How to Choose the Right Porta Potty for Your Job
Short answer
Answer four questions: who will use it, whether there's food, whether it's open to the public, and what your site can handle. Work crews usually need standard units, food means a handwashing station, public events need at least one ADA accessible unit, and every unit needs firm, level ground that a truck can reach.
Most people don't need to become porta potty experts to rent the right thing. Four questions get you most of the way there.
1. Who's going to use it?
If it's a work crew, a standard unit is what you want. It's tough, practical and the lowest cost.
If it's guests, especially dressed-up ones, consider deluxe units. The hand sink, mirror and better light make a real difference at a wedding or a nice party.
2. Is there food?
If food is being served, handled or prepared, you'll almost certainly need a handwashing station. Health rules for food events usually require one, and hand sanitizer inside a porta potty doesn't count.
Deluxe units have a sink inside, which helps, but caterers and food vendors usually need a station of their own near the food.
3. Is it open to the public?
If yes, include at least one ADA accessible unit, and one at each group of units if you have several. If your event needs a permit, check its conditions for the exact number.
4. What can your site handle?
Standard, deluxe and accessible units, and handwashing stations, all need no hookups. They need firm, level ground and a truck that can get close. That covers most backyards, fields and job sites.
A restroom trailer needs more: a level pad, room to tow it in and a power supply. If you're thinking about one, check with your venue first, then call us to talk it through.
Putting it together
- Framing crew of eight: 1 standard unit, serviced weekly. Add a handwashing station if they eat on site.
- Backyard birthday for 40: 1 standard or deluxe unit.
- Farm wedding for 120 with a bar and a six-hour reception: about 4 units, mostly deluxe, including 1 accessible unit, plus a handwashing station for the caterer.
- Farmers market: standard units, 1 accessible unit and handwashing stations near the food stalls.
Special situations
A few jobs come up often enough to call out:
- Home remodels with the plumbing shut off: a standard unit in the driveway or side yard, serviced weekly, usually covers a small crew and the household.
- Food trucks and vendors: handwashing stations near the food, plus restrooms for customers if the site doesn't have any.
- Long projects with a changing crew: start with what you need now and add units as trades arrive, rather than paying for peak numbers from day one.
- Events with a lot of older guests or families: an accessible unit is worth including even if it isn't required.
How many units do you need?
Once you've picked the type, check the count. For events, start from one unit per 50 guests for about four hours and add more for longer events or a bar. For job sites, plan on about one unit per 10 workers with weekly service. Our guide to how many porta potties you need walks through examples.
Quick answers
What if I'm still not sure?
Ready to get a quote?
Tell us your dates, the address and roughly how many people.