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How much to rent a porta potty for one day, and is a single day even cheaper than a weekend? ✓ Solved

Brooke L.asked 0 viewsCosts & Rental QuotesWeekend rentalPricingBackyard partyDelivery feeStandard unit

Accepted answer

Nina is right about the weekend minimum, but the driver also checks the ground for softness even if it's flat grass. A truck can pull up, but if the ground is wet, they might need to lay down boards to avoid sinking. For 40 people with drinks, one standard unit usually works, but if you have mostly women or want to avoid lines, renting a second u Read the full answer

We're planning a backyard graduation party for about 40 people this Saturday afternoon, from 1 PM to 6 PM. We're serving food and drinks, so I expect the standard unit will see steady use. The ground is flat grass, and a truck can pull right up to the spot. I called a couple of rental companies for a one-day quote, but both said the minimum rental is for a full weekend. The price is the same whether I have it for Saturday only or from Friday to Monday. That seems odd to me.

What actually drives the price for a single day rental? Is a one-day rental ever cheaper than a weekend rate, or is the weekend just the standard minimum for events?

3 answers

Accepted answer first, then by votes
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✓ Accepted by Brooke L.

Owen G.Austin, TX

Nina is right about the weekend minimum, but the driver also checks the ground for softness even if it's flat grass. A truck can pull up, but if the ground is wet, they might need to lay down boards to avoid sinking. For 40 people with drinks, one standard unit usually works, but if you have mostly women or want to avoid lines, renting a second unit under the weekend rate costs nothing extra since pickup is already included. The price is driven by the delivery and pickup trips, not the days it sits there. Single-day rentals aren't cheaper because the company still makes two trips.

1
Nina R.Nashville, TN

A one-day rental is rarely cheaper than a weekend rate because the weekend is the standard minimum rental period for event companies. The cost is driven by delivery, pickup, and administrative work, which are fixed regardless of duration. For a 40-person, 5-hour event with food and drinks, one standard unit is sufficient, but you might consider a second if most guests are women or to reduce waiting. Rental companies typically charge a flat weekend rate (e.g., Friday to Monday) to cover these fixed costs efficiently. Servicing isn't needed for such a short event, but the unit will be delivered clean and fully stocked. The price includes delivery, the unit itself, and pickup, with no extra charges for a flat, accessible placement like your grassy spot. Weekend minimums are common because scheduling single-day turnovers is logistically challenging for operators.

  • Brooke L. Thanks, that makes sense. I'll ask my rental company about their weekend minimum and if they offer a discount for a Monday pickup.
1
Marcus B.Chicago, IL

A one-day rental is never cheaper than a weekend rate because the delivery and pickup trips cost the rental company the same amount of labor, fuel and vehicle time. Nina and Owen covered the fixed costs well, but they did not mention the administrative side. The rental company processes an order, schedules a driver, and handles billing whether the unit is on site for one day or three. For a Saturday event, the driver likely makes the delivery on Friday and the pickup on Monday to avoid weekend overtime rates. Your 40-person party with food and drinks fits the guideline of one standard unit, but adding a second unit under the same weekend rate is a common upgrade to prevent lines.

  • Sam O. Also, a one-day rental often means the driver has to make a special trip outside the normal route, which can add a trip fee. Weekend rates bundle that cost.

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