Units per person guideline
Also called: how many porta potties, toilet ratio, restroom ratio
The units-per-person guideline is the industry planning chart that estimates how many portable toilets an event needs from the crowd size and the hours of use. Common charts start near one unit per 50 to 75 people for a four-hour event and add units for alcohol, longer hours and food service.
The charts are planning guidelines, not law. The right number goes up when alcohol is served, when the crowd is mostly women, when there are no service visits during the event and when guests cannot leave to use other restrooms.
For workers, OSHA sets the minimums by crew size and those are law on a construction site.
See also: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51, Cluster, Service frequency
Questions that use this term
Search allHow many porta potties do I need for a wedding with 150 guests? ✓ Solved
For a six-hour wedding with 150 guests and an open bar, rent four standard portable toilets and one ADA-compliant unit. The ADA cluster rule requires…
How many porta potties for 1,000 guests at a day-long outdoor event? ✓ Solved
Hector's count is a good start, but a permit office checks the service frequency plan for an eight-hour event with alcohol. We require a mid-day…
How many porta potties per person do you really need? The ratio everyone quotes vs reality ✓ Solved
For an 80-person wedding with alcohol, plan for more than the one unit per 50 people guideline. Add at least one ADA-compliant unit for accessibility…
How many porta potties for 100 guests at a four-hour party?
We're throwing a 40th anniversary party for my parents at a barn venue. The barn has no indoor plumbing. There will be 100 guests, the party runs…
Backyard birthday party: how many porta potties for mixed kids and adults, and when should they arrive? ✓ Solved
Rent two standard portable toilet units for a party of 50 to 60 people. The industry guideline for a four-hour event starts near one unit per 50 to…
How many porta potties for a crew of 30 on a job site, and does a urinal count?
I'm a site super for a small commercial build, and I'm placing our first porta potty order for a crew of 30. We'll be on site ten hours a day, five…
Youth soccer tournament on grass fields: how many porta potties and do we need handwash stations? ✓ Solved
You need more than 7 standard units for a 10-hour event with 350 people; plan for 9 or 10 standard units plus one ADA-compliant portable toilet.…
How many porta potties for a backyard party of 75 people for one afternoon? ✓ Solved
Hector is right on the count, but the ADA cluster rule applies if you rent two or more units, even for a private event. The 2010 ADA Standards…