Cans are cheaper on the initial buy-in, but they're not reusable, which in turn actually makes them more expensive than bottles. “Cost and quality are the ultimate drivers for breweries to choose refillable glass. A canning line can cost significantly more than a bottling line, but will require fewer employees to run.
Depending on the desired production speed, a canning line can cost from $200,000 to $500,000, Paino estimates.