Automate Bottle and Container Deposit Fees on Shopify — Worldwide
Apply container deposit fees at checkout for U.S. bottle bills, German Pfand, Canadian provincial programs, Nordic Pant, and deposit-return schemes worldwide. Magical Fees handles varying rates by jurisdiction so every order is compliant and every deposit is covered.
Below we cover what container deposits means for Shopify merchants, how Magical Fees & Tariffs handles the setup, 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.
Pfand Deposits: Germany's Pfandpflicht requires refundable deposits on beverage containers: 25¢ for single-use plastic and cans, 8–15¢ for reusable glass. Merchants selling beverages in Germany must collect these deposits at checkout and ensure customers can return containers for refunds through the DPG return system.
See it in action
Watch how Magical Fees & Tariffs handles container deposits on a live Shopify store.
How to Add German Pfand Deposits to Shopify
How it works
Getting container 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.
How to Add Pfand Deposits on Shopify
- 1
Install Magical Product Fees
Install Magical Product Fees on your Shopify store. The free trial gives you time to configure your fees and test before committing.
- 2
Create Pfand deposit rules per container type
Create Pfand deposit rules with the correct amount per container type (25¢ single-use plastic/cans, 8–15¢ reusable glass). Target beverage products sold in Germany.
- 3
Test with a sample order
Assign the Pfand rules to your beverage products, place a test order, and verify the deposit appears correctly at checkout.
Regulatory requirements
Container 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 container 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 container 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 Pfand bottle deposit fees with Magical Fees
To add a Pfand bottle deposit fee, create a fixed fee for the bottles or containers you sell. Follow these steps:In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Apps and open Magical Product Fees.
How to Charge Pfand Fees on Shopify (Germany Edition)
Learn how to charge Pfand bottle deposit fees on Shopify, comply with Germany’s Packaging Act, and make reporting fees easier with an app.
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 container 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 Container 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.
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Fee schedules & compliance
Container Deposits covers 12 regulations across 12 countries with 65 jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has its own fee amounts and rules.
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