Event toilet guide
How Many Portaloos Do I Need for an Event?
As a rule of thumb, hire one portable toilet per 50 guests for an event of up to four hours without alcohol, and one per 35 to 40 guests if it runs longer or there’s a bar. Add at least one accessible toilet, and a urinal unit for every 300 or so guests once the bar opens.
Updated 10 October 2026. Prices checked October 2026.
- £140 per toiletDelivered, set up and collected
- Any size of eventParties to festivals
- Runs and racesStart, finish and route
- Fast quotesOnline in minutes, or call us
How many portaloos for 100, 200, 500 or 1,000 people?
Go by the number of people on site at the busiest time, not total tickets sold. Most organisers get it wrong by guessing low, and the queues show it.
| Guests | Up to 4 hours, no alcohol | Longer, or with a bar | Accessible | Cost with a bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1 | 2 | 1 | £280 |
| 100 | 2 | 3 | 1 | £420 |
| 150 | 3 | 4 | 1 | £560 |
| 200 | 4 | 6 | 1 | £840 |
| 250 | 5 | 7 | 1 | £980 |
| 300 | 5 plus 1 urinal unit | 7 plus 1 urinal unit | 1 | from £1,130 |
| 500 | 9 plus 1 urinal unit | 13 plus 1 urinal unit | 2 | from £1,970 |
| 750 | 13 plus 2 urinal units | 18 plus 2 urinal units | 2 | from £2,820 |
| 1,000 | 17 plus 3 urinal units | 24 plus 3 urinal units | 3 | from £3,810 |
Cost with a bar covers the portaloos at £140 each, delivered, and urinal units from £150. Accessible toilets are £135 each plus delivery. Swipe the table on a phone to see every column.
The Loo Workout Tool
Pick the type of hire and move the sliders for a quick estimate. It’s a starting point: we check the numbers on every quote.
Toilet numbers by type of event
Typical setups for the events we supply most. Your quote confirms the numbers for your site, timings and crowd.
| Event | Guests and length | Suggested toilets |
|---|---|---|
| Private party | 50 to 100 guests, 4 to 6 hours with a bar | 2 to 3 portaloos, or a 1+1 or 2+1 luxury trailer |
| Larger party | 100 to 200 guests, 6 to 8 hours with a bar | 3 to 6 portaloos, or a 2+1 to 3+2 trailer |
| Wedding | 80 to 150 guests, full day with a bar | A 2+1 or 3+1 trailer, or 3 to 4 portaloos |
| Large wedding | 150 to 250 guests, full day with a bar | A 3+2 or 4+2 trailer, or 4 to 7 portaloos |
| Corporate event | 100 to 300 guests, about 8 hours | 3 to 7 portaloos and an accessible toilet, a urinal unit at 300, and a trailer for hospitality |
| Small festival | 250 to 500 people, full day with a bar | 7 to 13 portaloos, a urinal unit and 1 to 2 accessible toilets, spread across the site |
| Large festival | 500 to 1,000+ people, full day with a bar | 13 to 24+ portaloos, 1 to 3 urinal units and 2 to 3 accessible toilets, with servicing |
| 5k or 10k run | 200 to 500 runners, 2 to 4 hours | 4 to 10 portaloos at the start and finish |
| Marathon or trail run | 500 to 2,000+ runners, 7+ hours | About 1 per 30 to 50 runners at the start, plus 2 at every water stop, roughly every 10km |
| Building site | Workers on site at once | HSE guidance: 1 for up to 5 workers, 2 for 6 to 25, 3 for 26 to 50, 4 for 51 to 75, 5 for 76 to 100 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
More detail for weddings in our wedding toilet hire FAQ, for festivals in our festival toilet hire guide, and for sites in the site toilet ratio guide.
Does alcohol change how many toilets you need?
Yes, more than anything else. In our experience, a bar increases toilet use by around 30 to 40%, and people visit more often as the night goes on. That’s why the guide drops from one toilet per 50 guests to one per 35 to 40 once drinks are served or the event runs past four hours.
Be honest with us about the bar when you book. Weddings and festivals with a busy bar need extra capacity, or tanks can fill before the end. For festivals, we plan for the busiest moment, not the average.
- No alcohol, up to 4 hours. One toilet per 50 guests.
- A bar, or longer than 4 hours. One toilet per 35 to 40 guests.
- Free bar or a late finish. Add more, or go a trailer size up.
- Several days. Plan servicing visits, and showers if people camp.
Accessible toilets, urinals and servicing
Accessible toilets
£135 plus delivery
Have at least one at any public event, and about one for every ten standard toilets at bigger events. Place them on firm, level ground near the main block.
Disabled toilet hireUrinal units
From £150
A multi-bay urinal unit for every 300 or so guests takes pressure off the cubicles once the bar opens, and costs less than extra portaloos.
Event toilet hireServicing
Built into your quote
Events with more than 50 portaloos, or that run longer than a weekend, need servicing during the hire. We plan it into the quote so there are no surprises.
Get a quoteLuxury trailers
From £750 delivered
One trailer covers 50 to 250+ guests depending on size, with flushing toilets and running water. Prices vary by location.
Trailer vs portalooToilets for running events
Runners need toilets most before the start, so that’s where the queues build. As a general rule, allow one toilet per 30 to 50 participants at the start area.
