5 Ways to Make Money in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley screenshot

Are you looking for ways to make a fortune in Stardew Valley? With a little creativity and hard work, you can amass riches and become the most successful farmer in the valley. From growing and selling profitable crops to raising lucrative animals, there are endless opportunities to generate income. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or just starting out, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to maximize your earnings.

Embarking on your Stardew Valley money-making journey requires a thoughtful approach. First, consider the most profitable crops to grow. Ancient Fruit, Starfruit, and Hops are highly lucrative options that can generate substantial income. Invest in Quality Sprinklers to automate watering, freeing up your time for other tasks. Expand your greenhouse to extend the growing season and increase your profits. As your farm thrives, upgrade your tools and purchase additional land to accommodate your growing operation.

In addition to crops, raising animals can be a highly profitable venture in Stardew Valley. Cows, pigs, and goats produce valuable milk, cheese, and truffles that can be sold for a tidy profit. Consider investing in a Coopmaster or Barnmaster profession to increase the yield of your animals. Additionally, explore the Artisan professions to turn your raw materials into higher-value products. By producing mayonnaise, cheese, or truffle oil, you can significantly boost your income. With careful planning and execution, you’ll soon be rolling in Stardew Valley riches.

Crops and Farming Techniques

Ancient Fruit

Ancient Fruit is one of the most profitable crops in Stardew Valley, taking 7 days to grow between seasons but yielding multiple harvests. Its profit margin is significantly higher than other crops, especially when processed into Ancient Fruit Wine. To obtain Ancient Fruit, you must donate an Ancient Fruit artifact to the museum. Once donated, you can purchase ancient fruit seeds from the traveling merchant or the seed maker.

For optimal growth and yield, plant Ancient Fruit in the greenhouse during the winter season. This allows for continuous growth and multiple harvests throughout the year. It is also recommended to use quality fertilizers and sprinklers to maximize yield and automate the watering process.

To further increase profitability, Ancient Fruit can be processed into Ancient Fruit Wine using a keg. This increases its value significantly, making it one of the most lucrative items in the game.

Other Profitable Crops

Other profitable crops include:

Crop	Profit Margin	Growth Time
Strawberries (Summer)	$240 per harvest	5 days
Blueberries (Summer)	$210 per harvest	4 days
Cranberries (Fall)	$160 per harvest	5 days
Hops (Summer/Fall)	$240 per harvest	11 days
Starfruit (Summer)	$400 per harvest	13 days

Animal Husbandry

Raising animals is an excellent way to make significant income in Stardew Valley.

Animal Products

Animals provide various products that can be sold for profit, including milk, eggs, wool, and truffle oil.
– Higher quality products fetch higher prices, so investing in quality barns and coops is crucial.
– Use items like the Milking Pail and Shear to collect animal products.
– Truffle oil is a lucrative product obtained from Pigs that have found Truffles.

Animal Breeding

Breeding animals can produce higher-quality offspring.

– Use the Incubator or Coopmaster to hatch and grow new animals.
– Animals with higher hearts will produce better quality products.
– Consider using animal mutations to improve offspring traits.

Animal Maintenance

Proper animal care is essential for optimizing product yield.

Animal	Maintenance
Cows	Provide Hay
Goats	Provide Hay, Pet
Sheep	Sheer Wool
Pigs	Provide Truffles
Chickens	Feed
Ducks	Provide Water

– Ensure animals have plenty of food and water.
– Pet and interact with animals to increase their happiness and product quality.
– Upgrade animal housing to provide more space and amenities.

Artisan Goods

Crafting Artisan Goods is a rewarding way to make money in Stardew Valley. By turning raw materials into higher-value products, you can significantly increase your profits.

Basic Artisan Goods

The most basic Artisan Goods are crafted using the Preserves Jar or Mayonnaise Machine. Here are some popular options:

Item	Input	Output	Profit Margin
Jelly	Fruit	Jelly	50%
Pickles	Vegetables	Pickles	40%
Mayonnaise	Large Eggs	Mayonnaise	25%

Advanced Artisan Goods

More valuable Artisan Goods require additional processing and equipment. For example, you can craft Cheese from Milk using a Cheese Press. To maximize your profits, consider the following factors when choosing advanced Artisan Goods:

Input Prices

The cost of raw materials can significantly affect your profit margin. Monitor market prices and purchase inputs when they are at their cheapest.

