See some of the best portable toilets for garden rooms and offices where there’s no plumbing.
Summerhouses, outhouses and garden offices are very popular these days as they offer additional working and relaxing space away from the main home and can increase the price of properties when they go to market.
And like fixed houses, they also need utilities such as electrical power and water and in cases where you don’t want to keep going to the house when nature calls, a toilet.
However, whilst you don’t need planning permission for the structure of your outhouse, you do need it to plumb in a static toilet.
That’s where portable eco-toilets come in. They are lightweight and compact, which means they are easy to move and fit in small spaces and they don’t need fixed plumbing to operate.
So to help you make a decision I’ve researched and chosen 4 of the best portable eco-toilets suitable for your outhouse or garden room.
Contents:
- Buyers guide
- Bonnlo 24 L Portable Toilet Flushing Potty
- Sfeomi 20L Portable Toilet
- Thetford 92820 Porta Potti 365 Portable Toilet
- Samger Samger Portable Toilet
Buyers guide
Toilet flush and bowl treatment
Portable toilets which are also known as chemical toilets are designed in two parts – The top section which contains the water flushing system and the lower section which holds the toilet seat and waste box.
To maintain a level of hygiene and minimize any unpleasant smells both sections need to be treated with a chemical solution. This is done by adding a chemical such as Blue Diamond fluid and bowl cleaner which comes in two bottles. You add one to the flashing tank (which is filled with clean water) and the other to the toilet bowl.
Blue Diamond toilet cleaner can be purchased from Amazon at the latest price here….
Waste and load capacity
When choosing a portable toilet for your outhouse you want to make sure you go for one that has a minimum waste holding capacity of 20 litres and a weight capacity of 130kgs.
This will save you on more trips to the inhouse toilet to empty and be suitable for larger people over 100kgs.
Where to discharge waste
When the portable toilet is full it obviously needs to be emptied. This usually means taking a trip to your house to dispose of in the toilet.
You can compost your toilet waste, but you need to be very careful as human waste is more toxic than animal waste and needs to be composted at very high temperatures.
You, therefore need a composter that is watertight and doesn’t leach from the bottom or sides to avoid contamination of the ground and can reach the consistent temperatures needed to ensure human waste is safe to use as fertiliser.
For more information on the safe composting of human waste, I have added a link to a Manual of Composting toilet and Greywater Practices put together by the WHO (World Health Organization) and a Canadian public health Authority.
Bonnlo 24 L Portable Toilet Flushing Potty
Best Value
Weight capacity: 130kgs
Capacity: 24 litres (waste holding tank)
Size: 47 x 46 x 40 cm
Features
- Made with high-density polyethene
- Sealing slide valve locks in odours and protects against leakage
- Detachable holding tank
Pros:
- Large waste capacity
- Budget-friendly
- Portable & compact
- Lightweight
Con’s:
- Lower end of the budget
- Lower weight capacity than comparable models
First up is the best budget Bonnlo 24 L Portable Toilet Flushing Potty. It has a generous 24-litre waste capacity, is lightweight and compact which is something you need for small spaces and is made from high-density polyethene which means this portable toilet has a strong weight-bearing capacity of 130kgs.
It has a sealing slide valve that locks in odours and protects against leakage and is also the best portable toilet for an outhouse or garden office if you are on a budget.
However, going for the cheapest product can also be a negative as you won’t get all the features that come with more high-end composting toilets.
Sfeomi 20L Portable Toilet
Weight capacity: 150kgs
Capacity: 20 litres (waste holding tank)
Size: 41x35x41 cm
Features:
- Piston pump
Pros:
- High weight capacity
Con’s:
- Lower waste capacity
- Relatively basic model
Next up is the Sfeomi Portable portable toilet.
It has a 20-litre waste capacity which is slightly lower than the Bonnolo with a higher weight capacity of 150kgs. It also operates without fixed plumbing and can be flushed up to 50 times before you need to refill the water tank.
However, this is a pretty basic model which doesn’t offer any additional features.
Thetford 92820 Porta Potti 365 Portable Toilet
Weight capacity: 150kgs
Capacity: 21 litres (waste holding tank)
Size: 41 x 38 x 42 cm
Features:
- Level indicator display for the waste-holding tank
- Piston pump
Pros:
- High weight capacity
- Well-known brand with high user ratings
Con’s:
- Lower waste capacity than comparable models
The Porta Potti 365 Portable Toilet is from a well-known brand and has very high user ratings. It has a 21litre waste holding capacity and a high weight capacity of 150kgs.
It’s powered by a hand-powered piston pump which is good for when there is no plumping and also has a waste level indicator so you can see how full the waste holder is and when it needs emptying.
Overall this outdoor composting toilet is comparatively a good product. The only downside I would say is that in comparison to the Bonnlo Portable Toilet it has a lower waste capacity for a higher price.
Samger Samger Portable Toilet
Weight capacity: 130kgs
Capacity: 20 litres (waste holding tank)
Size: 41*35*41cm
Features
- Double-sealed drain value
- Heavy-duty corrosion-resistant sidelocks
- Double flush system
- 12L water holder
- Sealed gate valve
Pros:
- More features than comparable models
Con’s
- Low waste capacity
- Low weight capacity
Last up is the Samger Samger Portable Toilet. It has a double flush system to flush faster using less water; a double-sealed drain value to help protect against any nasty leakages and odours; corrosion-resistant side locks which means making it durable and a 12L water capacity which allows you to flush up to 100 times.
However, the main drawbacks of this portable composting toilet are that it has a lower waste holding capacity than less expensive models such as the Bonnlo 24 L Portable Toilet & Porta Potti 365 (which means more trips to the house to get rid of the waste).
Related articles:
- 3 Best Hot Compost Bins – 2022
- What Is The Most Environmentally Friendly Decking Material?
- 3 Best Eco-friendly Outdoor Patio Heaters 2022
Key Takeaways
If you need a portable eco toilet for your outhouse or garden office and are on a budget then I recommend the Bonnlo 24 L Portable Toilet Flushing Potty.
It has an impressive 24-litre waste holding capacity which is larger than some of its more expensive competitors; is compact and lightweight and has a sealing slide that locks in unpleasant odours and protects against leakage.
If on the other hand, you want to spend a little more I definitely recommend the Porta Potti 365 Portable Toilet. It does have a lower waste holding capacity than the Bonnlo at 21kg but it’s from a well-known brand with a lot of positive user reviews.
It also has a handy waste level indicator so you know how full it is and when it needs to be emptied.
