Stay Compliant with U.S. Bottle Deposit Laws on Shopify
Automatically apply state-specific bottle and container deposit fees at checkout. Magical Fees handles the complexity of varying bottle bill requirements across U.S. states so you can sell beverages with confidence.
Below we cover what bottle deposits means for Shopify merchants, how Magical Fees & Tariffs handles the setup, the compliance requirements you should be aware of, and links to detailed guides.
Bottle Deposit Fees: Bottle deposit fees are small, refundable charges added to beverage purchases. Customers pay the deposit when buying eligible beverages and get the money back when they return the empty containers. States with bottle deposit laws (known as "bottle bills") see significantly higher recycling rates of 60–90%, compared to 20–40% in states without them. These deposits apply to containers like aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles, with the exact fee and eligible containers varying by state.
See it in action
Watch how Magical Fees & Tariffs handles bottle deposits on a live Shopify store.
How to Add Bottle Deposits to Shopify
How it works
Getting bottle deposits running with Magical Fees & Tariffs takes just a few steps.
How to Add Bottle Deposit Fees on Shopify
- 1
Install Magical Product Fees
Install Magical Product Fees on your Shopify store. The free trial gives you time to set up your bottle deposits and test how they appear before committing.
- 2
Create bottle deposit rules
In the app, create a fee rule for bottle deposits. Set the fee amount (for example, 5¢ or 10¢ per container), choose "per item" as the fee basis, and give it a clear label like "Bottle deposit" so customers know exactly what the charge is.
- 3
Assign the rules and run a test order
Assign your deposit rule to the beverages and regions that fall under bottle bill laws. Save and activate the rule, then place a test order to confirm the deposit shows as a separate line in the cart and at checkout. Once verified, the app will apply the correct deposit automatically on every eligible order.
United States compliance
Bottle Deposits can involve specific legal obligations depending on where you sell. Magical Fees & Tariffs is designed to help you stay compliant.
U.S. State Bottle Bill Laws
Currently, 10 U.S. states enforce bottle deposit laws requiring merchants to charge a refundable deposit on eligible beverage containers. If you sell beverages in any of these states, charging the correct deposit is a legal requirement.
| California (CRV) | 5¢ (<24oz), 10¢ (≥24oz), 25¢ (wine pouches) — aluminum, glass, plastic, bi-metal |
| Connecticut | 10¢ — soda, beer, hard seltzer, juice, water |
| Hawaii | 5¢ — soda, juice, tea, coffee, sports drinks |
| Iowa | 5¢ — beer, soft drinks, carbonated beverages |
| Maine | 5¢ (small), 15¢ (wine & liquor) — all beverages including spirits |
| Massachusetts | 5¢ — soda, beer, malt beverages |
| Michigan | 10¢ — soda, beer, mineral water |
| New York | 5¢ — soda, beer, energy drinks, flavored water |
| Oregon | 10¢ — water, soda, beer, malt beverages |
| Vermont | 5¢ (small), 15¢ (liquor) — beer, soda, wine coolers, spirits |
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Non-compliance can result in severe fines. In 2018, a beverage distributor was fined $550,000 for failing to charge New York's 5¢ bottle deposit fee.
Last reviewed February 2026
What it costs
Magical Fees & Tariffs offers flexible pricing so you only pay for what you use.
What Do Bottle Deposits Cost?
Bottle deposit fees vary by state and container type. Here are the typical ranges merchants need to account for when selling beverages on Shopify.
| Standard deposit (most states) | $0.05 per container |
| Higher-deposit states (MI, OR) | $0.10 per container |
| Large containers (>24 oz, some states) | $0.10–$0.15 per container |
| Multi-pack adjustment | Deposit × quantity (auto-scaled by Magical Fees) |
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Deposit amounts are set by state law and can change. Always verify current rates with your state's bottle bill legislation. Magical Fees lets you configure per-state deposit rules to stay compliant automatically.
How it compares
There are a few ways to handle bottle deposits on Shopify. Here's how the options stack up.