Output Value

The value of the final product determines your potential earnings. Choose Artisan Goods with a high base price or that sell for high prices in the market.

Equipment Availability

Some Artisan Goods require specialized equipment, such as the Keg or Wine Barrel. Ensure you have the necessary resources to produce these higher-value items.

Fishing and Crab Pots

Fishing

One of the most popular ways to earn money in Stardew Valley is by fishing. You can catch a variety of fish in the rivers, lakes, and oceans, and each fish has a different value. The more valuable fish typically require a higher fishing level, so it’s important to level up your fishing skill as quickly as possible. To level up your fishing skill, you simply need to catch more fish.

Crab Pots

Another way to earn money in Stardew Valley is by using crab pots. Crab pots are placed in bodies of water and they will automatically catch crabs for you. Crabs are not worth as much as fish, but they are much easier to catch and they can be a good way to earn some extra money. To make a crab pot, you will need 30 wood and 6 iron bars.

Choosing the Right Bait

The type of bait you use in your crab pots will affect the type of crabs you catch. There are three types of bait available: regular bait, quality bait, and perfect bait. Regular bait is the most common and it can be purchased from Willy’s Fish Shop. Quality bait is more effective than regular bait and it can be crafted at the crab pot station in the fishing menu. Perfect bait is the most effective type of bait and it can be found by foraging in the forest or by fishing in the ocean. The following table shows the different types of bait and the types of crabs they attract:

Bait	Crabs
Regular Bait	Common Crab, Green Crab, Rock Crab
Quality Bait	Snow Crab, Dungeness Crab, King Crab
Perfect Bait	Lobster, Crab Pot

Mining and Geodes

Mining is a great way to make money in Stardew Valley. You can sell the ores you find directly to Clint, the blacksmith, or you can use them to craft items that you can then sell for a profit.

Geodes are also a good source of income. You can find geodes in the mines, and you can also get them as gifts from villagers. You can sell geodes to Clint, or you can open them up using a Geode Crusher. Opening geodes can yield valuable gems that you can sell for a profit.

Mining Tips

Use a pickaxe to mine ore and geodes.
Upgrade your pickaxe as soon as possible to increase your mining speed and efficiency.
Use bombs to blow up large groups of rocks and geodes.
Use stairs to quickly reach lower levels of the mines.
Be careful of enemies in the mines, and always carry a weapon with you.
Use food to restore your energy while mining.
Donate minerals to the museum to earn rewards.

Geode Types

Geode Type	Minerals
Normal Geode	Amethyst, Aquamarine, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz
Frozen Geode	Diamond, Jade, Winter Stone
Magma Geode	Fire Quartz, Magma Cap, Ruby, Topaz
Ocean Geode	Aquamarine, Coral, Jade, Seafoam

Foraging and Tree Tapping

### Foraging

Foraging is an excellent way to make money in Stardew Valley, as it requires no investment and can be done anywhere. Simply gather items from the ground, such as weeds, mushrooms, and berries. These items can be sold for a small profit, or used to create more valuable items.

### Tree Tapping

Tree tapping is another great way to make money in Stardew Valley, and it is also very low-maintenance. Once you have tapped a tree, it will produce sap every day, which can be sold for money or used to create different products.

Barrels

Barrels are essential for storing sap, as it will quickly spoil if left out in the open. Barrels can be crafted at the Carpenter’s Shop, and they can hold up to 20 sap.

Kegs

Kegs are used to turn sap into wine, which can be sold for a higher profit than sap. Kegs can be crafted at the Cooper’s Shop, and they can hold up to 25 sap.

Profit per Keg of Wine
Crop	Profit
Ancient Fruit	3,100g
Starfruit	2,250g
Grapes	1,500g
Hops	1,250g
Wheat	500g

Crafting and Specialty Items

Growing Ancient Fruit

Ancient Fruit is one of the most profitable crops in Stardew Valley. It grows in the greenhouse and produces fruit that can be sold for 550g each. You can also make Ancient Fruit Wine, which sells for 1,650g per bottle.

