Free tool
Bottle & can deposit calculator
Deposit refund calculator
Estimated refund for 100 containers in California
$5.00
California CRV. Many centers pay by weight instead of by count.
Only eligible containers sold in California qualify. Centers may apply limits or reject damaged containers.
Aluminum cans → pounds → scrap value
For states without a deposit, scrap yards pay by the pound. A standard 12 oz can weighs about half an ounce, so roughly 33 cans make a pound.
500 cans ≈ 15.2 lb
$7.58
The default price is only an example, not a quote. Aluminum prices change often.
How bottle deposits work
In ten states a small deposit is added to the price of eligible drinks, and you get it back when you return the empty container to a redemption center or participating store. Read the full breakdown in our bottle deposit laws by state guide, or find a redemption center near you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a can worth in a bottle-bill state?
5 cents in most deposit states, 10 cents in Connecticut, Michigan and Oregon, and 15 cents for wine and liquor containers in Maine and Vermont. California pays 5 cents for containers under 24 oz and 10 cents for 24 oz and larger.
How many cans are in a pound?
About 33 standard 12 oz aluminum cans make a pound, since each can weighs roughly half an ounce.
Is it better to redeem cans for the deposit or sell them as scrap?
In a deposit state the refund is usually worth more than the scrap value of the aluminum, so redeem them. Scrap value only makes sense where there is no deposit.