Raiding in Rust is a resource problem before it’s a combat problem. This rust raid calculator works out the scrap cost, the cheapest tool mix, and the raw components you need to get through a structure, a tier, or an entire base.
How to use this rust raid calculator
- Pick a mode. Use Single Structure for one wall or door, Cost Optimizer to find the cheapest tool combination automatically, Base Layout to price out a whole section of a base, or Defense Sim to see how much scrap it takes to break through a base you’ve built.
- Select the Structure and Tier you’re raiding, for example a specific wall or door at a given upgrade level.
- Choose a Raid Tool, or in Cost Optimizer mode, set the Allowed Tools filter to the tools you actually have or are willing to use and let it find the cheapest mix for you.
- Set the Server Raid Cost Multiplier if you’re playing on a modded server; leave it at 1.0 for vanilla rates.
- For a full base, switch to Base Layout and use “Add Wall / Door” to build out every structure in the section you’re planning to raid.
- Adjust Edit Game Data if your server uses custom HP, damage, or crafting values that differ from vanilla Rust.
- Read the results: Scrap Cost, the Tool Mix table, the Raw Component Shopping List, and Time to Craft.
- Save or export your raid plan as an Image, PDF, or CSV, or use Save Raid Plan to revisit it later.
What this rust raid calculator does
Every structure and tier in Rust has a set amount of HP, and every raid tool does a set amount of damage per use at a set scrap cost. This calculator combines those two numbers to work out how many of a given tool it takes to break through a structure, what that costs in scrap, and what raw components you’d need to craft that many tools from scratch.
Tools Needed = Structure HP ÷ Damage per Tool
Scrap Cost = Tools Needed × Scrap Cost per Tool, adjusted by your Server Raid Cost Multiplier
Choosing a mode for the job
| Mode |
What it’s for |
| Single Structure |
Pick a structure and tier plus one raid tool, and get scrap cost, component cost, and craft time. |
| Cost Optimizer |
Finds the cheapest mix of tools automatically for a selected structure, limited to tools you allow. |
| Base Layout |
Add every wall and door in a base section for one combined raid cost and shopping list. |
| Defense Sim |
The reverse view: build your own base and see the minimum scrap an attacker would need to get through it. |
Reading the Tool Mix and shopping list
The Tool Mix table breaks the plan down by Tool, Qty, Damage, and Scrap, so you can see exactly which tools the plan relies on and how much each contributes to the total cost. The Raw Component Shopping List then converts that tool mix into the actual materials you’d need to farm or buy, useful for planning a raid before you have the tools already crafted.
Planning a Base Layout raid
Base Layout mode is built for real bases, which are rarely a single wall. Adding every wall and door in the section you’re targeting gives you a Per-Structure Breakdown alongside one combined Scrap Cost, so you can see both the total cost and which individual structures are driving it up.
Using Edit Game Data for modded servers
Vanilla Rust values won’t match every server, so this rust raid calculator lets you adjust them. If yours runs custom HP, damage, or crafting rates, use Edit Game Data to update those numbers before calculating, and set the Server Raid Cost Multiplier to match your server’s raid cost settings so the scrap totals reflect reality instead of default rates.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between Single Structure and Cost Optimizer?
Single Structure calculates the cost for one specific tool you’ve chosen. Cost Optimizer instead searches across the tools you allow and picks the cheapest combination automatically, which is useful when you’re not committed to a particular raid tool yet.
Why does the Server Raid Cost Multiplier matter?
Many Rust servers change raid costs from vanilla rates. Setting this multiplier to match your server keeps the Scrap Cost and shopping list accurate instead of showing default rates that don’t apply where you’re actually playing.
What does Defense Sim mode tell me?
This rust raid calculator flips the calculation around in Defense Sim mode: instead of planning an attack, you build your own base layout and see the minimum scrap an attacker would need to break through it, which is useful for judging how well-defended a build actually is.
Can I use this for a base with mixed structure tiers?
Yes, in Base Layout mode. Each wall or door you add can have its own structure and tier, so a base with a mix of, for example, wood and stone sections gets a combined cost that reflects each part correctly.
