Old School RuneScape is known for its grind, but not every money-making method requires intense focus and clicking. Whether you’re working from home, watching Netflix, or just want to make progress without full attention, AFK (Away From Keyboard) money making lets you earn GP while doing other things. Here are the five best AFK methods that balance profit with minimal interaction.
What Makes a Method Truly AFK?
Before diving in, let’s clarify what “AFK” actually means in OSRS context.
AFK levels defined:
- High AFK: Click once every 5-10 minutes, can do other activities
- Medium AFK: Click every 1-3 minutes, can watch videos or work
- Low AFK: Requires attention every 30-60 seconds, semi-passive
The methods below range from high to medium AFK, prioritizing those that let you genuinely step away from the game for extended periods while still making consistent profit.
Important note: AFK methods generally earn less GP per hour than active methods, but the advantage is you can do them while working, studying, or relaxing. The real GP/hour is infinite if you’re doing something else productive simultaneously.
1. Cannonballs (High AFK – 200K-300K GP/Hour)
Making cannonballs at the Edgeville furnace is the king of AFK money making in OSRS. It’s simple, profitable, and requires almost zero attention.
Requirements:
- 35 Smithing
- Completion of Dwarf Cannon quest
- Starting capital: 500K-1M GP for steel bars
How it works:
Purchase steel bars from the Grand Exchange, bank at Edgeville, use steel bars on the furnace, and make cannonballs. Each inventory takes approximately 3 minutes and produces 4 cannonballs per steel bar.
Why it’s extremely AFK:
Once you click the furnace with steel bars, your character automatically makes all cannonballs in your inventory. You can literally walk away for 2.5-3 minutes per inventory. The Edgeville furnace is steps from the bank, making the method incredibly smooth.
Profit calculation:
- Steel bar cost: ~950 GP each
- Cannonballs sell for: ~270 GP each (×4 per bar = ~1,080 GP)
- Profit per bar: ~130 GP
- Profit per inventory (27 bars): ~3,510 GP
- Inventories per hour: ~20
- Total profit: 200K-300K GP/hour depending on GE prices
Optimization tips:
Use the Edgeville furnace (closest to bank), enable shift-drop if you want to drop low-value items, and buy steel bars in bulk during low-price periods to maximize profit margins.
AFK Rating: 10/10 – You can literally watch entire YouTube videos between clicks.
2. Rune Dragons (Medium AFK – 1M-1.5M GP/Hour)
For players with high combat stats, Rune Dragons in the Lithkren Vault offer excellent AFK profit with minimal gear requirements compared to other high-level content.
Requirements:
- 90+ Combat stats (Melee or Ranged)
- Completion of Dragon Slayer II quest
- 75+ Defense recommended
- Extended dragonfire protection (extended super antifire + shield OR 90+ Herblore for extended super antifire alone)
How it works:
Rune Dragons are located in a single-combat area and have relatively slow attack speed. Use melee with a dragon hunter lance or ranged with dragon hunter crossbow, pray Protect from Magic, drink extended super antifire, and attack. Each kill takes 30-60 seconds depending on your stats.
Why it’s moderately AFK:
You can pray melee or magic (depending on your attack style) and simply click a new dragon every 30-60 seconds. The Bonecrusher necklace automatically handles bones, and the Herb Sack stores herbs, reducing banking frequency. With high defense, you rarely need to eat, allowing longer trips.
Profit breakdown:
Rune Dragons drop valuable items including:
- Rune bars (common, 12K+ each)
- Dragon platelegs/plateskirt (rare, 160K+)
- Dragon limbs (rare, 1.5M+)
- Elite clue scrolls (medium chance)
- Noted adamantite and runite ore
Average loot per kill: 20K-30K GP
Expected profit: 1M-1.5M GP/hour
Melee: Dragon hunter lance, Bandos armor (or Torva if wealthy), Ferocious ring Ranged: Dragon hunter crossbow, Ruby/Diamond dragon bolts (e), blessed d’hide or better
AFK Rating: 7/10 – Requires clicking every 30-60 seconds but very relaxing with good stats.
3. Karambwans Fishing (High AFK – 400K-500K GP/Hour)
Fishing karambwans is one of the most AFK skilling methods that also generates solid profit. It’s extremely popular among players who want to make money while working or studying.
