You have a big event coming up on the horizon. Perhaps a music festival, an exclusive party, or even an outdoor wedding. Or maybe you’re organising the facilities to provide for a construction site. In whichever camp you fall, organising toilet facilities is a really important thing to tick off of the ‘to do’ list.

 But how do you know whether you need a portable toilet or a toilet trailer?

It used to be a simple case of hiring a ‘portaloo’. But now there are such a range of facilities on the market, it makes sense to opt for exactly the provision that you want and need, rather than just opting for countless single toilet units. The range of options available to you also allows you to ensure that you are catering to your customers’ needs, whether that is handwashing facilities, wheelchair access, urinals, or shower stalls.

What is a portable toilet?

A portable toilet (often known by the basic portaloo brand name) is a single unit toilet. This simple, durable, and lightweight plastic structure houses either a chemical toilet system, or a flushable system. Occasionally they also offer a urinal next to the toilet, and they often offer either a wall-mounted steriliser hand gel or a basic basin with a bar of soap. They are a simple option to provide facilities, especially when aesthetics are not a concern. Although they are simple, there are more options in terms of your portable toilet’s provision and amenities these days, from sinks and mirrors to the aforementioned water flush mechanism and sink.

With this type of unit, the waste is held in a holding tank situated just below the toilet seat. Chemicals are utilised here, for several purposes - to break down the waste, to control any nasty odours, and also to combat bacterial growth.

If you’re opting for portable toilets with only a wall mounted hand steriliser gel provision, it is advisable to also hire a hand washing station. These stations feature foot pump-operated plastic taps, which provide water, and soap can be provided too. This allows your users to access proper personal hygiene after using the facilities.

Portable toilets are perfectly functional and serve a need perfectly, especially if that need is basic and functional, with lower usership or short periods of usership. But portable toilets are not places people usually tend to linger.

What is a toilet trailer?

A toilet trailer usually offers a better look, sense of comfort, and finish, than the more simple portable toilet. It is basically a compact, mobile bathroom. With a hook up for water and electricity, these units are capable of providing comfort, and space for guests to wash their hands, straighten their tie or fix their hair. These units are therefore usually a better fit for festivals, weddings, and exclusive events. 

Toilet trailer blocks usually offer more amenities than a portable toilet, too. Usually in sets of several toilet blocks, there are individual private stalls inside the structure, and climate controls to make the temperature comfortable. These seem like simple concerns, but such touches go a long way towards making your guests comfortable, and keeping the area sanitary. They also feature proper flushing toilet systems, hot and cold running water in hand basins, and useful touches such as wall-mounted mirrors, They feel more like your traditional washroom facilities, but with the added benefit of being available to set up wherever your event may need, as most units can function without access to mains drainage or electricity.

Advantages of a portable toilet

• A great option where budgets are tight
• A great option where space is limited
• They can be hired in sets to line up side-by-side, providing the precise number of facilities you require
• You’ll be able to fit in more portable toilets versus toilet trailers, so if you need dozens of bathrooms, a portable toilet is a great way to minimise the space lost onsite to bathroom provision.
• Most units don’t use electricity or a water source to operate, so are ideal in really remote locations 

Disadvantages of a portable toilet

• They are harder to keep clean, even with considerate usage - they therefore require more manpower to facilitate the increased maintenance needed to keep them in a ship-shape condition
• They can expose users to more bacteria and viruses, especially where handwashing facilities with water and soap are not provided
• Odours can be hard to keep in check, especially in warm weather
• Ventilation is provided through small openings in the door and structure - which can make them very warm in hot weather and very cold in cold weather
• They have no electricity, so aren’t suitable for night-time, in the dark applications.

Advantages of a toilet trailer

• Toilet trailers are aesthetically pleasing, not compromising the look of your event
• They feature amenities to enable best hygiene practice, from flushing toilets to running water in basins
• They are more temperate, as the units feature both air conditioning and heating, so they are similarly welcoming on a freezing night and in the blazing summer heat
• They can be combined with shower facilities, if needed, to provide all of the facilities needed for a multi-day event
• There are usually accessible unit options (featuring ramps, plenty of turning space, grip bars and lower mirrors), making sure you are catering to all potential users

Disadvantages of a toilet trailer

• Toilet trailers do occupy more space, and take more manoeuvring to get into spot, so might not suit limited floorplans or difficult access routes
• They come in at a higher price point, so are not the perfect fit for very small budgets

Do I need a toilet trailer, or a portable toilet?

Where possible, it’s best to look at the issue from the perspective of your users. On a construction site in temperate weather, perhaps all your users want or need is a simple convenience stall. But if you’re catering to a festival, where festival goers have spent considerable sums on their ticket and may even be onsite for several days, you don’t want their main ‘take away’ from the festival to be the horrendous bathroom facilities. With thousands of users in only a few hours, maintenance and cleanliness are certainly difficult to control in portable toilets. 

Similarly, if you’re celebrating a lavish outdoor wedding or ceremony. Everyone will be dressed up very smart - it’s jarring to then have to hitch up your skirts and tip-toe into a portable toilet facility! Similarly, the clothing for fancy events is usually more voluminous - which can be problematic in the confines of a portable toilet unit!

Toilet trailers will better fit the high-finish and exclusive feel of your event, and give guests the facilities they expect at such events, such as vanity mirrors for checking spinach in teeth and reapplying lippy! In short, if you’re trying to impress, or trying to provide a comfortable experience for your guests, it’s best to opt for a toilet trailer.

How many toilet facilities should I provide for my guests?

A ballpark figure to help avoid long queues is to provide a minimum of one portable toilet per 100 users.  If you are serving alcohol, famously a diuretic, it is wise to raise this number, allowing perhaps 2 per 150 guests. Consider getting different facilities marked men and women  - you can acquire stalls with urinals in for the male users, such as our 18 bay urinal stall.

If you’re opting for a toilet trailer, allow one toilet stall per 25 guests. Because these facilities are usually of a higher finish and offer more amenities inside, users tend to spend longer there, so you’ll need to provide more units to limit queuing. If your event stretches overnight, consider providing a toilet trailer with shower facilities, too.

What to expect inside a toilet trailer

Most luxury toilet trailers come with all the amenities you’d hope to find in a usual washroom, including but not limited to running hot and cold water (usually not drinkable), toilet paper dispensers, hand steriliser gel, soap, odour control, climate control, and lighting. To cater specifically, you can opt for a toilet trailer with a series of urinals, too, which is great for minimising queuing at the toilet stall facilities. 

Opt for more compact options, such as our towable 1 + 1 compact toilet trailer, or the luxury finish and aesthetic appeal of the 1 + 1 luxury toilet trailer. We offer trailers from 2 stall right up to 8 bay luxury toilet trailers, wheelchair accessible  4 + 1 toilet trailers with 2 mens facilities, one womens facilities, and 1 ramp-accessible wheelchair facility. We also offer 2, 4, and 6 bay luxury shower trailers, for all your mobile hygiene facility needs.

Still not quite sure which kind of toilet provision you’ll need for your event? Don’t worry. Get in touch with WEThire today and we’ll walk you through all the options, considering your site, your event or provision needs, your guest numbers, and your event timeline - at your convenience!