Magical Fees AppRecommended
- Automatically applies correct deposit per container
- Shows deposit as a separate, clearly labeled line item
- Scales correctly with quantity
- Easy to track and report for compliance
- Expert support for setup and edge cases
- Requires a paid app subscription
Bake into product price
- No additional tools required
- Hides the fee from customers
- Creates compliance risk in states requiring separate display
- Makes reporting and auditing difficult
Add to shipping rates
- No additional tools required
- Doesn't scale with quantity
- Can lead to under- or over-charging
- Confusing for customers
Separate fee product
- Visible as a line item
- Customers can remove it from cart
- Doesn't auto-apply, leading to non-compliance
- Clunky checkout experience
Further reading
Dive deeper with step-by-step guides and detailed articles about bottle deposits.
How to Charge Poland’s Bottle Deposit Fees (System Kaucyjny) on Your Shopify Store
Learn how to charge Poland’s new System Kaucyjny bottle deposit fees on Shopify. Display fees separately & stay compliant with Polish law.
How to Charge Container Deposit Fees on Shopify (Canadian Edition)
Learn how to charge and display Canadian container deposit fees transparently on Shopify to build customer trust and simplify reporting.
How to Charge Bottle Deposit Fees on Shopify (U.S. Edition)
Learn how to charge bottle deposit fees on Shopify, comply with U.S. bottle bills, and manage multi-state sales using an app. Learn More.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about bottle deposits and how Magical Fees & Tariffs handles them.
Do bottle deposit fees scale with order quantity?
Yes. When you set the fee to apply "per item," Magical Fees automatically multiplies the deposit by the quantity of eligible containers in the order. If a customer orders 6 bottles at 5¢ each, the deposit line shows 30¢. This is a key advantage over workarounds like baking fees into shipping, which don't scale correctly.
What's the best way to charge bottle deposit fees on Shopify?
Shopify doesn't support deposit fees natively, so the simplest way to stay compliant is to use an app like Magical Product Fees. It automatically adds the correct deposit per container and shows it as its own line at checkout, keeping charges transparent for customers and easier to report for regulators.
Which U.S. states require bottle deposit fees?
Currently, 10 states enforce bottle deposit laws: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Deposits range from 5¢ to 15¢ per container depending on the state and container type. Failing to comply can result in significant fines.
Why can't I just include deposit fees in the product price?
Baking deposits into product prices hides the fee from customers and creates compliance risks. Many bottle bill states require deposits to be displayed as a separate charge. Hidden fees also make it harder to track deposits for reporting and can lead to over- or under-charging when deposit amounts change. A dedicated fee app keeps deposits transparent, accurate, and auditable.
Always label deposits separately for compliance
Display bottle deposit fees as a clearly labeled, separate line item at checkout and on receipts. This meets regulatory transparency requirements, builds customer trust by showing exactly what they're paying, and makes it significantly easier to track deposits for reporting and audits. Use a clear label like "Bottle deposit" or "Container deposit (CRV)" so customers immediately understand the charge.
“Magical Fees is the only fee app that allows you to apply a fee based on a specific or individual state/province situation. All the other apps we tested only allow 'Location' (the entire country) which is a major limitation. The solution Magical Fees applies during the Cart to Checkout process is very smart and not a hassle. Very easy app to setup and the support was great.”
How to Add Bottle Deposits to Shopify
Watch how to add Bottle Deposits to your Shopify store with Magical Fees & Tariffs, step by step in under 3 minutes.
Magical Product Fees App for Shopify
See Magical Fees & Tariffs in action: a quick overview of how the app handles product fees, surcharges, and deposits on Shopify.
Where this applies
Regulations and jurisdictions that apply to bottle deposits. See full fee schedules for exact amounts and official sources.
