How Many Porta Potties Do I Need?
Enter your head count for an instant answer, then check the charts and worked examples. Event counts use our dispatch method; crew counts use OSHA Table D-1.
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The porta potty calculator below gives the number of units for an event or a work crew. Event results use 50, 40 or 30 guests per unit by event length, plus 1 unit per 100 guests with alcohol. Crew results follow OSHA Table D-1.
How many porta potties per guest at an event?
Plan 1 standard porta potty per 50 guests for an event up to four hours, 1 per 40 guests for four to eight hours, and 1 per 30 guests for events over eight hours. Round up every time. Then add units for alcohol and make at least 5 percent accessible.
| Guests | Up to 4 hrs | 4–8 hrs | Over 8 hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 100 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 150 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 200 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 300 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 500 | 10 | 13 | 17 |
| 1,000 | 20 | 25 | 34 |
How do alcohol and food change the count?
Alcohol raises restroom use, so add 1 standard unit for every 100 guests when a bar is open. Food does not change the toilet count, but add 1 handwashing station for every 4 toilets wherever food is served so guests can wash before eating.
Worked example: a 200-guest, six-hour quinceañera with a bar and dinner. 200 ÷ 40 = 5 units, and the bar adds 200 ÷ 100 = 2 units, for 7. Food adds 7 ÷ 4 = 1.75, rounded up to 2 handwashing stations, and at least 1 of the 7 units should be wheelchair-accessible.
How many accessible porta potties are required?
At least 5 percent of the porta potties in each cluster must be accessible, and never fewer than one, under section 213.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards. Count accessible units as part of the total, not in addition to it.
| Units in cluster | Accessible units |
|---|---|
| 1–20 | 1 |
| 21–40 | 2 |
| 41–60 | 3 |
Read the standard at the U.S. Access Board. Confirm event requirements with your venue or permit office.
How many porta potties does a work crew need?
A work crew of 20 or fewer needs 1 toilet under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c). Crews of 21 to 199 need 1 seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers, and crews of 200 or more need 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers. Farm crews need 1 toilet per 20 workers.
| Crew | Construction (1926.51) | Farm field work (1928.110) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 1 + 1 wash station |
| 20 | 1 | 1 + 1 wash station |
| 35 | 1 | 2 + 2 wash stations |
| 60 | 2 | 3 + 3 wash stations |
| 120 | 3 | 6 + 6 wash stations |
Full rules and links: OSHA porta potty requirements.
When should you round up further?
Round up beyond the chart when many guests are children, when everyone takes a break at the same moment such as a race finish or halftime, when the event is in summer heat, or when the nearest other restroom is far away. One extra unit costs far less than a long line.
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More sizing guide questions
How many porta potties for 100 people?
100 guests at a four-hour event need 2 standard porta potties. At four to eight hours, plan 3, and 4 if alcohol is served.
How many porta potties for 500 people?
500 guests at a four-hour event need 10 standard units. A full-day event of four to eight hours needs 13, plus 5 more with alcohol, with at least 1 accessible.
How many porta potties for 10 workers?
A crew of 10 needs 1 toilet under OSHA Table D-1.
Does a restroom trailer count as more than one unit?
Each trailer stall counts as one unit. A two-stall trailer replaces two units in the count.
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