Requirements:
- 65+ Fishing (higher is better for catch rates)
- Completion of Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest
- Fairy ring access (highly recommended)
How it works:
Use a karambwan vessel (purchasable from Tiadeche in Karamja) with raw karambwanji as bait. Fish at the karambwan spot near the Fairy ring DKP. Each spot lasts several minutes before moving, and your inventory fills slowly, allowing long AFK periods.
Why it’s extremely AFK:
Fishing spots don’t move frequently, and karambwans fill your inventory slowly (28 inventory spaces take 3-4 minutes at higher levels). You can easily watch shows or work between clicks. Banking is quick via fairy ring to Zanaris then to a bank, or use the deposit box at Port Sarim.
Profit calculation:
- Raw karambwans sell for: 1,100-1,300 GP each
- Karambwanji cost: ~20 GP each
- Net profit per karambwan: ~1,080-1,280 GP
- Catches per hour at 65 Fishing: ~350
- Catches per hour at 80+ Fishing: ~400-450
Expected profit: 400K-500K GP/hour at high fishing levels
Bonus benefit: You’re also training Fishing, making this a profitable skilling method rather than pure money making.
Optimization tips:
Use the Fairy ring DKP location (closest to fishing spot and bank), wear weight-reducing gear to run longer, and fish during off-peak hours when GE prices are higher for better profits.
AFK Rating: 9/10 – One of the best AFK skilling money makers available.
4. Gargoyles Slayer (Medium AFK – 600K-800K GP/Hour)
Gargoyles at level 75 Slayer provide consistent, predictable profit with minimal effort. They’re a favorite among players who want AFK combat money making.
Requirements:
- 75 Slayer
- 75+ Attack, Strength, and Defense recommended
- Rock hammer or Granite hammer to finish them
- Slayer task from a Slayer master (or Slayer bracelets for off-task)
How it works:
Gargoyles are located on the third floor of the Slayer Tower. They have low Magic defense, moderate HP, and drop consistent alchable items plus noted supplies. Attack one, wait until it’s low HP, finish with rock hammer, and loot. Repeat.
Why it’s moderately AFK:
Gargoyles don’t hit very hard with Protect from Melee active, and they have enough HP that each kill takes 30-45 seconds. You can kill 3-4 without needing to click, then finish them all with the hammer. With Guthan’s set or a blood fury, you can stay indefinitely without food.
Loot breakdown:
Gargoyles consistently drop:
- Granite maul (15K-30K)
- Rune full helm (20K+)
- Mystic robe top (72K)
- Various coins, runes, and alchables
- Granite boots (rare, 500K+)
Average loot per kill: 4K-6K GP
Expected profit: 600K-800K GP/hour on task, 400K-600K off task
Gear recommendations:
Melee setup with Guthan’s for healing (or SGS/blood fury), Protect from Melee, and decent crush bonus weapons. The Slayer Tower contains an altar for prayer restoration nearby.
AFK Rating: 7/10 – Requires periodic attention to finish gargoyles and loot, but very relaxed.
5. Skeletal Wyverns (Medium AFK – 700K-900K GP/Hour)
Skeletal Wyverns offer excellent AFK profit for mid-level players who’ve completed Elemental Workshop I for the elemental shield.
Requirements:
- 72 Slayer
- 70+ Ranged or Melee stats
- Elemental, Mind, or Dragonfire shield (for wyvern ice breath protection)
- Prayer potions and food
How it works:
Wyverns are located in the Asgarnia Ice Dungeon. They use melee and ranged attacks plus an ice breath special (blocked by proper shield). Attack wyverns in the northeast corner of the cave where only 2-3 are accessible, reducing the chance of being attacked by multiples.
Why it’s moderately AFK:
With Protect from Magic active and proper shield equipped, wyverns become very manageable. Each kill takes 45-60 seconds, and their valuable drops make banking every 10-15 minutes worthwhile. You can semi-AFK by clicking a new wyvern every minute while watching videos.
Loot highlights:
Wyverns drop valuable items including:
- Granite legs (rare, 300K+)
- Wyvern visage (very rare, 6M+)
- Consistent noted ore and bars
- Rune equipment and alchables
- Prayer potions and high-level seeds
Average loot per kill: 9K-12K GP
Expected profit: 700K-900K GP/hour depending on luck with rare drops
Optimal setup:
Ranged with broad bolts or better, black d’hide armor, Elemental shield, Protect from Magic, and Ava’s device. The nearby bank in Edgeville or Falador makes banking convenient.
