Standard portable toilet
Also called: standard unit, basic unit, porta potty, porta john
A standard portable toilet is a single-occupant plastic unit with a non-flushing holding tank under the seat, a urinal in many models, a toilet paper holder, a vent stack and a lockable door. It is the base unit for construction sites, festivals and home renovations.
A standard unit is about four feet square and seven to seven and a half feet tall, weighs roughly 200 pounds empty and holds between 50 and 70 gallons of waste depending on the model. Waste falls straight into the holding tank, where a deodorizer keeps odor and bacteria down until the service truck pumps it out.
When you rent a standard unit you are paying for the unit, the delivery, the scheduled service (pumping, deodorizer recharge, paper, interior cleaning) and the pickup. Anything else, such as a hand sanitizer dispenser, a mirror, a light or a handwash station, is an add-on or a different unit type.
See also: Holding tank, Deluxe portable toilet, Flushing portable toilet, Vent stack
Questions that use this term
Search allHow much does it cost to rent a porta potty for a weekend, and what is in the price?
We are hosting a backyard wedding for 50 people, Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, with beer and wine. I got three quotes for a single standard…
What does a porta potty rental cost per month for a home renovation? ✓ Solved
Ray covered the driver's access check, but a family of four using a single standard unit for eight to ten weeks will likely need weekly service. The…
Where should a porta potty go on a residential driveway or yard? ✓ Solved
Place the portable toilet on the level ground in your side yard. A standard unit must be on level ground to prevent tipping and to keep the contents…
Why does my porta potty smell so bad by midweek and how do I fix it?
We have a standard portable toilet on our construction site for a crew of about 15 guys. It gets serviced every Monday morning, but by Wednesday…
How often does a porta potty need to be pumped and cleaned? ✓ Solved
Yes, weekly service is necessary even for light use. The rental company follows a standard service frequency schedule to prevent odor, maintain…
Do I need an ADA porta potty at my event, and how many?
Yes, you need at least one ADA-compliant portable toilet at your community 5K event. Your permit application specifies accessible units, and the ADA…
Standard vs flushing vs deluxe porta potty: what is actually different? ✓ Solved
A standard portable toilet is a non-flushing unit with a 50 to 70 gallon holding tank containing a deodorizer. A flushing unit is a self-contained…
Renting a porta potty for a bathroom remodel: what should I know before it arrives?
Our only bathroom is getting a complete gut renovation starting next week, and the project is scheduled for six weeks. I've never rented a portable…