What is the Fastest Way to Make Money in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The fastest way to make money (Bells) in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) revolves around a combination of strategies, rather than a single magic bullet. While exploiting a friend’s island with a high turnip price is the absolute quickest route to millions of Bells, it relies on external factors. For solo players focusing on efficient and reliable methods, the most effective approach is to diversify your income streams. This involves regularly participating in the stalk market, strategically selling high-value items, farming resources, and taking advantage of special visitors like Flick and C.J.. In short, a multifaceted approach, rather than relying on just one method, guarantees the fastest and most consistent accumulation of wealth.
Mastering the Stalk Market
Understanding Turnip Prices
The stalk market, or turnip market, is arguably the highest potential money-making endeavor in ACNH. Every Sunday morning, Daisy Mae visits your island to sell turnips. The price she offers is random, and so are the prices at Nook’s Cranny throughout the week. The key is to buy low and sell high throughout the week, but this can be risky due to the volatile nature of prices.
Optimizing Your Turnip Sales
To maximize your profits, monitor the prices at Nook’s Cranny twice daily (morning and afternoon) and use online resources to understand patterns and trends. While predicting the price patterns is not always perfect, some tools exist that help identify the most probable trends, such as the “large spike,” in which prices can soar high. If your prices are consistently low, and you have online friends who have high-price markets, that is another good approach. Remember, turnip prices will drastically drop on Sunday, when Daisy Mae arrives for another sale. If you don’t sell before then, your turnips will be worthless.
The Golden Rule: Friends and Islands
As mentioned before, the absolute fastest way to make money in ACNH is to find a friend whose island is experiencing a large spike in turnip prices and to sell your turnip there. If they have a price of 500+ Bells, your profits will be significant. Keep in mind that this is a more social strategy, but it is the most powerful.
Strategic Selling of High-Value Items
Valuable Bugs and Fish
While constantly catching and selling bugs and fish may not yield immediate massive wealth, it’s a steady and accessible income stream. Focus on high-value creatures such as the Scarab Beetle, Horned Elephant, Tarantulas, and Scorpions when they are in season. When Flick visits your island, sell all your bugs to him as he pays 1.5x more than Nook’s Cranny. Similarly, sell high-value fish to C.J. for the same price increase.
Selling Crafted Items
Crafting and selling specific items can also be lucrative. While items like the Trophy Case require harder-to-obtain materials, some crafted items, including food, can sell for decent profits. Cooking and selling are an excellent side hustle for bells.
Fossils and Assessment
Always get your fossils assessed by Blathers before selling them. Unassessed fossils sell for a fraction of their assessed price. If you are focused on bells, sell to Timmy and Tommy after Blathers assesses them.
Hot Items of the Day
Each day, Nook’s Cranny features a “Hot Item” that sells for double its normal price. Check with Timmy and Tommy each day and craft and sell as many as you can to take advantage of this quick boost to your wallet.
Resource Farming
Farming for valuable resources is also a smart move. Gold Nuggets, mined from rocks, are especially useful for both crafting and selling. Ensure you visit all the rocks daily, to maximize gold nugget output. Even common resources such as wood, stones and iron nuggets can be sold for a profit, if you don’t want to use them for crafting.
Other Profitable Methods
Money Trees
Plant 10,000 Bells in a glowing spot to create a money tree. Each day, this tree will produce a bag of 30,000 Bells. This is a very good passive income method.
Bell Vouchers
Exchange your accumulated Nook Miles for Bell Vouchers. Each voucher sells for 3,000 Bells. This is an easy way to make quick cash from your activities.
Diving and Treasure
Diving for sea creatures is a good way to find high-value finds. The Gigas Giant Clam is the most valuable creature in this activity, so keep an eye out for the largest shadows.
Avoiding Pitfalls
The Drop-Off Box
Avoid using the Drop-Off Box at Nook’s Cranny unless it’s absolutely necessary. It only pays 80% of the selling price. Instead, sell directly to Timmy and Tommy for the full value.
Conclusion
Making money in ACNH isn’t about finding one exploit, but rather about consistent effort, diversification, and knowing which strategies to prioritize. By mastering the stalk market, strategically selling valuable items, farming resources, and taking advantage of opportunities like special visitors and daily bonuses, you can accumulate Bells quickly and consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the maximum amount of Bells you can have in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
The maximum amount of Bells you can store in your ABD (Automated Bell Dispenser) account is 999,999,999 Bells.
2. What is the most valuable item you can sell in ACNH?
The most valuable item you can sell outright is typically the Royal Crown which sells for 1.2 Million Bells, though you can’t find this, you buy it from the shop. The most valuable crafted item to sell is usually the Trophy Case.
3. How can I find friends with high turnip prices?
Join online Animal Crossing communities on platforms like Reddit, Discord, and Facebook groups. Many people share their high turnip prices to help others make money, and vice-versa.
4. How often does Flick visit my island?
Flick visits your island randomly. It’s best to stockpile bugs and save them to sell to him. He’ll usually show up for one day before leaving the next.
5. Does C.J. visit my island as well?
Yes, C.J. visits your island randomly, just like Flick. Save your high-value fish for him. He will stay for a day, and leave the next morning.
6. What are some good ways to get gold nuggets?
Gold nuggets are found by hitting rocks daily, but they are rare. Make sure you don’t have eaten any fruit to get the maximum resources each day.
7. Is it safe to buy bells from other players?
While not explicitly against the game’s terms of service, buying bells may be considered a form of cheating by some players. In-game trades between players are unavoidable. Ultimately it is your choice.
8. What does perfect fruit look like in ACNH?
Perfect fruit has a shiny, glossy texture and can only be found in the older Animal Crossing games. This does not exist in New Horizons.
9. How does the ‘Hot Item’ work?
The “Hot Item” is a randomly selected item at Nook’s Cranny that sells for double its regular price each day.
10. What are some valuable resources besides gold nuggets?
Other valuable resources include iron nuggets, hardwood, and star fragments.
11. Can I get banned for using glitches to make money?
Nintendo actively patches glitches, and excessive reliance on glitches could potentially result in a ban, although this is not common. The most reliable methods to make money are through the ways listed above.
12. What are some good dream island codes for inspiration?
Some popular dream island codes include: Elmertown: DA-5987-9629-0808, Disney: DA-5692-0203-6659, and Gardenia: DA-4265-7443-3777.
13. Why is the chessboard so expensive?
The chessboard in ACNH is expensive because it’s a reference to Kasparov’s “Immortal Game,” one of the most famous chess matches ever. It’s a niche item for chess history buffs.
14. What is the rarest thing to dive for?
The Gigas Giant Clam is the rarest and most valuable creature to find while diving. Look for the largest shadow.
15. What is the most expensive piece of clothing in ACNH?
The Royal Crown is the most expensive piece of clothing and item, costing a massive 1.2 million Bells.