AFK Rating: 7/10 – Requires periodic prayer potion drinking and wyvern targeting, but comfortable overall.
Honorable Mentions
Cooking Sharks (600K-700K GP/hour): Extremely AFK with 94+ Cooking (99% success rate with Cooking gauntlets). Buy raw sharks, cook at Hosidius range, sell cooked sharks. Pure profit with zero risk.
Spinning Flax (150K-200K GP/hour): Very low requirements (10 Crafting), extremely AFK at Lumbridge Castle spinning wheel. Low profit but accessible to all players.
Plank Making (300K-400K GP/hour): Use Lunar spellbook’s Plank Make spell at a bank. Medium effort but decent profit for low-level accounts.
Choosing the Right AFK Method for You
Different methods suit different account types and situations:
Low-level accounts (Combat 60-90):
- Cannonballs (safest choice)
- Karambwans fishing (requires quest completion)
- Spinning flax (lowest requirements)
Mid-level accounts (Combat 90-110):
- Gargoyles (excellent balance of profit and AFK)
- Skeletal Wyverns (better profit, slightly more attention)
- Cooking sharks (pure skilling, zero combat)
High-level accounts (Combat 110+):
- Rune Dragons (best GP/hour while still AFK)
- Gargoyles (more consistent than Rune Dragons)
- Any of the above (flexibility to choose based on mood)
Some players maintain multiple OSRS accounts specifically to run several AFK methods simultaneously—one account doing cannonballs while another fishes karambwans, for example. While this requires more initial investment and setup, it multiplies passive income significantly for dedicated players.
Maximizing Your AFK Efficiency
Tips for all AFK methods:
- Use mobile for ultra-portability: OSRS Mobile lets you AFK while away from your computer, maximizing opportunities to make GP.
- Set timers: Use your phone timer to remind you when to click, preventing logout (5-minute idle timer) and maximizing efficiency.
- Track GE prices: AFK methods are heavily dependent on GE margins. Buy supplies during low-price periods and sell products during peaks.
- Optimize banking routes: Every second saved on banking is more time making profit. Learn the fastest routes for your chosen method.
- Avoid peak hours for gathering: Fishing and other resource gathering methods have better catch rates in less crowded worlds.
The Reality of AFK Money Making
AFK methods will never compete with active methods like Vorkath (3M+ GP/hour), Chambers of Xeric raids (4M+ GP/hour), or efficient skilling rotations. However, the beauty of AFK methods is that they generate income during time you wouldn’t be actively playing anyway.
The real calculation:
If you can earn 500K GP/hour while working an 8-hour shift doing AFK karambwans during breaks, that’s 4M GP earned during time that would otherwise generate nothing. The effective GP/hour becomes infinite because it doesn’t compete with your active playing time.
This is why many experienced players use AFK methods as baseline income, then actively grind high-profit content during dedicated gaming sessions. The combination maximizes total daily GP gains.
Common AFK Money Making Mistakes
What to avoid:
- AFKing in dangerous areas without protection: Wilderness methods might seem profitable but getting PKed erases hours of profit instantly.
- Neglecting to check prices: AFK method profitability fluctuates with GE prices. Always verify current margins before committing hours to a method.
- Over-AFKing and logging out: The 5-minute logout timer is unforgiving. Set reminders or you’ll waste time relogging constantly.
- Ignoring opportunity cost: If you’re actively playing and doing an AFK method, you’re leaving money on the table. Save AFK methods for genuine multi-tasking situations.
Conclusion: Passive Profit While Living Your Life
AFK money making in OSRS isn’t about getting rich quickly—it’s about generating consistent profit during time you’re doing other things. Whether you’re working, studying, watching shows, or just relaxing, these methods let you progress your account without demanding full attention.
Quick recap of top methods:
- Cannonballs: 200K-300K GP/hour, extremely AFK, low requirements
- Rune Dragons: 1M-1.5M GP/hour, moderately AFK, high requirements
- Karambwans: 400K-500K GP/hour, very AFK, medium requirements
- Gargoyles: 600K-800K GP/hour, moderately AFK, 75 Slayer required
- Skeletal Wyverns: 700K-900K GP/hour, moderately AFK, 72 Slayer required
Choose the method that matches your stats, requirements, and AFK needs. Even earning just 300K GP/hour while working a full day adds up to millions of GP weekly with minimal effort.