Nothing’s worse than logging into Rust to find your base half-gone. Structures decay when they aren’t maintained, and your tool cupboard is what holds it all together. This guide explains how upkeep works, decay times by building tier, per-piece upkeep costs, the demolish window, and how to keep your base standing while you’re offline.
How upkeep works
Your Tool Cupboard (TC) protects every structure in its radius — but only while it’s stocked with upkeep resources (wood, stone, metal fragments and high-quality metal). Every 24 hours the TC drains roughly 10% of your base’s total build cost in materials; the bigger your base, the higher the daily upkeep. When the TC runs dry, unprotected structures start to decay. A stocked TC is the single thing keeping your base alive.
Decay times by tier
Once the TC is empty and decay begins, tougher materials last longer before they crumble — giving you a window to come back and restock.
| Tier | Time to decay (empty TC) |
|---|---|
| Twig | ~1 hour |
| Wood | ~3 hours |
| Stone | ~5 hours |
| Sheet Metal | ~8 hours |
| Armoured (HQM) | ~12 hours |
Daily upkeep per building piece
Each block adds to the daily drain. Approximate per-day upkeep per piece:
| Tier | Foundation / day | Wall / day |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | ~8 stone | ~5–6 stone |
| Sheet Metal | ~16 metal frags | ~8–10 metal frags |
| Armoured (HQM) | ~3 HQM | ~1–2 HQM |
So a fully stocked TC keeps everything safe; if you’ll be away a while, over-stock it before you log off so even a long absence doesn’t cost you the base.
The demolish window
Misplaced a wall? You can demolish any building block within a short window after placing it (a few minutes) with a Hammer while authorised on the tool cupboard. After that window, the only way to remove a piece is to destroy it — so plan your build and use the early demolish window to fix mistakes.
Keeping a big base alive
- Match base size to your farm — an over-sized base you can’t upkeep is a slow loss.
- Keep HQM in the TC — armoured pieces need high-quality metal upkeep.
- Check the TC’s authorised list and stock before logging off.
Exact decay timers and upkeep depend on tier and block count — use our free Decay Calculator and Upkeep Calculator for precise numbers for your base.
Frequently asked questions
How long until my base decays in Rust?
Only once the Tool Cupboard is empty. From there it’s about 1 hour for twig, 3 for wood, 5 for stone, 8 for sheet metal and 12 for armoured. A stocked TC prevents decay entirely, so the real question is keeping upkeep resources in the cupboard.
How much upkeep does my base cost?
Roughly 10% of the base’s total build cost every 24 hours. A small solo stone base is around 80–100 stone/day; large bases scale up fast. Use the upkeep calculator to get the exact daily cost for your block count.
Does a stocked tool cupboard stop all decay?
Yes. As long as the TC holds enough upkeep materials, nothing in its radius decays — it can sit indefinitely. Decay only begins when the cupboard runs dry, which is why over-stocking before a long break is the standard move.
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