Same-day delivery when you call by noon, Mon–Sat
How Many Porta Potties Do I Need?
Count your guests and hours, adjust for alcohol, add accessible and hand washing units. Worked examples and the Washington crew table.
- Local Bellingham yard, own trucks
- Itemized quote, nothing added later
- Weekly cleaning on long rentals
Dispatch answers Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
(253) 540-2109Call or text. Same-day delivery when you call by noon.
- Delivery areaBellingham, Whatcom and Skagit same day; Island, Snohomish and north King on scheduled routes.
- ArrivalCall by noon, Monday to Saturday. Event units arrive the day before so the count is ready.
- Which unit1 per 50 guests up to 4 hours, 1 per 40 for 5–8 hours, plus 1 for every 3 with alcohol.
- CleaningEvents longer than a day need a service visit every 2–3 days to keep units usable.
- Full costExtra units share one delivery charge, so adding one costs less than the first.
Answered live Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Porta potty calculator
Enter your guest count and event length. The calculator applies our method: 1 unit per 50 guests up to 4 hours, 1 per 40 for 5–8 hours, 1 per 30 beyond that, plus 1 for every 3 units with alcohol, at least 1 ADA unit, and hand washing when food is served.
Job sites use the crew table further down, not this calculator.
How many porta potties do you need per guest?
You need 1 standard porta potty per 50 guests for an event of 4 hours or less, 1 per 40 guests for 5 to 8 hours, and 1 per 30 per day beyond that. Add 1 unit for every 3 when alcohol is served. Round every step up to a whole unit.
| Guests | Up to 4 hours | 5–8 hours | 5–8 hours with alcohol | ADA units (min.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 50 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 100 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 150 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 250 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 1 |
| 500 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 1 |
| 1,000 | 20 | 25 | 34 | 2 |
This is our in-house planning method, built from industry event charts and adjusted to keep lines short. It is a recommendation, not a legal minimum. ADA column: 5% of units per cluster, never fewer than 1, per 2010 ADA Standards §213.2.
Worked example: how many units for a 200-guest wedding?
A 200-guest, 6-hour wedding with an open bar needs 7 toilets. Step 1: 200 ÷ 40 = 5 units. Step 2: the bar adds 1 for every 3 units, so 5 ÷ 3 = 1.7, rounded up to 2. Total 7, with 1 of them ADA wheelchair-accessible, plus 2 hand washing stations for the food.
- Guests ÷ per-unit number for the event length (round up).
- Alcohol: add 1 unit for every 3 (round up).
- Make at least 1 unit, and 5% of units, ADA wheelchair-accessible.
- Food: 1 two-sink hand washing station per 3 toilets.
Want the numbers for your exact date and address?
(253) 540-2109A person answers live Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Written quotes go out within 1 business hour.
How many porta potties does a construction crew need in Washington?
A Washington construction crew needs 1 toilet for 1 to 10 workers, 2 for 11 to 25, 3 for 26 to 40, 4 for 41 to 60 and 5 for 61 to 80, then 1 more per 20 workers under WAC 296-155-140, effective July 1, 2025. Units must sit within 200 feet of the work.
See the Washington job-site toilet rules for handwashing, servicing and women-on-crew requirements.
When should you add more than the chart says?
Add units beyond the chart when most guests arrive at once (ceremonies, halftime, race starts), when guests are mostly women, when kids attend in large numbers, or when the event runs past 8 hours without service. One extra unit costs far less than a 20-minute line.
Where to go next
This guide answers one planning question about how many porta potties do i need. The pages below pick up the next steps: the unit pages carry specs and photos, the job-type pages explain billing and servicing, and the quote form turns your numbers into an itemized price for your address.
- Party and event rentals
- Wedding restroom planning
- ADA wheelchair-accessible units
- What your count will cost
Official sources
More questions
Do I need separate units for men and women?
Separate units are optional at private events. Two or more units can be signed for men and women if you prefer.
Does a house bathroom count toward the total?
An indoor bathroom helps a small party, but it should not replace units at events over about 25 guests, and it adds load to a septic system.
How many hand washing stations do I need?
One two-sink station per 3 toilets when food is served, and one at each food line.
Can I add units after booking?
Units can be added up to the day before delivery if inventory allows; call as soon as the count grows.
Does a restroom trailer stall count as one unit?
Count each trailer stall as one toilet when you use the chart.
Still have a question? Call (253) 540-2109 and a person answers.
Get a written quote
The phone is fastest, and same-day orders must call by noon. For anything else, send the ZIP code, dates, unit type, quantity and head count. We text or email an itemized quote within 1 business hour, listing the unit, rental length, servicing, delivery, pickup and tax on one page.
(253) 540-2109Call now(253) 540-2109Prefer to talk? Call and a person answers Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.