How to Charge Bottle Deposit Fees on Your Shopify Store
Step-by-step setup for charging bottle deposit fees on Shopify to comply with U.S. bottle bill laws using Magical Fees.
Overview
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 this setup on a live Shopify store.
How to Add Bottle Deposits to Shopify
Setup steps
Follow these steps to get u.s. bottle deposit fees on shopify running with Magical Fees & Tariffs.
Install Magical Product Fees
- 1
Install from the Shopify App Store
Visit the Magical Product Fees listing on the Shopify App Store and click "Add app" to install it on your store. The free trial gives you time to configure and test before committing.
- 2
Open the app and start a new fee
From your Shopify admin, go to Apps and open Magical Product Fees. Click "Create fee" to start setting up your first fee rule.
- 3
Choose your fee method
Select the Function Method (recommended for most stores — fees appear as part of a product bundle at checkout) or the Block Method (fees appear as separate line items — preferred for stores that need discounts to apply to fees).
How to Add Bottle Deposit Fees on Shopify
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
Tips
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.
How to Add Bottle Deposits to Shopify
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Explore the full details including regulations, comparisons, and pricing.
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