Making Jelly and Preserves

Jelly and preserves are another great way to make money in Stardew Valley. You can make them from any fruit or vegetable, and they sell for a good profit. Jelly sells for 100g per jar, and preserves sell for 200g per jar.

Crafting Artisan Goods

Artisan goods are items that have been crafted using a Keg, Preserves Jar, or Cheese Press. These items sell for a higher price than their base ingredients. For example, a bottle of Pale Ale sells for 300g, which is twice the price of the Hops used to make it.

Making Truffle Oil

Truffle Oil is a valuable cooking ingredient that can be sold for 1,050g per bottle. It is made from Truffles, which are found by pigs. You can also make Truffle Oil from Truffle Honey, which is produced by bees that have access to Truffle Flowers.

Brewing Beer

Beer is another profitable item to craft in Stardew Valley. It is made from Hops and Wheat, and it sells for 200g per bottle. You can also age beer in a Cask to increase its value. Aged beer sells for 300g per bottle.

Making Wine

Wine is one of the most profitable items to craft in Stardew Valley. It is made from Grapes, and it sells for 300g per bottle. You can also age wine in a Cask to increase its value. Aged wine sells for 450g per bottle.

Processing Fish

Fishing is a great way to make money in Stardew Valley, but you can also make a profit by processing fish. You can smoke fish in a Smoker to increase its value. Smoked fish sells for twice the price of raw fish. You can also make Sashimi from fish, which sells for 200g per plate.

| Item | Selling Price |
|—|—|
| Ancient Fruit Wine | 1,650g |
| Jelly | 100g |
| Preserves | 200g |
| Pale Ale | 300g |
| Truffle Oil | 1,050g |
| Beer | 200g |
| Wine | 300g |

Community Center Bundles

Room Rewards

By completing certain bundles within the community center, you can access new areas, such as the greenhouse, pantry, and library. The greenhouse provides a year-round growing space, while the pantry stores extra food items, and the library houses a collection of books.

Vault Bundle

The Vault Bundle is the first bundle you’ll be able to complete. It requires 40 hardwood, 200 geodes, and 1 battery pack. Hardwood can be obtained by chopping down hard maple and oak trees, geodes can be found in the mines, and battery packs can be crafted at the blacksmith using copper and iron bars. After completing this bundle, you’ll gain access to the vault to the back of the community center, which contains several chests with valuable items.

Crafts Room Bundle

The Crafts Room Bundle requires 30 cloth, 50 mixed seeds, 10 pieces of hardwood, and 1 loom. Cloth can be made from cotton or wool using a loom, mixed seeds can be purchased at Pierre’s General Store, hardwood can be obtained by chopping down hard maple and oak trees, and a loom can be crafted at the carpenter’s shop. After completing this bundle, you’ll gain access to the crafts room to the left of the community center, which contains several machines for crafting items.

Pantry Bundle

The Pantry Bundle is one of the larger bundles to complete. It requires 10 pieces of cloth, 10 pieces of hardwood, 6 pieces of any fish, 15 pieces of any fruit, 15 pieces of any vegetable, and 10 pieces of wild snacks. Cloth can be made from cotton or wool using a loom, hardwood can be obtained by chopping down hard maple and oak trees, fish can be caught in the river or ocean, fruit can be grown in fruit trees or purchased at Pierre’s General Store, vegetables can be grown in the garden or purchased at Pierre’s General Store, and wild snacks can be foraged in the forests. After completing this bundle, you’ll gain access to the pantry to the right of the community center, which provides additional storage space for food items.

Special Events and Seasons

Stardew Valley offers various events and seasons throughout the year, providing lucrative opportunities to earn extra cash.

Egg Festival (Spring)

Sell mayonnaise and void mayonnaise made from large eggs obtained from your coop during the event.

Flower Dance (Spring)

Collect flowers to give as gifts to the townspeople, earning friendship points that can lead to discounts at their shops.

Stardew Valley Fair (Fall)

Enter crops, artisan goods, and animals in competitions for prizes. Additionally, participate in minigames like the Scarecrow Contest for cash.

