How Big Is a Porta Potty: a quick size guide

How Big Is a Porta Potty: a quick size guide
Hadley McIntosh

Short and sweet: a typical standard porta potty is roughly 7.3 to 7.7 feet tall, about 3.6 to 3.9 feet wide, and about 3.8 to 4.0 feet deep, giving roughly a 41 inch by 41 inch usable interior. ADA accessible units are much larger, often 60 to 67 inches wide and up to about 86.5 inches deep to allow wheelchair turning space. These are the numbers I use for planning and layout. (satelliteindustries.com)

Typical standard unit, the practical numbers I use

For planning, I treat a “standard” porta potty like the PolyJohn PJN3 or similar models, which list exterior dimensions around 91 in high by 43.5 in wide by 47 in deep, with interior usable space about 41 in by 41 in and a holding tank near 60 gallons. Those specs match most mainstream rental fleet units. (polyjohn.com)

ADA and accessible units, what to allow for

If you need ADA compliance or wheelchair access, expect much more space. Typical accessible units measure roughly 90 to 91 in tall, 60 to 67 in wide, and up to about 86.5 in deep, with a door opening near 32 in wide on many models, so they accommodate a 60 in turning circle or equivalent clear space. I always reserve a larger footprint and a wider access path when an ADA unit is required. (bigrentz.com)

Deluxe and fleet-style units, small differences that matter

Some “deluxe” or fleet models are slightly roomier than the basic standard unit, for example exterior widths up to 47 in and a little extra interior length. Those few inches can help with comfort or fitting a small hand sanitizer/dispensing shelf inside. When layout is tight, I check the specific model spec sheet before ordering. (PortableHandwashing.com)

Quick planning checklist I follow

  • Allocate footprint per standard unit: roughly 47 in long by 43.5 in wide, plus clearance around the unit for access and servicing. (polyjohn.com)

  • For ADA units, reserve at least 66 in wide by 86.5 in deep of clear space, plus a clear 32 in access door path. (webstaurantstore.com)

  • Include service access clearance so pump-out trucks or crews can reach the unit from outside, plan service staging space separately.

  • Convert to metric if needed: standard exterior height ≈ 231 cm, width ≈ 110 cm, depth ≈ 119 cm. (polyjohn.com)