Gold is the most essential currency in Skyrim. With gold, you can buy your way to the top in Skyrim. Level up faster, build and buy stronger gear, become more powerful, and be a local tycoon in your city. There are plenty of ways to make gold in Skyrim, and most of them at the beginning only reward very small amounts of gold. Whether you're trying to buy a powerful spell, upgrade your gear, invest in property, or just bribe your way out of trouble, here is everything you can do to get gold without using cheats.
1. Loot Smart, Not Heavy
Bandit camps and ruins are gold mines if you loot them. Always take potions and fill up your bag even if you don't need them. Most stuff like potions, rings, and soul gems fetch a high price from vendors.
Avoid heavy armor and weapons unless their value-to-weight ratio is high. Use merchants like Belethor in Whiterun or Lucan Valerius in Riverwood to sell regularly. Invest in Speech if needed to improve prices.
2. Early Game Thievery (With Caution)
Homes and shops in cities like Whiterun and Riften are loaded with valuables. Use Sneak mode, pickpocket guards or NPCs, and unlock chests when no one's watching. Save before each attempt; early-game detection chances are high. Prioritize easy targets like loose coin purses, silverware, or jewelry. Fence stolen goods via the Thieves Guild or Khajiit caravans.
3. Mine Ore and Craft Jewelry
Head to Embershard Mine or Halted Stream Camp for iron and silver ore. Smelt these at any forge and combine with garnets or amethysts to make rings and necklaces. Even basic jewelry sells for solid gold, and crafting increases your Smithing skill. This stacks well with Enchanting if you want to boost value further later on.
4. High-Value Side Quests
Avoid generic “kill bandit” bounties early. Focus on fast, high-reward quests like The Golden Claw, Dragon Rising, or Blessings of Nature. These typically offer gold, enchanted items, and XP, all without requiring advanced combat skills. Do them early while enemies are weak.
5. Join the Thieves Guild
If you’re going stealth-heavy, the Thieves Guild in Riften gives repeatable high-gold jobs, access to fences, and skill boosts. Their radiant quests let you make a steady income without much risk.
More in blogs
