What is a standard porta potty?
A standard porta potty is a single-person plastic restroom with a toilet seat over a holding tank, a urinal, a toilet paper dispenser, hand sanitizer and a roof vent. It needs no water or power. Standard units are the right choice for jobsites, farms and casual parties of up to about 50 guests.
| Standard unit spec | Approximate figure |
|---|---|
| Height | About 7 ft 6 in (90 in) |
| Width | About 44 in |
| Depth | About 47 in |
| Weight, empty | About 175 lb |
| Waste tank | About 60 gallons |
| Fresh water | None needed |
| Uses before service | Roughly 200 uses |
Will it fit through my gate? A 44-inch unit needs about 48 inches of clear gate width so the crew can walk it through. Narrower gates mean front-yard or driveway placement.
What is a flushing porta potty with a sink?
A flushing porta potty has a foot-pump flush that rinses the bowl with fresh blue water, plus a small built-in sink with soap and paper towels. Waste goes out of sight, so there is less smell. Flushing units fit weddings, showers and remodels where guests or family want something closer to a home bathroom.
| Flushing unit spec | Approximate figure |
|---|---|
| Footprint | About 44 in wide, 48 in deep, 92 in tall |
| Flush water | About 20 gallons, recirculating |
| Sink | Foot-pump sink, about 15 gallons fresh water |
| Flushes before service | About 150–200 |
| Best for | Up to about 50 guests per unit at a dressy event |
What is a wheelchair-accessible porta potty?
A wheelchair-accessible porta potty is a large, ground-level unit with a wide door, grab bars and enough floor space for a wheelchair to turn around inside. It is about 7.5 feet square. Events open to the public need at least 1 per cluster of up to 20 units. See the accessible unit page.
What is a hand washing station?
A hand washing station is a free-standing two-sink stand with foot pumps, soap and paper towels, holding its own fresh and gray water. It needs no hookups. Add one wherever food is served and for every field crew. See hand washing stations.
What is a restroom trailer?
A restroom trailer is a towed trailer with separate stalls holding porcelain flush toilets, running sinks, mirrors, lights and climate control. It needs level ground, a standard outlet and a garden hose, or our generator and water tank. See restroom trailers.
Porta potty types side by side
The five porta potty types differ in flushing, handwashing, space and hookups. A standard unit is the simplest and fits almost anywhere. A restroom trailer is the most comfortable but needs the most room and setup. Use the table to rule options in or out for your site.
| Standard | Flushing + sink | Accessible | Hand wash station | Restroom trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flush | No | Foot pump | No | n/a | Porcelain flush |
| Hand washing | Sanitizer | Sink | Sanitizer | 2 sinks | Sinks |
| Wheelchair access | No | No | Yes | Reachable | No (steps) |
| Power / water | None | None | None | None | Outlet + hose, or ours |
| Space needed | 4 x 4 ft | 4 x 4 ft | 8 x 8 ft | 3 x 3 ft | 10 x 25 ft |
| Wrong for | Formal weddings | Heavy jobsite use | Steep or gravel routes | Use without toilets | Tight gates, soft lawns, slopes |
Dimensions are approximate and vary by model; ask for the exact model and spec sheet for tight placements.