Deposit Values in Sweden 2026 – What Is Your Pant Worth?

Planning to return your bottles and cans in Sweden? Here's a complete guide to deposit values, how the system works, and tips to get the most out of your recycling efforts in 2026.

Current Deposit Values

As of 2026, the deposit values in Sweden are:

| Container | Deposit | |---|---| | Aluminium can (any size – 33cl, 50cl, etc.) | 1 SEK | | Small PET bottle (up to 1 litre) | 1 SEK | | Large PET bottle (over 1 litre, e.g. 1.5L) | 2 SEK |

These values are set by Returpack (Pantamera) and have been stable for many years.

How Much Can You Earn?

Let's do the maths:

| Scenario | Approximate Value | |---|---| | One bag of mixed cans (30 cans) | 30 SEK | | One bag of mixed bottles (20 small + 5 large) | 30 SEK | | After a party (50 cans + 10 bottles) | 60–70 SEK | | Regular collector (daily rounds) | 50–200 SEK per day | | At a festival or event | Hundreds of SEK |

While individual amounts may seem small, they add up quickly — especially for dedicated collectors.

Which Containers Have a Deposit?

Containers WITH a deposit:

• ✅ Aluminium beverage cans (beer, cider, soft drinks, energy drinks)
• ✅ PET bottles with the pant symbol (soft drinks, water, juices)
• ✅ Most carbonated and non-carbonated beverage containers

Containers WITHOUT a deposit:

• ❌ Glass bottles (except some beer bottles with separate return systems)
• ❌ Tetra Pak / cartons
• ❌ Wine and spirit bottles
• ❌ Imported containers without Swedish pant marking
• ❌ Containers bought outside Sweden

Look for the pant symbol on the container — it confirms that a deposit has been paid.

Where to Return Your Deposits

Reverse vending machines (pantautomater) are available at virtually every supermarket in Sweden:

• ICA — all stores
• Coop — all stores
• Willys — all stores
• Hemköp — all stores
• Lidl — all stores
• Netto — most stores
• Pressbyrån — some locations

Most machines accept both cans and PET bottles. You'll receive a receipt that you can redeem at the checkout.

Tips for Maximising Your Returns

1. Crush your cans — they take up less space and machines still accept them
2. Remove caps from bottles — machines work better without caps
3. Keep containers clean — avoid sticky residue
4. Sort by type — speeds up the process at the machine
5. Go during off-peak hours — avoid the queue
6. Use PantDela — save time by letting a collector pick up your deposit at home

Fun Facts About Pant in Sweden

• Swedes return over 2 billion containers per year
• The national return rate is approximately 86% for cans
• If you lined up all returned cans from one year, they would circle the Earth multiple times
• The Pantamera campaign is one of Sweden's most recognized brands
• Deposit collecting at festivals like Way Out West and Malmöfestivalen can be highly lucrative

The PantDela Advantage

Don't have time to visit a reverse vending machine? Use PantDela to give your deposit away for free. A collector in your area will pick it up — saving you time and ensuring every container gets recycled.

It's a win-win: you clear space at home, someone earns a little extra, and the environment benefits from every recycled container.

International Comparison

| Country | Can Deposit | Small Bottle Deposit | |---|---|---| | Sweden | 1 SEK (~€0.09) | 1 SEK (~€0.09) | | Norway | 2–3 NOK (~€0.17–0.26) | 2–3 NOK | | Denmark | 1–3 DKK (~€0.13–0.40) | 1–3 DKK | | Germany | €0.25 | €0.25 |

Sweden's deposit values are among the lowest in Europe, yet the return rates remain among the highest — proof that even small incentives work when the infrastructure is excellent.