The OSRS cannonball cost is around 282 gp per cannonball on the live Grand Exchange, but your actual buy price may fall between 281 and 289 gp. That difference adds up quickly when you fire thousands of shots during Slayer tasks, so check the Grand Exchange before each large purchase.
Buying cannonballs is convenient, while Smithing them from steel bars can cost roughly 143 to 145 gp per cannonball before accounting for your time and supplies. Each steel bar makes four cannonballs. Your choice also depends on Grand Exchange limits. Cannonballs have an 11,000-per-four-hour limit, while steel bars have a 10,000 limit.
Key Takeaways
- Live Grand Exchange prices put cannonballs at roughly 281–289 gp each, with about 282 gp as a practical budgeting estimate. Check current offers before large purchases because price differences can significantly affect total costs.
- Making cannonballs from steel bars costs approximately 143–145 gp per cannonball before valuing your time, since each steel bar produces four cannonballs. Buying is more convenient, while Smithing is best when you value the cost savings or want the Smithing experience.
- At about 282 gp each, cannonball expenses total roughly 282,000 gp for 1,000, 1.41 million gp for 5,000, and 2.82 million gp for 10,000. Include ammunition alongside food, potions, and other supplies when budgeting Slayer tasks.
- Grand Exchange limits affect supply planning: cannonballs are capped at 11,000 per four hours, while steel bars have a 10,000-per-four-hour limit. Plan large orders in advance or keep a banked supply available.
Current OSRS Cannonball Prices
A cannonball currently costs about 282 gp on the live Old School RuneScape Grand Exchange market. Actual instant-buy and sell prices can range from roughly 281 to 289 gp, depending on your offer type and market timing. At 282 gp each, 1,000 cannonballs cost around 282,000 gp, while 10,000 cost about 2.82 million gp. You can buy up to 11,000 cannonballs every four hours, so the current price matters when planning a long Slayer or Ranged training session.
The official guide price is currently closer to 249 gp, but that figure may lag behind recent trades. For a large purchase, live buy and sell prices provide a more useful estimate because they show what you are likely to pay at that moment. For example, budgeting 289 gp per cannonball gives you a safer total of 2.89 million gp for 10,000 cannonballs. Buying at 281 gp would save roughly 80,000 gp. Check the Grand Exchange price before placing your offer so your budget reflects current market conditions.
Cannonball Making Cost
Making cannonballs in OSRS starts with the cost of steel bars. At roughly 571 gp per steel bar, and with four cannonballs made from each bar, your raw material cost is 571 ÷ 4, or about 143 gp per cannonball. One thousand cannonballs require 250 steel bars, costing approximately 142,750 gp before you account for your time. Steel bar prices are therefore the main figure to consider when planning a Slayer or Ranged training budget.
You need level 35 Smithing, an ammo mould, and access to a furnace to make cannonballs. You must also complete the Dwarf Cannon quest to use the Dwarf multicannon, although the quest does not affect the Smithing cost. Each steel bar gives 25.6 Smithing experience, so processing 250 bars into 1,000 cannonballs earns 6,400 Smithing experience. The mould is a one-time purchase, while steel bars remain an ongoing expense.
Your time also has value, especially when cannonballs sell for around 282 gp each on the live Grand Exchange market. Buying 1,000 ready-made cannonballs would cost about 282,000 gp before price changes, compared with roughly 142,750 gp for the steel bars. That leaves a maximum gross difference of around 139,250 gp. This difference pays for the time you spend banking, smelting, and waiting, so making cannonballs is most worthwhile when you value the Smithing experience or have a lower-value activity to do while training. Prices can change, and large purchases may be affected by the 11,000-cannonball and 10,000-steel-bar four-hour buy limits.
Slayer Task Cannonball Budget
Estimate your OSRS cannonball cost by multiplying the number of cannonballs you plan to use by the current price per ball. At roughly 282 gp each, 1,000 cannonballs cost about 282,000 gp. A 5,000-cannonball Slayer session costs approximately 1.41 million gp, while 10,000 cannonballs cost around 2.82 million gp. This quick calculation helps you decide whether a cannon-heavy task fits your Slayer budget before you begin.
Your actual spending may change because live Grand Exchange offers vary, with recent prices ranging from about 281 to 289 gp per cannonball. For larger task supplies, remember that the cannonball buy limit is 11,000 every four hours. You may need to plan purchases in advance or use stock already in your bank. If prices rise to 289 gp, 5,000 cannonballs would cost about 1.445 million gp, so checking the price before buying is worthwhile. Include this ammunition cost alongside food, potions, and other supplies when estimating the full cost of your Slayer task.
Buying Limits And Profit Tradeoffs
Buying finished cannonballs is the simplest way to supply your Dwarf multicannon, but the Grand Exchange limit can slow large orders. You can buy up to 11,000 cannonballs every four hours, which costs about 3.10 million gp at 282 gp each. Live prices can move, so a price between 281 and 289 gp changes that order by roughly 88,000 gp. Buying saves you the time required to Smith cannonballs and lets you start Slayer or Ranged training immediately, but convenience comes with a higher cost per shot.
Making your own supply costs less in materials because one steel bar produces four cannonballs. At roughly 571 to 579 gp per steel bar, 11,000 cannonballs require 2,750 bars and cost about 1.57 to 1.59 million gp before you account for your time. The Grand Exchange allows you to buy 10,000 steel bars every four hours, enough to make 40,000 cannonballs. Mining or smelting your own bars can reduce the cash cost further, but it takes much longer. Compare the savings with the time spent smelting bars and Smithing cannonballs, and check prices before committing because steel bars, cannonballs, coal, and iron can all change in value.
Compare OSRS Cannonball Buying and Making Costs
As of August 7, 2026, cannonballs cost about 282 gp each on the live Grand Exchange, although actual prices can range from around 281 to 289 gp. That puts a 1,000-cannonball Slayer trip at roughly 282,000 gp, while 10,000 shots cost about 2.82 million gp. Buying is the simplest option when you want to start training immediately, but remember that the cannonball buy limit is 11,000 every four hours. Large orders may require advance planning.
Making cannonballs costs about 143 to 145 gp each when steel bars cost 571 to 579 gp because one bar produces four cannonballs. This can nearly halve your material cost compared with buying, but you need the required Smithing level, a cannonball mould, and enough time to smelt the bars. For Slayer budgeting, estimate your expected cannonball usage first. Then buy a starter supply for immediate tasks and make more later if you value the savings.