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Types of Porta Potties Compared: Which One Fits Your Site?
There are 5 main types of porta potties: standard, standard with a sink, deluxe flushable, wheelchair-accessible and the 2-stall restroom trailer. A hand wash station is an add-on. The first 4 need no hookups. The trailer needs a power outlet, water and a wide driveway. Your site and your guests decide the type.
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How do the types of porta potties compare?
The 5 types of porta potties differ in 4 ways that matter: flushing, handwashing, wheelchair access and hookups. A standard unit is the smallest at 43.5 inches wide. A wheelchair-accessible unit is 62 inches square. A restroom trailer is the only type that needs power and water.
| Type | Best use | Flushing | Handwashing | Accessibility | Water and power | Footprint | Gate fit | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Crews, casual parties. | None. | Sanitizer. | Not for wheelchairs. | None. | 43.5 × 47 in. | 4-ft gate. | No sink. |
| Standard with sink | Food crews, family events. | None. | Foot-pump sink. | Not for wheelchairs. | None. | 43.5 × 47 in. | 4-ft gate. | One user at a time. |
| Deluxe flushable | Showers, graduations. | Foot-pump flush. | Sink, soap, towels. | Not for wheelchairs. | None. | 47 × 47 in. | Tight in 4 ft. | Still a single stall. |
| Wheelchair-accessible | Wheelchair users. | None. | Sanitizer. | Zero-barrier entry. | None. | 62 × 62 in. | Needs over 62 in. | Needs hard, level ground. |
| 2-stall restroom trailer | Weddings, VIP areas. | Flush toilets. | Sink in each stall. | Steps at the door. | 120V outlet, hose. | About 20 × 9 ft. | Driveway about 10 ft. | No slopes or mud. |
| Hand wash station (add-on) | Food, crowds. | Not a toilet. | 2 foot-pump sinks. | Open on both sides. | None. | 26.5 × 21.5 in. | Almost any gate. | Refill on long rentals. |
Counts matter as much as type. The porta potty calculator turns guests or workers into a unit count.
What are the sizes and specs of each porta potty type?
Every porta potty we rent stands about 91 inches tall. The widths change. A standard PolyJohn PJN3 is 43.5 inches wide and the Fleet FS3 flushable is 47 inches. The Comfort XL accessible unit is 62 inches. Specs below come from the manufacturer. We may send a same-size equivalent.
Standard: PolyJohn PJN3
- Outside
- 91 H × 43.5 W × 47 D in
- Floor inside
- 41 × 41 in
- Tank
- 60 gal
- Weight
- About 175 lb
- Features
- Urinal, 2 paper holders, mirror, vent pipe
- Roof
- Translucent, lets in daylight
Standard with sink
- Shell
- Same as the PJN3
- Added
- Foot-pump sink inside
- Hookups
- None
Deluxe flushable: PolyJohn Fleet FS3
- Outside
- 91 H × 47 W × 47 D in
- Floor inside
- 43 × 45.5 in
- Tank
- 60 gal
- Flush
- Foot pump, fresh water
- Features
- Sink, soap, paper towels, lock
- Hookups
- None
Wheelchair-accessible: PolyJohn Comfort XL
- Outside
- 91 H × 62 W × 62 D in
- Door opening
- 32 W × 74 H in
- Entry
- Ground level, zero barrier
- Floor
- 16+ sq ft
- Handrails
- All walls, at 33 in
- Tank
- 33 gal
- Weight
- About 325 lb
Hand wash station: PolyJohn Bravo
- Outside
- 62 H × 26.5 W × 21.5 D in
- Fresh water
- 22 gal
- Grey water
- 24 gal
- Uses per fill
- Nearly 350 (manufacturer)
- Dispensers
- 2 soap, 4 towel
2-stall restroom trailer: site needs
- Power
- 120V/20A outlet within 100 ft, or a generator
- Water
- Hose spigot, or we fill the onboard tank
- Level spot
- About 20 × 9 ft, plus the steps
- Access
- Driveway about 10 ft wide
- Inside
- Toilet, sink, mirror, lights, A/C per stall
Bravo figures are from the PolyJohn Bravo product page. Other figures come from PolyJohn's listings for each model.
Will a porta potty fit through your gate?
A standard porta potty is 43.5 inches wide, so it fits a 4-foot gate with room to tilt. The 47-inch deluxe flushable leaves about 1 inch in a 4-foot gate. The 62-inch accessible unit needs an opening wider than 5 feet. A restroom trailer needs a driveway about 10 feet wide.
