How many porta potties do you actually need?

It’s the question we answer more than any other, and getting it right matters: too few units means long lines and grumpy guests; too many means you paid for potties nobody used. Here’s the same math we use when Bay County customers call us.

For events: start with 1 per 50–75 guests

For a typical 4-hour event, plan on one unit per 50–75 guests. Then adjust:

• Serving alcohol? Add 15–20% more capacity. Beer lines and bathroom lines are directly related — this is science we’ve verified for 40 years.
• Longer than 4 hours? Add roughly one unit per 100 guests for each extra 2 hours.
• Food vendors? Add at least one hand-washing station near the food area.
• Open to the public? At least 5% of units (minimum one) should be ADA-accessible.

For job sites: 1 per 10 workers

The construction rule of thumb — and the basis of OSHA’s sanitation guidance — is one unit per 10 workers on a standard 40-hour week, serviced weekly. Bigger crews or longer shifts scale up from there. Weekly cleaning is included with every Patty’s rental, so a properly sized site stays fresh without any extra effort on your part.

Quick reference

• Backyard party, 50 guests — 1 unit
• Wedding, 150 guests — 2–3 units or a trailer
• Festival, 500 guests, alcohol — 8–10 units + wash stations
• Job site, 20-person crew — 2 units

When in doubt, just ask

Every venue and site is a little different — beach access, slopes, service truck reach. Call us at (850) 769-POTI with your headcount and location, and we’ll size it for you in about two minutes. Multi-unit rentals get a discount, and quotes are always free.