How Many Porta Potties Do You Need? (OSHA Rules + Event Math)

Rent too few and you get long lines, unhappy crews, or an OSHA citation. Rent too many and you're burning money. Here's the simple math for both job sites and events.

Construction sites: the OSHA minimum

OSHA's sanitation standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.51) sets minimum toilet counts by crew size:

Practical translation for most LA job sites: a crew of up to 20 needs one unit, a crew of 21–40 should have two, and so on. Two more things worth knowing: units should be serviced at least weekly (more often for big crews), and adding a handwash station keeps you ahead of hygiene requirements — especially on food-adjacent or public-facing sites.

Pro tip: if your crew size swings week to week, size for your peak week. With our free on-site relocation, you can also reposition units as the job progresses at no charge.

Events: guests, hours, and alcohol

For events, the standard planning ratio is 1 unit per 50–75 guests for a 4-hour event. Adjust from there:

Quick examples: a 100-person backyard wedding with alcohol → 2–3 units. A 250-person festival over 6 hours → 5–6 units plus an ADA unit. A film shoot with a 30-person crew on location all day → 2 units plus a handwash station.

When in doubt, ask — it's free

Tell us your headcount, hours, and whether there's alcohol or a permit involved. We'll size it in two minutes and quote a flat price with delivery, pickup, and servicing included.

Call (213) 261-2427 or get a quote online. Serving all of LA County — weekend event rentals $150/day, ongoing weekly rentals $205 flat.