FFXIV crafting for profit

Crafting is the most consistent gil engine in Final Fantasy XIV — but only if you make the right things. This guide covers how to find recipes that actually pay, and how to keep them paying as the market shifts.

Why crafting makes gil

Every item a crafter makes has two prices: the cost of its ingredients and what it sells for on the market board. When the sale price is higher than the ingredient cost (after the 5% market tax), the difference is your profit. Because demand constantly renews — new players, new content, consumables that get used up — there's always something worth making.

The eight crafters

Carpenter, Blacksmith, Armorer, Goldsmith, Leatherworker, Weaver, Alchemist, and Culinarian each cover different markets. You don't need all eight to profit, but leveling more of them widens the pool of recipes you can chase when one market gets crowded. Consumables (food, potions) from Culinarian and Alchemist tend to sell steadily because players burn through them.

Finding recipes that actually pay

This is where most gil is won or lost. A recipe can look great one day and be unprofitable the next because someone flooded the board. Two numbers decide it:

• Margin — sale price minus the live cost of every ingredient, minus tax.
• Velocity — how many actually sell per day. A big margin on a slow seller isn't worth a retainer slot.

Checking that by hand across hundreds of recipes is miserable. The Crafting tool prices every recipe's ingredients from live listings on your world and ranks recipes by margin — filter to your crafter and level, and start at the top.

HQ vs NQ

High-quality items usually sell for a premium over normal quality, and for gear or consumables that premium can be large. If your crafter can reliably hit HQ, it's often worth the extra effort — but check the board: sometimes the HQ market is crowded while NQ moves faster. Compare both before you commit a big batch.

Melds, materia, and gear

Higher crafting stats let you make more valuable items at HQ and tackle expert recipes and collectables. You don't need best-in-slot to start earning, but as you reinvest profit into melds and gear, more of the profitable recipe list opens up to you.

Timing the patch cycle

Crafting demand is not flat — it surges on a schedule:

• New major patches add recipes, gear, and housing items that sell for a lot before supply catches up. The first days are often the most profitable of the cycle.
• Raid tiers drive demand for consumables (food, potions) and melds.
• Housing and seasonal events spike furnishing and glamour markets.

Stocking mats before a patch and crafting into the launch-week demand is one of the most reliable plays in the game.

Surviving undercutting

The market board rewards patience over panic. A few habits keep your crafting profitable:

• Don't list your whole stack at once — sell in smaller batches so you're not the one setting a new low.
• Spread across several profitable items instead of flooding one.
• Re-check prices right before crafting; a market that was great yesterday may be undercut today.
• When a market gets crowded, rotate to another recipe rather than racing to the bottom.

See profitable recipes on your world → All gil-making methods →

XIV Profitability is a free, fan-made tool. Not affiliated with Square Enix. Prices via Universalis. FINAL FANTASY XIV © SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.