Best AFK Mining Methods in OSRS (XP Rates & AFK Times)

Mining doesn’t have to be painful. Plenty of methods in Old School RuneScape let you train Mining in AFK fashion while still earning decent XP or GP. This guide covers the best AFK Mining methods in OSRS, with their XP rates, requirements, AFK time, and profit.

The table below is ordered by XP per hour, but there’s no single “best” method. Shooting Stars is the most AFK (up to 7 minutes per click), Motherlode Mine is the best balance of XP and AFK, and Salt Mine and Amethyst are the highest GP methods. Use the comparison table to find a method that matches your level and goal, then jump to its section for the details.

The Motherlode Mine is the best-balanced AFK Mining method in the game, pairing strong XP with comfortable AFK time and a steady supply of ores.

Motherlode Mine “recently” (May 2024) received a significant rework that made it one of the best overall mining methods in the game. The upper level now unlocks at 57 Mining (reduced from 72), and pay-dirt veins last longer. Veins in the upper floor last 36–40 seconds versus 23–27 seconds on the lower floor. Coal mined from pay-dirt now grants Mining experience too, giving the method a small XP bump over its old rates.

The biggest quality-of-life upgrade is the Super Hopper. For 50 golden nuggets, it lets you deposit pay-dirt directly from the upper level, so you no longer have to run downstairs to deposit your pay dirt. Combined with the longer upper-floor veins, this is what makes Motherlode one of the best AFK mining methods.

• XP per hour: 45,000 – 65,000
• AFK time: ~36–40 seconds (upper level)
• Requirements: 57 Mining and 100 golden nuggets to unlock the upper level (plus 50 golden nuggets for the Super Hopper)

Not sure how many nuggets or what XP you’re working toward? Try our Motherlode Mine calculator to plan your session.

Mining Calcified Rocks is a highly underrated training method with solid AFK time and surprisingly strong experience rates — competitive with Motherlode at higher levels, while also banking Prayer XP.

While mining Calcified Rocks, you receive blessed bone shards and calcified deposits. The deposits can be turned into more bone shards or into calcified moths at an anvil with a hammer. Banking the blessed bone shards is worth around 10–15k Prayer XP per hour on the side, which makes this method especially valuable for ironmen training two skills at once.

Use our Blessed Bone Shards calculator to determine how many blessed bone shards you’ll need for your goal Prayer level.

• XP per hour: 25,000 – 45,000
• AFK time: ~70 seconds
• Requirements: 50 Mining, start Perilous Moons

Shooting Stars is the most AFK Mining method in OSRS. Stars fall roughly every 90 minutes on every world and range from size 1 to size 9, with the Mining level needed to mine each layer equal to ten times the star’s size (so a size 5 star needs 50 Mining for its top layer). You mine the highest layer you can and work your way down as it depletes.

Each layer lasts up to 7 minutes, the longest AFK time of any method here. Mining stars rewards stardust, which you exchange with Dusuri outside the Mining Guild in Falador for rewards like the Celestial ring (+4 invisible mining boost) and Gem bags, which are a fantastic Crafting method for Ironmen.

• XP per hour: ~25,000
• AFK time: Up to 7 minutes
• Requirements: None (higher Mining lets you reach the better top layers)

The easiest way to find active stars is the Star Miners Discord: Star Miners Discord.

Amethyst has the highest requirement here at Level 92 Mining, but it rewards that investment with strong, low-effort profit. XP is modest at around 20k per hour, so this is a method you pick for the GP (roughly 300k GP per hour) or to create ammo if you are an Ironman.

AFK time varies with how quickly your crystals deplete, and can be extended with Expert Mining Gloves. You can also bring a chisel to craft amethyst into bolt tips or dart tips while you mine.

• XP per hour: ~20,000
• GP per hour: ~300k
• Requirements: 92 Mining

Mining Ancient Essence is a niche AFK method used mostly by Ironmen who need the essence for activities like charging the Venator bow. The amount of ancient essence you receive scales with your Mining level, reaching its highest yield at level 90 and above.

• XP per hour: ~10,000
• AFK time: ~75 seconds
• Requirements: 75 Mining, Secrets of the North

Mining Daeyalt shards beneath Darkmeyer is a niche but useful AFK method. The shards convert into Daeyalt essence, which provides bonus experience when used for Runecrafting — so the real payoff comes later, not while you mine.

The Mining XP here is low (~8k/hr), so this method is best reserved for players stockpiling essence ahead of a large Runecrafting grind rather than as general Mining training.

• XP per hour: ~8,000
• AFK time: ~60 seconds
• Requirements: 60 Mining, Sins of the Father

Mining salts beneath Weiss is really a low-attention money maker rather than a true AFK method. The ~10–15 second mining cycles mean you’re clicking fairly often so it is more of a relaxed training method rather than fully AFK. What it lacks in AFK time it makes up for in profit – three types of stackable salts that sell well on the Grand Exchange for 300k–400k GP per hour.

The Mining XP is minimal (~5k/hr), so come here for the GP, not the XP.

• XP per hour: ~5,000
• GP per hour: 300k – 400k
• AFK time: ~10–15 seconds
• Requirements: 72 Mining, Making Friends with My Arm

What is the most AFK Mining method in OSRS?

Shooting Stars, by a wide margin. Each star layer lasts up to 7 minutes before you need to click again, and there’s no requirement to start, though higher Mining lets you reach the better top layers.

What’s the best AFK Mining method for XP?

The Motherlode Mine, at roughly 45,000–65,000 XP per hour with ~36–40 second AFK windows on the upper level. It’s the best balance of experience and low effort for most accounts.

What’s the best AFK Mining method for money?

The Salt Mine (300k–400k GP/hr) and Amethyst (~300k GP/hr) are the top earners. Salt is more profit-focused but needs more clicking, while Amethyst is more relaxed but requires 92 Mining.

What level do I need for the Motherlode Mine upper level?

57 Mining, recently reduced from 72. You’ll also need 100 golden nuggets to unlock the upper level, and 50 more for the Super Hopper that lets you deposit pay-dirt from upstairs.

Do AFK Mining methods require quests?

Some do. Calcified Rocks needs you to start Perilous Moons, Daeyalt requires Sins of the Father, Ancient Essence requires Secrets of the North, and the Salt Mine requires Making Friends with My Arm. Shooting Stars, Motherlode, and Amethyst have no quest requirements.