Australian Container Deposit Schemes
Australia · 8 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| South Australia | 10¢ per container |
| Northern Territory | 10¢ per container |
| New South Wales (Return and Earn) | 10¢ per container |
| Australian Capital Territory | 10¢ per container |
| Queensland (Containers for Change) | 10¢ per container |
| Western Australia (Containers for Change) | 10¢ per container |
| Victoria | 10¢ per container |
| Tasmania (Recycle Rewards) | 10¢ per container |
Canadian Provincial Container Deposit Programs
Canada · 10 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 10¢ per container (≤1L); 25¢ per container (>1L) |
| British Columbia | Non-alcohol: 10¢ (≤1L), 20¢ (>1L); Alcohol: 10¢ (≤1L), 20¢ (>1L) |
| Saskatchewan | 10¢ per container (≤1L); 20¢ per container (>1L) |
| Ontario | 10¢ per container (≤630mL); 20¢ per container (>630mL) |
| Quebec | 10¢ per container (aluminum and plastic); 10¢ (glass <500mL); 25¢ (glass ≥500mL) |
| New Brunswick | 10¢ per container (most); 5¢ per container (≤500mL non-alcohol) |
| Nova Scotia | 10¢ per container |
| Prince Edward Island | 10¢ per container |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 8¢ per container |
| Manitoba | 10¢ per container (≤1L); 20¢ per container (>1L) |
German Pfand (Deposit-Return System)
Germany · 4 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Germany (Einweg / single-use) | €0.25 per container |
| Germany (Mehrweg / reusable beer bottles) | €0.08 per bottle |
| Germany (Mehrweg / reusable water and soft drink bottles) | €0.15 per bottle |
| Germany (Mehrweg / reusable crates) | €1.50 per crate |
EU Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) Rollout
European Union · 10 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Croatia | Varies by container type |
| Estonia | Varies (e.g. €0.10 per container) |
| Latvia | Varies by container |
| Lithuania | Varies; high return rate (e.g. 92%) |
| Slovakia | Varies by container |
| Malta | Varies |
| Austria | Varies (e.g. €0.25–0.30) |
| Portugal | TBD |
| Czech Republic | TBD |
| Spain | TBD |
Hungary Deposit Return Scheme (MOHU)
Hungary · 1 jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hungary | 50 HUF per container (~€0.13) |
Ireland Deposit Return Scheme (Re-Turn)
Ireland · 2 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ireland (150ml–500ml) | €0.15 per container |
| Ireland (>500ml–3L) | €0.25 per container |
Netherlands Statiegeld (Deposit-Return System)
Netherlands · 3 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (small plastic bottles) | €0.15 per bottle |
| Netherlands (large plastic bottles) | €0.25 per bottle |
| Netherlands (cans) | €0.15 per can |
Nordic PANT Deposit-Return Systems
Nordic Countries · 10 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sweden (small containers) | 2 SEK per container (~€0.17) |
| Sweden (large containers) | 3 SEK per container (~€0.26) |
| Norway (≤0.5L) | 2 NOK per container (~€0.17) |
| Norway (>0.5L) | 3 NOK per container (~€0.26) |
| Denmark (Pant A) | 1.00 DKK per container (~€0.13) |
| Denmark (Pant B) | 1.50 DKK per container (~€0.20) |
| Denmark (Pant C) | 3.00 DKK per container (~€0.40) |
| Finland (small) | €0.10 per container |
| Finland (medium) | €0.20 per container |
| Finland (large) | €0.40 per container |
Polish Bottle Deposit System (System Kaucyjny)
Poland · 3 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Poland (Single-use plastic bottles) | PLN 0.50 per container |
| Poland (Metal cans) | PLN 0.50 per container |
| Poland (Reusable glass bottles) | PLN 1.00 per container |
Romania Deposit Return System (RetuRO SGR)
Romania · 1 jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Romania | 0.50 RON per container (~€0.10) |
United Kingdom Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
United Kingdom · 3 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| England and Northern Ireland | TBD (deposit amount not yet announced) |
| Scotland | TBD (deposit amount not yet announced) |
| Wales | TBD (deposit amount not yet announced) |
U.S. State Bottle Deposit Laws
United States · 10 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| California | 5¢ (<24 oz), 10¢ (≥24 oz), 25¢ (wine/spirits pouches) |
| Connecticut | 10¢ |
| Hawaii | 5¢ |
| Iowa | 5¢ |
| Maine | 5¢ (standard), 15¢ (wine and liquor) |
| Massachusetts | 5¢ |
| Michigan | 10¢ |
| New York | 5¢ |
| Oregon | 10¢ |
| Vermont | 5¢ (standard), 15¢ (liquor) |
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Magical Fees & Tariffs handles more than just bottle deposits. Explore what else it can do for your store.
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