How Many Portable Toilets Do I Need?

One of the most common questions we get at Pottys Plus is: “How many porta potties do I need for my event or job site?” The answer depends on headcount, event length, alcohol use, and whether you need ADA or wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

This complete guide walks you through the basics for New Jersey events and construction sites, then points you to our easy-to-use Unit Calculator so you can get a fast recommendation and request a quote.

General Rules of Thumb for Portable Toilet Quantities

While every event and job site is different, there are some widely accepted industry guidelines that help you get close on your first pass. You can then fine-tune with our calculator or by talking to our team.

Events & Public Gatherings (Guests/Attendees)

For shorter events (up to about 4 hours) with average usage and no heavy alcohol service, a simple starting point is:

As event duration increases beyond 4 hours, or if guests are eating, drinking, or staying on-site all day, you'll want to increase the number of units to prevent long lines and overuse. That's where the Unit Calculator is especially useful.

Events with Alcohol, Food & Longer Durations

Events that serve alcohol (weddings, festivals, concerts, company parties) typically require more restroom capacity per guest than dry events. A common approach is:

• Add 15–30% more restrooms when serving alcohol.
• Increase counts for events longer than 4 hours (e.g., all-day festivals, tournaments, multi-day fairs).
• Consider upgrading some units to VIP portable restrooms for guest comfort.

For example, a 200-person wedding with alcohol for 6 hours might warrant:

• 2–3 Standard or Standard With Flush units, plus
• 1–2 VIP units for bridal party and VIP guests, plus
• At least 1 ADA or XLT wheelchair-accessible unit if needed.

Construction & Job Sites: How Many Toilets for Workers?

For construction and industrial job sites, restroom planning is usually driven by workforce size and shift length. A simple starting rule many sites follow is:

• Up to 10 workers: at least 1 portable restroom
• 11–20 workers: 2 restrooms
• 21–40 workers: 3 restrooms
• 41–60 workers: 4 restrooms
• And so on, increasing as your headcount grows.

You may also need additional units for:

• Long shifts (10–12+ hours)
• Multiple crews working in different areas
• Mixed construction + office staff at the same location

For busy or long-term projects, many contractors also upgrade key locations to Standard With Flush or Standard Units with regular service to keep crews happy and productive.

ADA & Wheelchair-Accessible Portable Restrooms

In addition to total unit counts, you also need to think about accessibility and compliance. For most events and job sites, a good baseline is:

• At least one wheelchair-accessible unit for smaller events.
• At least 5% of total restrooms being wheelchair accessible for larger events.

Pottys Plus offers:

• XLT Wheelchair-Accessible Units — 50% larger than standard units, with ground-level entry and extra interior space.
• ADA-Compliant Portable Restrooms — built to meet ADA guidelines with flat-floor entry, extra-wide doors, full turning radius, and grab bars.

If you are unsure how many ADA or accessible units you need for your New Jersey project or event, our team can help you interpret the guidelines based on your specific setup.

Using the Pottys Plus Unit Calculator

Once you have a rough idea of your guest count, event length, and crew size, the easiest next step is to use our Unit Calculator. It's designed to help you:

• Estimate the number of portable toilets you need based on attendance and duration.
• Adjust for alcohol, food, and multi-day events.
• Consider the mix of Standard, Standard With Flush, VIP, XLT, and ADA units.

The calculator is a great planning tool, but it's just a starting point. You can always send your results directly to our team using the Request a Quote form for a custom recommendation.

Choosing the Right Type of Portable Restroom

Getting the quantity right is only half the battle. You also want the right type of portable restroom for your guests, crew, and location. Pottys Plus offers several popular options:

• Standard Portable Restroom — cost-effective, durable, great for construction and public sites.
  Learn more: Standard Unit
• Standard With Flush — same footprint with a hands-free foot-pump flush and sealed tank for better odor control.
  Learn more: Standard With Flush
• VIP Portable Restroom — freshwater sink, vanity, and upgraded interior for weddings and upscale events.
  Learn more: VIP Unit
• XLT Wheelchair-Accessible & ADA-Compliant Units — larger interiors and accessibility features for guests and workers with mobility needs.
  Learn more: XLT Accessible & ADA-Compliant Unit

For a detailed side-by-side comparison of dimensions, tank capacities, accessibility features, and ideal use cases, check out our Portable Restroom Comparison Guide on the Pottys Plus website.

Still Not Sure How Many Toilets You Need?

Don't stress over getting the exact number perfect on your own. Our team plans restrooms for New Jersey construction sites, weddings, festivals, corporate events, and emergency deployments every day. We know what works in the real world.

Share your event details or project scope and we'll recommend a smart mix of Standard, Standard With Flush, VIP, XLT, and ADA units, plus service schedules and placement tips.