Planning a successful outdoor festival requires attention to hundreds of details — from entertainment and food vendors to parking and security. One area that is often overlooked until the last minute is restroom planning.
When it comes to festival portable toilets, proper planning can make a huge difference in the experience your guests have at your event. Too few restrooms, poor placement, or a lack of sanitation options can quickly turn a great festival into a frustrating experience for attendees.
To help you avoid common issues, here are seven mistakes event planners often make when renting festival portable toilets — and how to avoid them.
1. Not Ordering Enough Portable Toilets
One of the most common mistakes event planners make is underestimating the number of portable toilets needed for a festival.
A good general rule is:
- 1 portable toilet per 50–75 people for events lasting up to four hours
However, several factors can increase demand, including:
- Alcohol sales
- Food vendors
- Hot weather
- Large crowds
- Longer event durations
Running out of restroom access during your festival can lead to long lines, unhappy guests, and sanitation issues. Working with an experienced provider can help ensure the correct number of festival portable toilets are ordered for your specific event.
2. Forgetting ADA Accessible Units
Every public event should include ADA-compliant portable restrooms to accommodate guests with disabilities.
ADA portable toilets are larger units that allow for wheelchair access and include safety rails for easier use. Many municipalities and event permits require these units, and providing accessible restrooms ensures your festival is welcoming to everyone.
A typical recommendation is at least 5% of restroom units should be ADA accessible.
3. Poor Placement of Portable Toilets
Where you place portable toilets is just as important as how many you have.
Poor placement can cause problems like:
- Long restroom lines in high-traffic areas
- Crowding near stages or food vendors
- Difficult access for servicing trucks
- Guests struggling to find restroom locations
Instead, restroom areas should be:
- Spread throughout the festival grounds
- Clearly marked with signage
- Easily accessible but slightly away from main activity areas
Strategic placement improves traffic flow and keeps your festival running smoothly.
4. Forgetting Handwashing Stations
Hand hygiene is a major part of maintaining sanitation at large events.
Many event planners make the mistake of renting portable toilets without adding handwashing stations or hand sanitizer units nearby.
Handwashing stations are especially important when your festival includes:
- Food vendors
- Beverage stations
- Kids’ activities
- Pet-friendly areas
Providing proper sanitation helps protect the health of attendees and improves the overall reputation of your event.
5. Not Planning for Servicing During the Event
For small events lasting only a few hours, one servicing before the event may be enough. However, multi-day festivals or large crowds require scheduled servicing.
Without regular servicing, portable toilets can quickly become unpleasant for guests.
Professional providers typically recommend servicing when events include:
- Large crowds
- Events lasting multiple days
- High alcohol consumption
- Warm weather conditions
Proper servicing keeps **festival portable toilets clean, stocked, and functioning properly throughout the event.
6. Waiting Too Long to Reserve a Portable Toilet
Festival season can be extremely busy for portable restroom providers, especially during spring and summer.
Waiting until the last minute to reserve your units can lead to:
- Limited availability
- Higher costs
- Fewer restroom options
Booking your festival portable toilets early ensures you get the number and types of units your event needs.
7. Choosing the Cheapest Option Instead of the Best Service
While it may be tempting to choose the lowest rental price, restroom service quality matters more than many event planners realize.
Clean, well-maintained portable toilets improve the experience for guests and reflect positively on your event.
A reputable portable restroom company will provide:
- Clean, sanitized units
- Reliable delivery and pickup
- Servicing during multi-day events
- ADA-compliant options
- Handwashing stations and additional sanitation solutions
Investing in quality restroom service helps protect the reputation of your festival.
Plan Your Festival Portable Toilets the Right Way
Portable restrooms may not be the most glamorous part of event planning, but they are one of the most important. Avoiding these common mistakes can help ensure your guests stay comfortable and your festival runs smoothly.
At Southern On Site, we help event organizers plan and provide reliable festival portable toilets for events of all sizes. From small community festivals to large multi-day events, our team can help determine the right number of units, placement strategy, and servicing schedule for your event.
If you’re planning an upcoming festival, contact Southern On Site to make sure your restroom planning is handled the right way.
