Few things will derail a major event faster than not having enough of a necessity. You need to have a venue that has enough space for all of your guests; you need enough food to feed everyone, and you will probably need the right sound system to make sure all performers and speakers can be heard. All of this can spell disaster for your special occasion, but by far the worst thing you can do is not have enough bathrooms for everybody. While you probably won’t have much to worry about if your event is being held indoors, an outdoor event means contacting a service that offers porta potty rentals and making sure you don’t underestimate your guest turnout.
The problem with porta potties and portable bathroom trailers is that it’s hard to determine exactly how many you need. Many event planners fail to do this and are left with unhappy guests and some messy clean up. Part of this is because it’s impossible to plan for everything that could happen when hundreds of people get together, but it’s also because they don’t follow the right planning procedures. It takes a lot of work to determine how many porta potties you need for an event, so it’s best to break things down and take them step-by-step.
One Porta Potty for Fifty Guests
The hard and fast rule when ordering toilets for an event is to have one porta potty for every fifty guests. This obviously requires estimating on your part, but it’s always better to overestimate your turnout rather than underestimate. You may need to pay a little extra for some porta potties that don’t get much use, but it’s better than not having enough toilets on site.
The type of event that you are hosting will also be a factor when ordering toilets. If your event only lasts a few hours or less, your porta potties obviously won’t see as much use. In this case, you might be able to get away with fewer units. If your event is going to last all day or longer, you will need more toilets. You will also need more toilets if there will be food and drink available.
You will also need to take into account any guests with disabilities you may have at your event. Companies that offer porta potties for rent will always have handicap accessible porta potties and portable bathroom trailers available, and they are always beneficial to your guests. They also shouldn’t count towards the standard one-to-fifty rule. You should have at least one handicap accessible porta potty on site, but it’s best to order one for every two to three regular porta potties you order.
How Many Porta Potties Will You Really Need?
When you consider every factor, is the one-to-fifty rule really accurate when ordering porta potties? Yes and no. One porta potty for every fifty guests is the absolute bare minimum you need to host a successful event, but you can never be certain how many guests will actually show up. To be on the safe side, you should rent one porta potty for every thirty-five guests for an all-day event. If you aren’t serving food, or you’re hosting a shorter event, you can order one porta potty for every forty guests. You should also take into account any handicapped guests you may have and order one handicap accessible unit for every twenty regular units you order. When in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution and order more units than you think you’ll need. This will also ensure that you have some spare units in case something is wrong with one or more of your porta potties. Porta potties are generally very safe, but it’s always best to prepare for the worst-case scenario, even one that is highly unlikely.
Talking to the Experts
Making sure you have enough porta potties is one of the most important parts of planning any live event. It’s easy to miscalculate how many units you need even when you consider all factors. If you need help with this process, don’t be afraid to talk to a temporary toilet solution provider for advice.
If quality service and superior comfort make a difference to you, call in the porta potty pros from Mr. John for all your temporary toilet needs. Since 1964, our flushing toilets and portable bathroom trailers have been used across the region, helping supply comfort and sanitation for all sorts of events, big and small. Don’t let poor sanitation be what throws your event off course; get in touch with the porta potty providers at Mr. John for all of your temporary toilet needs.
