Game · Bottle Caps

Fallout archive

Fallout is a post-nuclear role-playing series where bottle caps, barter and scarcity turn every settlement into a negotiation over survival.

Representative illustration of the economy in Fallout

Quick facts

Medium
Game
Source
Fallout
Creator
Interplay / Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Interplay / Bethesda Softworks
First release
1997
Official site
Official site

Archive stats

  • 1 currencies
  • 1 types
  • 0 with real-world estimates
  • 0 with symbols

More from Fallout

Economy in Fallout

The wasteland economy is built on trust, transport and scarcity. Bottle caps work because they are portable and hard to counterfeit, while barter, ammo, water and faction money reveal how broken the old world remains.

The economy is easiest to understand through practical routes: how currency is earned, which early purchases matter and which expensive goals are worth saving for.

How much Bottle Caps is worth

The value of this money is best understood through in-game prices: basic items, upgrades, rare equipment and late-game services.

Price catalog in Fallout

Prices can change between entries, shops, updates or barter systems, so the context column matters as much as the number.

Item Price Category Context Note
Bobby Pin 1 Caps Utility item Fallout 4 base value Sale and buy prices vary by barter
Purified Water 20 Caps Aid item Fallout 4 base value Common survival and trading item
Stimpak 48 Caps Aid item Fallout 4 base value Healing item
RadAway 80 Caps Aid item Fallout 4 base value Radiation recovery
Rad-X 40 Caps Aid item Fallout 4 base value Radiation resistance
Jet 50 Caps Chem Fallout 4 base value Chem economy item
Mentats 50 Caps Chem Fallout 4 base value Chem economy item
Buffout 45 Caps Chem Fallout 4 base value Chem economy item
Fusion Core 200 Caps Power item Fallout 4 base value Power armor fuel
10mm Pistol 50 Caps Weapon Fallout 4 base value Early weapon value
Pipe Pistol 20 Caps Weapon Fallout 4 base value Common scavenged weapon
Fragmentation Grenade 50 Caps Explosive Fallout 4 base value Combat item
Wonderglue 20 Caps Junk component Fallout 4 base value Useful for adhesive
Duct Tape 12 Caps Junk component Fallout 4 base value Useful for adhesive

How to earn Bottle Caps

Players earn caps by looting ruins, completing quests, trading scavenged gear, crafting, gambling, selling purified water, clearing enemies and exploiting barter skills.

Best ways to farm Bottle Caps

Useful routes include repeatable battles, selling extra loot, clearing side content and focusing on rewards that help progression at the same time.

What Bottle Caps buys

Caps buy weapons, ammunition, armor, food, chems, repairs, settlement supplies, information and access to services.

Rare items and expensive goals

Power armor parts, rare weapons, pristine pre-war goods, unique plans, legendary gear and clean water are high-value anchors in the wasteland economy.

Economy systems

Important systems include barter, vendor caps, faction currencies, repair costs, settlement production, crafting, caravan trade and reputation.

Practical tips

Do not spend everything on minor upgrades. Keep a reserve for healing, travel and required progression costs.

Common questions

What is the main currency here? It is the money used for the work’s shops, upgrades or economy.

How do you earn it faster? Repeat high-value content, sell unneeded loot and focus on rewards that also improve your character or party.

Is there a real-world conversion? No official fixed conversion is available; item prices inside the work are more useful.

Related terms

  • bottle caps
  • barter
  • vendors
  • water
  • ammo
  • settlements
  • rare weapons

Currencies from other works