Customs has become a signature map in Escape from Tarkov. It’s often the first place players visit, where they get used to movement, complete starter quests, and secure their earliest decent loot. The layout looks clean and predictable, but that’s only on the surface. Once you understand its routes and stashes, the map starts delivering profit almost every time you enter a raid.
This guide will cover in detail:
- What Customs is.
- How to get there.
- Where and what you can find.
- The best ways to farm rubles.
- Safe routes for beginners.
- Exits for PMCs and Scavs.
- Bot behavior and risks.
- How to buy Tarkov rubles.
What Is Customs, and Why Is It Important?
Customs is a medium-sized map divided into several clearly defined zones:
- Dormitories (two-story and three-story buildings).
- Parking/construction/warehouses.
- Power plant parking lot.
- Gazelle territory.
- Customs terminal.
- Old gas station.
- New gas station.
- Forest belt and river.
This map is used in many quests, so it often attracts a large number of players. However, this also makes it very profitable: players heading to quest points leave plenty of opportunities for farming EFT rubles.
Furthermore, Customs has numerous hidden caches and reliable routes that are rarely checked by aggressive PMCs.
How to Get There and What You Need to Know Before a Raid
To enter Customs, simply select the map in the menu and choose the PMC or Scav role.
When preparing for a raid, it’s important to consider:
For PMCs:
- You spawn either from the east (Customs Road) or the west (Trailer Park).
- Your route is initially determined by your spawn direction.
- Crossing the map almost always carries the risk of encountering other PMCs.
- Exit conditions are fixed, and you won’t be able to use Scav exits.
For Scavs:
- You spawn in quieter areas.
- Your inventory is random, but sometimes quite valuable.
- You have access to exits that PMCs don’t have ideal for safe farming.
- Scav bots won’t attack you unless you initiate combat or approach too aggressively.
What Can You Loot From Customs and How Profitable Is the Map?
With the right route, the map allows you to loot:
- Weapons (AK-74M, AKS-74U, SKS, MP-153).
- Mods and scopes.
- Rare parts (motors, batteries, wires, chains).
- Caches with a high chance of containing valuable items.
- Medicines.
- Dormitory keys (which are themselves expensive).
- Body armor from bots.
- Dog tags from killed PMCs.
You can loot from Customs per raid from 250,000 to 1,000,000+ rubles, depending on luck and aggression.
For a beginner, the realistic figure is 150,000-400,000 rubles per raid (if playing safely).
The Best Zones for Farming Rubles
Below are the top locations, where even a weak player can easily make a profit.
Hidden Caches
The most stable source of income:
- Can be loot without firing a shot.
- Minimal risks.
- Chance of finding valuable items (SSDs, graphics, watches, barter items, and medical supplies).
Examples of cache locations:
- Along the forest belt between the old gas station and the dorms.
- Along the fence between the construction site and the terminal.
- Near the rails and along the pipe on the eastern side of the map.
- Near the old gas station and parking lot.
Construction Site
Frequently spawned here:
- Rare parts.
- Wires.
- Tools.
- Valuable barter items.
- Weapons from bots.
But the construction site is dangerous: it is being monitored by PMCs passing through the center of the map.
Dorms
One of the most profitable, but dangerous, areas. If you’re a newbie, it’s best to avoid this place.
However, the loot here can be expensive:
- Weapons.
- Safes.
- Computers.
- Jackets.
- Keys.
- Rare items in rooms with keys.
Terminal and Garages
A less popular area, making it ideal for Scavs.
You can find here:
- Tools.
- Medicines.
- Wires.
- Weapon parts.
- Food.
New Gas Station
Dangerous due to PMCs and SCS bots, but the loot is good:
- Weapons.
- Bags.
- Medicines.
- Wires.
- Barters.
What to Loot for a Newbie (Stable Tarkov Ruble Farming)
| Item | Where to Find | Average Price |
| SSD | Caches, garages, terminal | 40-70k |
| Wires | Construction site, terminal | 15-25k |
| Tools | Garages, construction site | 20-60k |
| Flash drives | Dorm computers | 50-120k |
| Lighters / cigarettes | Jackets | 10-30k |
| Chains | Caches | 25-50k |
| Meds | New gas station | 20-40k |
| Weapons from bots | Along the road | 25-100k |
Approximate Route for a Beginner (Maximum Safe)
| Area | What to do | Risk level | Potential loot |
| Forest belt (east) | Looting caches | Low | Barters, valuables |
| Rails and pipe | Walking along the fence | Medium | Tools, food |
| Terminal area | Checking jackets and crates | Low | Small loot, medical supplies |
| Old Scav exit | Moving towards the exit | Low | Recovering stable loot |
PMCs at Customs: Features, Risks, and Tips
What mistakes do new PMCs make:
- Running to the dorms immediately after spawning.
- Crossing the construction site in the center.
- Running along the fence without checking the corners.
- Entering the road openly.
- Ignoring footsteps.
Tips:
- Don’t enter the dorms without keys – there’s too much competition there.
- Go through safe zones (garages, terminal, forest belt).
- Loot stashes, not popular buildings.
- Use quiet routes, even if they take longer.
- Don’t wear too expensive equipment – you’ll lose it in the first few raids anyway.
Scav at Customs: Best Choice for Beginners and Farmers
Playing as a Scav is the ideal way to earn money:
Advantages:
- Bots don’t attack.
- Spawns are safer.
- Loot without the risk of encountering PMCs.
- Access to exits closed to PMCs.
- Sometimes very good starting gear.
Best plan of action:
- Loot garages and the terminal.
- Proceed along the forest to the old gas station.
- Loot from bots (if the chance is safe).
- Exit via the Scav exits without traversing the entire map.
As a result, a Scav can make up to 300,000 EFT rubles from a raid with virtually no risk.
Economy Recovery
If you’re short on time, the economy in Tarkov starts to sag. Constant deaths, bad fights, and a lack of proper routes – all of this makes it difficult to accumulate rubles.
It’s in situations like these that some players turn to outside help.
For example, the Skycoach.gg offers:
- Leveling up.
- Completing the story.
- Purchasing Tarkov rubles.
- Clearing raids.
This isn’t a mandatory part of progression, but it sometimes helps a player break out of a losing streak.
Best Tips for a Successful Start for Beginners
- Don’t go where everyone else is running – that’s where you’ll get killed.
- Loot hidden stashes – this is your main source of stable income.
- Listen to footsteps and don’t make noise.
- Use bushes for cover.
- Don’t rush into gunfire – avoiding combat is sometimes more profitable.
- Don’t grab everything – backpack space is more valuable.
- Learn the main spawns – this will save you from random encounters.
Conclusion
Customs offers some of the strongest money-making opportunities in Tarkov. Once you learn how to move safely, recognize common routes, and predict where players tend to fight, the map becomes a steady source of profit. Beginners often run into trouble because they push Dorms every time, walk loudly, or expose themselves out in the open. Stick to safer paths, watch your surroundings, and use the strategies in this guide, and your ruble income will rise from raid to raid.
It doesn’t matter whether you play as a PMC or a Scav – Customs allows you to farm effectively in any mode. If you want to master the routes even faster and avoid mistakes, you can seek professional help, but look for those with good reviews from players, such as Skycoach’s Trustpilot review, where customers praise the speed and pleasant bonuses.
