Here at Wight Event Toilets, we have been supplying luxury toilet hire to the events industry for over a decade. During this time, possibly the most frequently asked question we hear is ‘How many toilets do I need?’ There are so many factors at play that it can be quite daunting but, here, we’ll try to break it down for you.
From parties to corporate events, and weddings to sporting fixtures, every public event will need toilet facilities of some kind and organisers should consider the following:
Does the venue have existing toilet facilities?
Where your event venue has toilets, are there enough to cope with expected guest numbers? And where on the site are they situated? If the existing toilets are far from the main action, will attendees have far to go to access them? No one wants to queue endlessly when nature calls, so will visitors give up and just ‘go’ wherever it’s convenient? And finally, what permanent provision is there for physically-challenged or carer-accompanied guests, and families?
What kind of event is it?
Will there be refreshments at the event? Where a bar will also be available to guests with alcohol, we recommend adding an extra 20% to the number of toilets (alcohol is a diuretic!) and obviously where refreshments are available across a long period, organisers will need more. For example, wedding guests who will be attending an entire day of celebrations may well have the wedding breakfast, plus an evening buffet and maybe a day-long bar, so they will definitely need access to more toilet facilities.
How many event attendees are expected?
Possibly the most influential factor when calculating how many portable toilets you need, is anticipated guest numbers. For smaller, shorter events with fewer than 500 visitors, one toilet for every 100 guests should be enough. Larger events over a longer period, with more people, need more loos – not just to accommodate users, but to keep queues down and reduce waiting times. In these cases, you'll need to increase the ratio. For example, for an all-day event, aim for at least one toilet per 75 attendees. For multi-day festivals or events increase the provision even further.
How many men and women will be there?
It may seem odd, but this is a valid consideration, not necessarily for the number of portable toilets you’ll need (women take longer in the loo than men), but for the type of toilet unit to hire. For events where there is a higher proportion of male guests, a luxury portable urinal will help to keep queues moving and free up cubicled units for female guests.
How long is the event?
As mentioned above, longer events will need more portable toilet units. Individual product descriptions in our luxury toilet range show an approximate capacity for public events lasting up to 12 hours, so take this into account when arranging facilities for longer events, or multi-day events.
But how many portable toilets do you actually need? The following provides a basic starting point:
| Attendee numbers | Event up to 4 hours | Event over 4 hours |
| 100 | 1 toilet | 2 toilets |
| 250 | 3 toilets | 4-5 toilets |
| 500 | 5-6 toilets | 6-8 toilets |
| 1000 | 10 toilets | 12-15 toilets |
Event schedule flow
If your event has scheduled breaks, for example a conference where the day is timetabled, there will be peak times for toilet usage and you will need more. Where there is steady usage, distributed throughout the event, fewer toilets will be needed. Understanding the difference between peak usage and steady usage will help you calculate the number of unts you will need for the high demand moments.
Audience demographics
Events attended by families, older people, or those with specific needs may benefit from additional accessible toilet units and baby changing facilities. Make sure to include at least one disabled toilet for every 500 attendees. These should be easy to reach, signposted, and well-maintained.
Portable toilet servicing and maintenance
Regardless of toilet numbers, your event facilities should be spotlessly clean and inviting. All units will be delivered by Wight Event Toilets in pristine condition. For multi-day events we can arrange to visit your site to clean, empty and stock-replenish as necessary. For high end events we can arrange an attendant service too, so guests will be greeted by a friendly face, and know that there is someone in place maintaining the hygiene standards.
Legal requirements
While there is no single UK law dictating exact toilet numbers for outdoor events, local councils and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expect reasonable provision, and not meeting expectations can risk fines. Our advice is based on The Purple Book, an events guide book issued in partnership with the HSE.
Event toilet hire from Wight Event Toilets
At WET Hire, we have a wide choice of luxury toilet units suitable for every kind of public event, whatever its size. Our smallest unit, the 1+1 Luxury toilet is perfect for smaller venues or to complement existing facilities, and will accommodate up to 100 guests. At the other end of the spectrum, we have our largest luxury toilet trailer, the 8 Bay Luxury toilet. The trailer consists of 8 individual cubicles; it can be used as a male/female unit or can easily convert to a single gender facility and will cater for up to 400 guests.
To aid compliance and accessibility, our luxury disabled toilet is perfect, offering reduced height amenities, handrails and a ramp.Our team is always happy to advise based on your particular event and we will ensure you meet local regulations.
In the end, if you’re in doubt, it’s always better to overestimate than risk queues, complaints, or worse, because if you get it wrong, that’s what people will remember most. So, to avoid that happening, email us today or give us a call on 01225 281018.
