Where to Place Portable Toilets at an Event
Get portaloo placement wrong and you get queues, smells and unhappy guests. Get it right and nobody notices the toilets at all. This is how we plan toilet positions for parties, weddings, festivals and public events.
- Keep toilets 25 to 50 metres from the main activity
- Split them into small blocks, not one long row
- Use the highest, driest, most level ground you have
The short answer
- Distance25 to 50m from the main activity
- LayoutBlocks of 3 or 4, in more than one spot
- GroundLevel, firm, highest and driest
- AccessOn or beside a main walkway
- Accessible unitsVisible, on a firm, level route
- ServicingA clear route for the service vehicle
An example event layout
Every site is different, but good layouts share the same shape: toilets close enough to find, far enough to keep smells and noise away from the crowd, and split so nobody walks the whole field to queue.
- 1. Entrance. Guests should pass signage for the nearest toilets as they arrive.
- 2. Stage. Keep toilets out of sightlines and away from the speaker stacks.
- 3. Bar. The busiest draw on the toilets, so a block and urinals sit within easy reach.
- 4. Food area. Toilets stay well away from food stalls and serving areas.
- 5. Block of three. Beside the walkway near the entrance, 25 to 50 metres from the crowd.
- 6. Block of four. Near the bar and stage, so people aren’t crossing the whole site.
- 7. Accessible toilet. In plain view, on firm, level ground right next to the walkway.
- 8. Urinals. Close to the bar to take pressure off the cubicles at busy times.
- 9. Service gate. A separate route for the service vehicle, away from where guests walk.
- 10. Signage. Signs at the entrance and on the walkway, so nobody has to go looking.
The six rules of portable toilet placement
These apply whether you’re placing two portaloos at a garden party or forty at a festival.
1Distance from the crowd
Not too close to the main areas, where toilets can be noisy and smelly. Not so far that people won’t use them properly. For most events, 25 to 50 metres from the main activity is the sweet spot.
2Easy to find
Put toilets close to the main walkways with clear, visible signage. If people have to search for the toilets, queues build up and some won’t bother looking at all.
3More than one location
If all the toilets are in one place, everyone heads to the same spot at once. Spread them across the site in as many locations as practical, so the load is shared.
4Small blocks, not long rows
Don’t cluster portaloos in one spot. Instead of ten in a row, use blocks of three or four. Shorter rows mean shorter walks, shorter queues and less congestion.
5The right ground
Toilets need level, firm ground. Avoid slopes, muddy patches and damp areas. In a field, use the highest, driest ground available, and ask the site manager where water collects after rain.
6Room to service them
On longer events, toilets are emptied and restocked during the event. The service vehicle needs a clear route to every block that doesn’t cut through the crowd.
Placing accessible toilets
Accessible toilets need the most thought, because a badly placed one may as well not be there. Put them in visible locations, close to the main walkways, on firm and level ground with a smooth route to the door. Grass that’s fine for a portaloo can be impossible for a wheelchair after rain.
At public events, include at least one accessible unit in each block rather than one on its own at the edge of the site. Our disabled access toilets have level entry, a wider door and grab rails, and cost £135 plus £70 delivery and collection.
- Visible. In plain sight from the walkway, with its own sign.
- Level route. Firm, flat ground from the path to the door, with no step or kerb.
- Close by. Near the main areas, not tucked away at the far end of a block.
- Lit after dark. Evening events need light on the route and the door.
Placement tips by type of event
Marquees and gardens
Weddings
Place a luxury toilet trailer close to the marquee but out of the photographs, with a lit path for the evening. Trailers also need level ground, vehicle access and a power supply nearby. More in our wedding toilet hire guide.
Fields and arenas
Festivals and shows
Several blocks across the site, more near the bar and campsites, and urinals where the drinking happens. Our festival toilet hire guide covers the bigger picture.
Start, finish and route
Races and sports days
Most units at the start, where nearly everyone queues in the same half hour, with a separate block for spectators at the finish.
Homes and gardens
Garden parties
On a drive, patio or level lawn near the house but away from where food is served. Measure the gate first if the toilets need to go round the back.
Clubs and fêtes
Community events
Near the entrance and the busiest stalls, with an accessible unit on the hard path, not out on the grass.
Exposed sites
Coastal and windy sites
Use shelter from walls, hedges or buildings where you can, and tell the supplier if the site is exposed so units can be secured.
Common placement mistakes
Avoid
- One long row of toilets at the far edge of the site
- Toilets right next to the food or seating area
- The lowest corner of a field, where water collects
- Accessible units on soft grass or behind a step
- Toilets with no signs, or signs only at the toilets
- Blocking the only route the service vehicle can use
Do instead
- Blocks of three or four in more than one place
- 25 to 50 metres from the main activity
- The highest, driest, most level ground available
- Accessible units in view, on a firm, level route
- Signs at the entrance and along the walkways
- A service route agreed before delivery day
How many toilets, and how many blocks?
Placement and numbers go together. As a rough guide, allow one toilet per 50 guests for an event of up to four hours, or one per 35 to 40 if it runs longer or there’s a bar. Add at least one accessible toilet.
Once you have the total, split it into blocks of three or four and spread them across the site. Twelve toilets usually works better as three or four blocks than as one row of twelve.
The Loo Workout Tool in our event portaloo guide gives a quick estimate with costs, and explains the ratios in more detail.
Standard event portaloos are £140 each, including delivery and collection. Accessible units are £135 plus £70 delivery. Large orders start from £50 per unit plus delivery. See portaloo hire cost for the full price list.
| Guests | Toilets, up to 4 hours | Suggested blocks |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2, plus 1 accessible | 1 block |
| 250 | 5, plus 1 accessible | 2 blocks |
| 500 | 10, plus accessible units | 3 blocks |
| 1,000 | 20, plus accessible units | 5 to 6 blocks |
Portable toilet placement questions
How far should portable toilets be from the main event area?
For most events, 25 to 50 metres from the main activity. That’s close enough for people to find and use them, and far enough to keep noise and smells away from the crowd, food and seating.
Should portable toilets be grouped together or spread out?
Spread out. Instead of one long row, split them into blocks of three or four in more than one location. If all the toilets are in one place, everyone heads there at once and queues build up.
Where should accessible toilets go at an event?
In visible locations close to the main walkways, on firm and level ground with a smooth route to the door. At public events, include an accessible unit in each block of toilets.
What ground do portable toilets need?
Level, firm ground. Avoid slopes, mud and damp areas. In a field, use the highest, driest ground available, and ask the site manager where water tends to collect.
How close should toilets be to food stalls?
Keep them well away from food stalls and serving areas, but within reach of the food court so people aren’t crossing the whole site. Hand washing or sanitiser should sit alongside every block.
Do portable toilets need vehicle access?
Yes, for delivery and collection, and for servicing on longer events. Plan a route the delivery and service vehicles can use that doesn’t cut through the crowd.
Where should a luxury toilet trailer go at a wedding?
Close to the marquee but out of the photographs, on level, firm ground with vehicle access and a power supply nearby. Light the path for the evening reception. See wedding toilet hire for sizes and prices.
How much does it cost to hire portable toilets for an event?
Standard event portaloos are £140 each including delivery and collection. Accessible units are £135 plus £70 delivery, and large orders start from £50 per unit plus delivery.
Can you help plan where the toilets should go?
Yes. Send us your event plan or a rough layout and we’ll suggest toilet positions free of charge when we quote.
Not sure where to put your toilets?
If you’ve got an event plan or a rough layout, send it over with your postcode, date and guest numbers. We’ll suggest the placement free of charge, along with the right number of toilets for your event.
