Event Planning 101: How Many Portable Toilets Do You Need?

Your Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Number of Units for Any Event

When planning an event, whether it’s a wedding, festival, fundraiser, or community gathering, there’s one detail that’s easy to overlook but impossible to ignore: portable toilet rentals. The right number of units can make the difference between a smooth, enjoyable event and one plagued by long lines, unhappy guests, and avoidable sanitation issues.

But how do you know exactly how many portable toilets you need? This guide breaks down everything you need to know, along with industry best practices and tools that make the process quick and accurate.

Why Correct Toilet Counts Matter

A well-planned portable toilet setup ensures:

• Comfortable guest experience

• Shorter wait times

• Cleaner, well-maintained units

• Better traffic flow and crowd management

• Compliance with health and safety expectations

Underestimating the amount of toilets you need can quickly lead to overuse, while overestimating the amount increases costs unnecessarily. That’s why accurate planning is essential!

Key Factors That Determine the Number of Portable Toilets You Need

1. Event Attendance

The total number of people attending is the most important factor. As a general industry rule:

One portable toilet is recommended per 50–75 attendees. This varies based on event type, amenities, and duration.

Larger events with thousands of people require additional planning, including strategically placed units, accessible washrooms, and possibly hand-wash stations.

2. Event Duration

The longer your event is, the more portable toilets you’ll need.

• Events under 4 hours: baseline recommendations apply

• Events 4–8 hours: expect to increase your unit count

• Full-day or multi-day events: additional units + increased service frequency

Time directly affects usage capacity, so planning for the correct duration is incredibly important.

3. Food & Beverage Service

If your event is serving food, alcohol, or both, expect usage to increase.

Industry standards typically recommend adding 15–20% more toilets when food or alcohol is served, as guests use restrooms more frequently.

4. Unit Types (Standard, Handicap, Comfort Stations, etc.)

Modern event organizers know that accessibility matters.

Plan to include:

• At least one handicap-accessible unit

• Additional accessible units for large events

• Optional luxury trailers for premium experiences

A good portable toilet rental company can help you match unit types with event needs.

5. The Importance of Hand Hygiene

Portable toilets are often paired with:

• Hand-wash stations

• Hand sanitizer units

• Foot-pump sinks

• Paper towels and soap dispensers

Providing adequate hygiene options is especially important for food-related events.

Use a Portable Toilet Calculator to Make Planning Easy

Instead of guessing, you can use a tool designed to do the math for you.

At The Jackpot Portable Sanitation, we provide a simple, accurate Portable Toilet Calculator that instantly tells you how many toilets, accessible units, and sinks you need based on:

• Attendance

• Event length

• Whether food is served

It eliminates guesswork and helps you plan confidently.

You can try it here: Portable Toilet Calculator on our website.

Planning Toilets for Construction Sites

While this blog focuses heavily on events, it’s worth noting that construction sites have their own toilet requirements, and they follow a different usage pattern entirely.

Below, you’ll find a helpful construction site usage chart that outlines industry-standard toilet requirements based on:

• Number of workers

• Shift duration

This chart provides a quick reference for contractors and project managers to ensure compliance and maintain worker comfort and productivity.

Top Recommendations for Event Organizers

✔ Follow the 1:50–75 attendee rule

Use this as your baseline and adjust based on the other factors below.

✔ Increase units for long events

Longer events mean more usage, especially when alcohol is served.

✔ Include accessible units

At least one accessible unit is recommended for every event, with more for larger gatherings.

✔ Don’t forget portable sinks

Show guests you’re prioritizing hygiene, especially when food vendors are present.

✔ Use a calculator instead of guessing

A quick calculation helps avoid underestimating and guarantees your event runs smoothly.

Quick Reference Guide

Here’s a simplified version to get you started:

For precise results → use the calculator.

Choose The Jackpot for Stress-Free Portable Toilet Rentals

When you're planning an event, the last thing you need is uncertainty around must-need services. At The Jackpot, we make portable toilet rentals simple, reliable, and seamless from delivery and placement to cleaning and pick-up.

Our toilet calculator and construction site chart help you get accurate information fast, and our team ensures every unit is clean, stocked, and ready to go.

When you need portable toilets you can count on, choose The Jackpot! Get in touch with our team today.