How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Toilet for a Construction Site in the UK?
A standard portable toilet for a construction site typically costs £25–£50 per week in the UK, including weekly servicing. A fully self-contained welfare unit, with toilet, hot water, and a drying/canteen area, typically runs £140–£220 per week. Delivery and collection are usually charged separately, often £60–£120 in total depending on distance.
If you’re budgeting for site welfare, the number that matters most isn’t the toilet itself, it’s what’s included, how many units you actually need, and whether you’re paying for delivery and servicing separately. Here’s a realistic breakdown.
Typical weekly costs by unit type
| Unit type | Typical weekly cost | What’s usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard portable toilet | £25 – £50 | Unit, weekly servicing, waste disposal |
| Disabled-access unit | £35 – £75 | As above, wider access unit |
| Hot water / hand-wash unit | £40 – £65 | As above, plus running water |
| Self-contained welfare unit | £140 – £220 | Toilet, canteen area, drying room, hot water |
What actually affects the price
- Hire duration: a 6-month site contract typically gets a lower weekly rate than a 2-week hire.
- Delivery distance: transport to and from your site is usually charged separately from the weekly hire cost, and varies with how far you are from the supplier.
- Servicing frequency: weekly servicing is standard. Busier sites with more workers may need twice-weekly visits, which adds cost.
- Number of units: larger sites need more units under the 1:7 worker ratio (see our guide to how many welfare units you need), and multi-unit orders often come with a better per-unit rate.
- Unit type: a basic chemical toilet costs less than a welfare unit with a canteen and drying room built in.
Standard toilet vs. welfare unit: which do you need?
A standard portable toilet covers the legal minimum for sanitary provision. A self-contained welfare unit goes further, adding a place to warm up, eat, and dry wet kit, which CDM 2015 also requires as part of “suitable and sufficient” welfare facilities on a construction site. For most multi-week or multi-month builds, a welfare unit works out better value than hiring a toilet and a separate rest area independently.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a toilet for a month on a construction site?
At £25–£50 per week for a standard unit, a month’s hire typically runs £100–£200, before delivery and collection charges.
Is delivery included in toilet hire prices?
Usually not. Delivery and collection are typically charged separately from the weekly hire rate, often £60–£120 in total depending on distance from the supplier’s depot.
Do longer construction site hires get a better rate?
Generally yes. Suppliers typically offer better weekly rates for longer, ongoing hires compared with short-term or one-off bookings, since it reduces their delivery and collection overhead per week of use.
What’s the difference between a portable toilet and a welfare unit?
A portable toilet provides sanitary facilities only. A welfare unit is a larger, self-contained cabin that also includes a canteen or rest area, drying space, and hot running water, covering the fuller set of welfare requirements under CDM 2015.
Can I get a discount for hiring multiple units on a large site?
Most suppliers offer reduced per-unit rates for multi-unit orders, particularly on larger construction sites with several toilets or welfare units running for the same contract period.
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