Measure the clear opening, post to post, not the gate panel. Latches and hinges often steal an inch or two.
- Under 44 inches clear: no unit fits. Pick a spot in the front or side yard.
- 44 to 48 inches: a standard or sink unit fits. A deluxe flushable may not.
- Over 62 inches: every hand-carried type fits, including the accessible unit.
- Doorways: at 91 inches tall, no unit goes upright through an 80-inch door.
What does each porta potty look like inside?
These 4 photos show the inside of each porta potty type we have pictured. They run from a plain seat to a trailer stall with a vanity. A sink unit adds a foot-pump basin. A deluxe flushable adds a flush pedal and towels. Specs for the accessible unit are listed above.
When is each porta potty type the wrong choice?
Each of the 5 porta potty types has a site where it fails. A standard unit is wrong when food is served and no sink is nearby. A trailer is wrong on slopes or without power. An accessible unit is wrong on soft grass, where a wheelchair cannot roll.
- Standard: wrong for a dressy wedding or a food crowd with no handwashing.
- Standard with sink: wrong when a long line forms. The sink slows each visit.
- Deluxe flushable: wrong behind a narrow side gate. Measure first.
- Wheelchair-accessible: wrong on loose gravel, mud or a slope. The floor sits at ground level, so the ground must be firm.
- Restroom trailer: wrong with no outlet or generator, on a hill, or in a field soft from rain.
- Hand wash station alone: not a toilet. Pair it with units.
Accessible units and the rules
A public event should have at least 1 accessible unit. The 2010 ADA Standards say at least 5% of units in each cluster must be accessible, minimum 1. Read §213.2 on the Access Board site. This is not legal advice.
Which porta potty type fits your situation?
These 6 common situations point to a clear porta potty type. A job site takes standard units. A backyard party takes standard or deluxe. A wedding takes deluxe flushables or a trailer. Wheelchair guests need an accessible unit. Food events add sinks. Sites with no power skip the trailer.
| Situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Job site | Standard units. | Tough, weekly service, fits tight lots. |
| Backyard party | Standard or deluxe flushable. | No hookups; fits most side gates. |
| Wedding | Deluxe flushables or a trailer. | Flush toilets and sinks for dressed-up guests. |
| Guests in wheelchairs | At least 1 accessible unit. | Zero-barrier entry and handrails. |
| Food served | Add a hand wash station. | Our method: 1 station per 3 toilets. |
| No power on site | Deluxe flushables. | Flush and sink with no outlet needed. |
Price is the other half of the choice. See starting rates for each type in the porta potty rental cost guide.
Porta potty type questions
These 6 answers cover what people ask while picking a porta potty type: gate widths, water for flushing, inside space, sinks, trailer power and the lowest-cost option. Each answer starts with the fact, using the manufacturer sizes listed on this page.
Will a porta potty fit through a 4-foot gate?
A standard unit fits a 4-foot gate. The unit is 43.5 inches wide, so the driver has room to tilt it on the hand truck. A deluxe flushable is 47 inches wide and is a very tight fit.
Does the flushable one need a water hookup?
The deluxe flushable needs no hookup. A foot pump flushes fresh water from a tank inside the unit. We fill the tank before delivery.
Is the handicap one bigger inside?
The wheelchair-accessible unit has over 16 square feet of floor. A standard unit has about 11.7 square feet. The accessible unit is 62 inches wide and deep, with a 32-inch door and handrails on every wall.
Is a sink unit the same as a hand wash station?
A sink unit puts a foot-pump basin inside the toilet, so one person uses it at a time. A hand wash station stands outside with 2 sinks back to back. Food events usually need the station.
Can the restroom trailer plug into my garage outlet?
The trailer runs on a standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlet within 100 feet. Keep other big loads, like a freezer or smoker, off that circuit. A generator works if the site has no outlet.
Which type costs the least?
A standard unit costs the least. Job-site rates start at $175 per 28 days with weekly service. A party unit starts at $195 for the weekend, plus $60 for delivery and pickup.
Ask which porta potty type fits your site
Picking a porta potty type takes 3 facts: the narrowest gate or path, whether power is nearby and who will use the units. Call (936) 213-8620 and describe the spot. The dispatcher matches the type and count, then prices the order on the same call.
Calls answered live Mon–Sat, 7 AM–7 PM. Online quotes answered within 30 minutes.
Still choosing a unit?
Tell us your gate width and your guest list, and we will point you to the right type.
Calls answered live Mon–Sat, 7 AM–7 PM. Online quotes answered within 30 minutes.