Pantti guide

How much can a family earn from pantti in a year?

24 October 2026 · 2 min read

If your family is thinking about saving for something with pantti, the first question is a fair one: is it really worth the effort? Here is what a can or bottle is worth in Finland today, and what a year of returns can add up to.

What each container is worth

According to Palpa, the deposits at the time of writing are:

Aluminium can: €0.15, whatever the size
Plastic (PET) bottle: €0.10, €0.20 or €0.40, depending on the size of the bottle
Recyclable glass bottle: €0.10

On a can or plastic bottle you will find an oval deposit marking that shows the deposit value. Glass bottles do not always have one, so check the shelf price or the receipt. Deposit values can change, so it is worth looking at Palpa's page now and then.

A year of returns, for different households

The numbers below are examples, not promises. They use cans at €0.15 each and 52 weeks in a year, so you can swap in your own habits.

5 cans a week: about €39 a year
10 cans a week: about €78 a year
20 cans a week: about €156 a year
40 cans a week: about €312 a year

Bottles change the picture. A large plastic bottle is worth €0.40, so a household that buys big bottles earns noticeably more per container than one that mostly buys cans.

What this means for a savings goal

Pantti is not a fast way to get rich. It is a slow, steady one. Returning about 13 cans a week brings in roughly €100 over a year, and a family that really commits can reach a goal like that much sooner.

That slowness is the point for children. A goal that takes weeks or months teaches patience, and every returned can is a small step the child can see and count.

Make the counting easy

The hardest part is not the returning, it is keeping track. A shared place where everyone adds their cans, and where the bar moves toward the goal, keeps the whole family motivated. That is what Kasa is for.

Good to know before you return

According to Palpa, cans must be intact and empty, and plastic bottles should keep their label and cap. The machines do not pay deposits for crushed cans, so resist the urge to stomp them.