For a 5k or 10k, toilets at the start and finish are usually enough. For marathons, ultra marathons and trail runs, put two portaloos at every water stop, roughly every 10km, and add accessible toilets for spectators and runners who need them.
Send us your course map and we’ll suggest where the units should go. We’ve supplied more than 50 toilets for the Thames Path Ultra Challenge and toilets for two marathon events in East Sussex.
What we need for a race
- The course map, with water stops and the start and finish
- Expected runners, spectators and volunteers
- Start time and road closure times
- Vehicle access to each toilet point
- Whether you need accessible toilets along the route
What event organisers say
Charity days, parties and events, in customers’ own words.
“The toilets and urinal unit provided were clean, delivered and collected as agreed. Service was smooth and hassle free”
“I can honestly say this was an amazing find. The customer service was excellent from delivery on time, squeaky clean, soft loo roll provided and hand gel also connected to the wall. Collection on time and swift. The price was the best I found, the owner communicative. I can very highly recommend”
“Efficient, good valuable, and a human, reliable service.”
“…Delivery and take down was super smooth with no issues, giving us notification of arrival times prior and the trailers were clean and fully working order. What more can a customer ask for.”
How many toilets: FAQs
How many portaloos do I need per person?
One per 50 people for an event of up to four hours without alcohol, or one per 35 to 40 people if it runs longer or there’s a bar. Add at least one accessible toilet, and a urinal unit for every 300 or so guests.
How many portaloos do I need for 100 people?
Two for an event of up to four hours without alcohol, or three if it runs longer or there’s a bar. Add one accessible toilet. At £140 each delivered, three portaloos cost £420.
How many portaloos do I need for 200 people?
Four for a short event without alcohol, or six for a longer event or one with a bar, plus one accessible toilet.
How many portaloos do I need for 500 people?
About nine portaloos and a urinal unit for a short event without alcohol, or 13 portaloos and a urinal unit for a full day with a bar, plus two accessible toilets.
How many portaloos do I need for 1,000 people?
About 17 portaloos and three urinal units for a short event without alcohol, or 24 portaloos and three urinal units for a full day with a bar, plus three accessible toilets and servicing during the event.
Does alcohol change how many toilets I need?
Yes. In our experience, a bar increases toilet use by around 30 to 40%, so the guide moves from one toilet per 50 guests to one per 35 to 40.
How many accessible toilets do I need?
At least one at any public event, and about one for every ten standard toilets at larger events. Accessible toilets are £135 each plus delivery.
Do I need urinals at an event?
Once you’re past about 300 guests with a bar, yes. A multi-bay urinal unit takes pressure off the cubicles and costs from £150, less than the extra portaloos it replaces.
How many toilets do I need for a 5k, 10k or marathon?
Allow one toilet per 30 to 50 runners at the start. A 5k or 10k usually only needs toilets at the start and finish. For marathons and trail runs, add two portaloos at every water stop, roughly every 10km.
How many toilets does a building site need?
HSE guidance works on the number of people on site at once: one toilet for up to 5 workers, two for 6 to 25, three for 26 to 50, four for 51 to 75 and five for 76 to 100, with hand washing next to them.
Do portaloos need servicing at a long event?
Events with more than 50 portaloos, or that run longer than a weekend, need servicing during the hire. We build it into your quote.
How much do event portaloos cost?
Event toilets are £140 each including delivery, setup, servicing and collection. Accessible toilets are £135 each plus delivery, urinal units start at £150, and luxury trailers start from £750 delivered, varying by location.
Want us to check your numbers?
Tell us the date, location, expected crowd and whether there’s a bar, and we’ll suggest the right mix with a clear price.
Written by the Toilet Hire Near Me team. We arrange event toilets, urinals, accessible units and luxury trailers across the south of England and South Wales through local suppliers. Prices were last checked in October 2026.
| Event Type | Attendees | Duration | Alcohol? Y/N | Recommended Toilets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Party | 50–100 | 4–6 hrs | Y | 2–3 | Increase if limited indoor access |
| Larger Private Party | 100–200 | 6–8 hrs | Y | 3-5 | Booze can increase toilet usage up to 30% |
| Wedding (smaller) | 80-150 | Full day | Y | 2+1 luxury unit or 3 portaloos | Luxury recommended |
| Wedding (larger) | 150-250 | Full day | Y | 3+1, 3+2 or 3+2 luxury unit | Luxury recommended |
| Corporate Outdoor | 100-300 | 8 hours | Sometimes | 3-6 portaloos + 1 disabled | Opt for more portaloos if drinks being served |
| Festival (small) | 250-500 | Full day | Y | 10-12 portaloos + 2 disabled | Spread across site |
| Festival (large) | 500-1000+ | Full day | Y | 20-35+ portaloos + disabled | Get in contact to discuss further – servicing will be required |
| Charity Run (5k/10k) | 200–500 | 2-4 hours | N | 4-8 portaloos | Toilets at start/finish area |
| Marathon / Trail Run | 500–2000+ | 7+ hours | N | 1 loo per 30–50 participants | Place every 10km / 2 loos per stop |
| Small Construction Site | 1-7 workers | Ongoing | N | 1 | HSE legal requirement |
| Larger Construction Site | 8–20+ | 6–20+ | N | 2–4 – Welfare unit may be more applicable | Depends on workforce – get in touch |