Night Market (Winter)

Sell valuables or produce from the previous seasons at inflated prices.

Luau (Summer)

Collect coconuts from the beach during the event to sell for a profit.

Feast of the Winter Star (Winter)

Sell winter crops such as Crystal Fruit and Winter Roots.

Seasonal Crops

Grow and sell seasonal crops, exploiting their high market value during specific seasons:

Season	Crops
Spring	Strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, green beans
Summer	Melons, tomatoes, corn, peppers
Fall	Pumpkins, cranberries, grapes, hops
Winter	Winter seeds (in the greenhouse only)

Advanced Money-Making Strategies

Once you’ve established a solid foundation in Stardew Valley, you can explore more advanced techniques to maximize your earnings. These strategies require some investment but can generate substantial profits:

Ancient Fruit Wine

Ancient Fruit is a valuable crop that produces high-quality wine. Aging the wine in a Cask for two seasons multiplies its selling price by three. One Ancient Fruit cellar can net you hundreds of thousands of gold per year.

Stardrop Salads

Stardrop Salads are a lucrative dish that requires Salad, Salmonberries, and Apricots. With the Botanist profession, you’ll get four Stardrop Salads per harvest, which can be sold for over 3,000 gold each.

Honey

Honey is a valuable commodity that sells for 100 gold per jar. By creating multiple Bee Houses, you can harvest thousands of honeycombs per season. With the Apiarist profession, each Bee House produces an additional eight honeycombs per week.

Truffles

Truffles are valuable fungi that grow in Pig Pens. With the Rancher profession, you can increase truffle production and profitability. Each truffle sells for 625 gold, making them a lucrative option.

Gem Birds

Gem Birds are rare animals that can be acquired by completing quests or hatching eggs. Each Gem Bird produces a gem every day, ranging from Emeralds to Diamonds. The value of the gems varies, but they can generate a steady income over time.

Iridium Sprinklers

Iridium Sprinklers are expensive but essential for automating crop maintenance. By reducing the time and effort spent on watering, you can focus on other income-generating activities.

Kegs and Preserve Jars

Upgrading your Preserves Jar and Keg sheds allows you to process crops into valuable products. Aged products, such as wine, jelly, and pickles, fetch higher prices than the raw materials.

Quality Crops

Growing high-quality crops, such as Silver or Gold Star produce, increases their selling price significantly. Using Fertilizers and quality-boosting skills can maximize your crop yield and profits.

Overgrowth

Clearing overgrowth on your farm can reveal hidden treasures, such as artifact spots, geodes, or rare materials. Selling these items can provide a substantial cash influx.

Skull Cavern

Exploring the Skull Cavern offers numerous opportunities to acquire valuable items. By mining Iridium Ore, killing monsters, and looting treasure chests, you can accumulate significant wealth. However, be prepared for challenging environments and powerful enemies.

How To Make Money Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a charming farming RPG where you can build your own farm, raise animals, and interact with the townspeople. As you progress through the game, you’ll need to earn money to purchase new items, upgrade your tools, and expand your farm. There are many different ways to make money in Stardew Valley, and the best method for you will depend on your playstyle and the resources available to you.

One of the most straightforward ways to make money is to sell your crops. You can grow a variety of crops on your farm, and each crop has a different selling price. The most profitable crops are usually those that take the longest to grow, such as cranberries and pumpkins. You can also sell your animal products, such as eggs, milk, and wool. Animal products are generally more profitable than crops, but they require more care and attention to produce.

Another way to make money is to complete quests for the townspeople. Quests are tasks that you can complete for rewards, such as money, items, or friendship points. Some quests are simple, such as delivering a letter, while others are more complex, such as defeating a monster or collecting a rare item. Completing quests is a great way to earn extra money and get to know the townspeople.

Finally, you can also make money by participating in the Stardew Valley Fair. The Stardew Valley Fair is an annual event where you can compete in a variety of competitions, such as cooking, fishing, and horse racing. If you win a competition, you’ll earn a cash prize. The Stardew Valley Fair is a great way to show off your skills and earn some extra money.