
Forgetting to update prices daily. AH prices can change dramatically in a few hours. Inconsistent data leads to bad decisions.
Not accounting for deposit fees. When you post an auction, you pay a deposit (refunded if it sells). If your item doesn’t sell, you lose that deposit.

Tips

Use the mobile auction house app (if available) to check prices when you’re away from the game, but note that prices may be slightly delayed.
Look for price resets. Players often buy out all of a material to relist at a higher price. If you see a sudden spike, it may drop back down within a day.
Track both buyout and bid prices. The lowest bid can be significantly cheaper, but you may have to wait for the auction to end.
Consider the time of week. Many players craft on weekends, driving up material prices. Buying on weekdays can be cheaper.
Use a simple formula in your spreadsheet. For example, in Google Sheets, you can use =MIN(range) to see the lowest recorded price for a material.

Troubleshooting

Prices are wildly inconsistent. This can happen if you record at different times of day. Stick to a fixed schedule, or record multiple times and average them.
You can’t find a material on the AH. Some materials are rarely listed. If you can’t find it, try searching without the exact name, or check the commodity auction tab (if available).
The crafted item isn’t selling. Even with a good profit margin, if no one buys the item, you won’t make gold. Check the market demand by looking at how many are listed and how often they sell.
You’re losing gold despite good margins. Recalculate your costs including AH cuts and deposits. Also consider that you might be undercutting too aggressively, driving the price down.
Your spreadsheet becomes messy. Use separate tabs for each week or month, and keep a summary tab with averages and trends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an addon to track prices? No. A spreadsheet works fine. Addons like TradeSkillMaster can automate it, but they require setup and may be overwhelming for beginners.
How often should I update my price data? At least once a day, at a consistent time. If you’re actively trading, checking every few hours is better.
What is a good profit margin for crafting? Many players aim for at least 20% after AH cuts. However, high-volume items can be profitable with lower margins.
Should I track every material in the game? No. Focus on materials for recipes you actually craft or plan to craft. Tracking everything is time-consuming and unnecessary.
Can I use this method for flipping materials without crafting? Yes. Track the buyout price and the typical resale price. Buy when the price is low and sell when it’s high.
What if the AH is undercut constantly? That’s normal. Undercutting is part of the game. Use your data to find items that have stable prices or that you can sell when the market is less competitive.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.