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How much does it cost to buy a porta potty, and is owning one ever cheaper than renting? ✓ Solved

Luis A.asked 0 viewsHome Renovations & Long-termBuying a unitHunting campLong termBuying vs rentingLong term rental

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Buying a standard portable toilet is cheaper upfront than a six-week rental with weekly service calls from 40 miles away, but the ongoing pumping and maintenance costs usually make renting the better deal for a single season. A used standard unit costs less than a new one, but you still need to budget for pumping it. A rental company can pump a unit you own, but they will charge a trip fee plus a Read the full answer

We run a hunting camp in the Montana mountains, a six-week season each fall. The camp has no septic. Our seasonal crew and guests total about 12 people. A service truck can reach the spot but it's a 40-mile drive one way for the rental company. I've always rented a standard portable toilet and a handwash station. The weekly service visits add up over the season. I'm looking at a used unit for sale locally and wondering about the real cost of ownership. What does it cost to buy a standard unit outright, and is owning one and paying for pumping service ever cheaper than a seasonal rental? Do you have to be a licensed hauler to have a company pump a unit you own?

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✓ Accepted by Luis A.

Ray M.Dallas, TX

Buying a standard portable toilet is cheaper upfront than a six-week rental with weekly service calls from 40 miles away, but the ongoing pumping and maintenance costs usually make renting the better deal for a single season. A used standard unit costs less than a new one, but you still need to budget for pumping it. A rental company can pump a unit you own, but they will charge a trip fee plus a pump-out fee for each service. You do not need a hauler's license to hire a licensed company to pump your unit; they handle the waste disposal permit.

The rental company's price includes the unit, all servicing, and damage repair. Your cost to own is the purchase price, plus a pump-out fee for each service visit, plus any repairs. For 12 people, one standard unit and one handwash station meet the need. Weekly service is the norm, but with only 12 people for six weeks, you might get by with fewer pump-outs. The 40-mile drive is the main cost driver for service; the rental company builds that distance into the service fee. For a temporary camp, renting avoids the hassle of storing and maintaining a unit for the other ten months of the year.

  • Luis A. Thanks, Ray. The trip fee is the kicker at my distance. I will get a quote for a six-week rental of a standard unit and a handwash station, with weekly service.
3
Sam O.Portland, OR

Marcus and Ray covered the main points, but they didn't mention that a handwash station requires more frequent winter service than a standard unit because its fresh water tank freezes easily. For your Montana camp, you might skip the handwash station in freezing weather and use a hand sanitizer dispenser mounted inside the standard unit instead. That reduces the risk of frozen lines and missed pump-outs. Also, confirm with the pumping company that their vacuum truck can handle your road conditions in fall weather; some won't service private units on rough terrain without a contract.

2
Marcus B.Chicago, IL

Ray is right that the 40-mile drive is the cost driver, but he didn't detail the service logistics. A vacuum truck needs clear truck access on the service day; if the path is blocked by snow or vehicles, you get a missed service and a bill. For your 12-person camp, a weekly service visit is more than enough. Owning means you also handle winter storage to prevent tank cracking and deal with vandalism or wear yourself. Renting shifts that risk to the company. The permit for waste disposal is the hauler's responsibility, not yours, when you hire them.

  • Luis A. Good point on the missed service in winter. I will check with my rental company about their policy for snow days and make sure the truck path stays clear.

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