Introduction
If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night at a campsite with the rain pouring down, you’ll know the value of having a toilet inside your van. For some, it’s the difference between a comfortable trip and a stressful one. While plenty of vanlifers still make do without, more and more people are realising that a good toilet setup is worth the space. But which type is best? How do you install it properly? And what about the less glamorous side of things, like emptying and cleaning? Let’s break it all down.
The Main Toilet Options
Porta-Potty (Chemical Toilet)
This is the one most people start with. A porta-potty is a small, portable unit that combines a fresh water tank for flushing with a waste tank underneath. You add a special chemical to the waste tank which helps break down solids and keep smells under control. They’re cheap, easy to move, and don’t take up much room. The downside is they need regular emptying, especially if you’re travelling as a couple or family.
Cassette Toilet
Cassette toilets are a step up in convenience. They’re permanently fitted inside the van but have a removable waste cassette that slides out through a hatch on the outside of the vehicle. That means you don’t have to drag the whole toilet to the dump point, just the cassette. They look more like a “proper” toilet, often with swivel seats, and are popular in motorhomes. The trade-off is you need to cut into your van wall for the external hatch, and you’ll be tied to dump stations more often than with other systems.
Composting Toilet
These are the darlings of the off-grid world. A composting toilet separates liquids from solids and uses a fan for ventilation. The solids chamber can be lined with a variety of substances including:
- Coconut coir (coco peat) – lightweight, great odour control, holds moisture well
- Sawdust (untreated wood only) – cheap, easy to find, helps cover waste
- Wood shavings (fine, not chunky) – adds airflow but can take up more space
- Peat moss – works well but less sustainable than coco coir
- Hemp hurds or straw pellets – absorbent, natural, good for drying solids (Although, don’t use this if you’re driving through Central America! We’ve heard it can result in some serious jail time).
- Cat litter (only compostable/plant-based types) – not clay or clumping varieties
- Mixes of any of the above often works best for a balance of absorption and aeration
- It’s best to avoid glossy paper, food scraps, or anything that won’t break down easily because they’ll cause problems with composting and emptying.
Anyway, these materials help dry things out and reduce smell. Liquids usually drain into a separate container that you empty more often. They don’t need water or chemicals, which makes them sustainable and long-lasting. The catch is that they’re bulkier, they cost more, and you need to stay on top of emptying the liquid container.
Bucket Solution
A bucket with a seat and a liner is the simplest and cheapest option. It’s not glamorous, but in a pinch it works. The liner can be a compostable bag or a double-bag system. While some vanlifers swear by it as a backup, most wouldn’t want to rely on it full-time. Still, if you’re on a tight budget or only taking short trips, it’s worth knowing this option exists.
Things to Consider When Choosing
Space
How much room can you realistically give up? Composting toilets are bulkier, cassette toilets need an external hatch, and even a small porta-potty needs a corner. Always measure before you buy.
Budget
Chemical toilets start at £50, while chemical units can run into hundreds. Factor in not only the purchase price but also ongoing costs like chemicals, liners, or replacement parts.
| Toilet Type | Typical UK Price Range | Notes on Smell Filters |
| Porta-Potty | £50 – £150 | No filters needed, just chemical additive (£6 – £16 per litre or bottle) |
| Cassette Toilet | £300 – £800+ | No filters (sealed system) |
| Composting Toilet (compact) | £180 – £500+ | Filters cost extra (£10 – £55) or compost additives (£20 – £50) |
| Bucket Solution (DIY) | £20 – £50 | No filters, use absorbent liners if desired. Some people still add compost additives to help control odour (£20 – £50) |
Lifestyle
If you plan on spending a lot of time off-grid, a composting toilet will serve you better. If you mainly stick to campsites, a cassette toilet might make more sense. For occasional use, a porta-potty is often enough.
Convenience
Think about how often you’re willing to empty it. Porta-potties fill up fast. Composting toilets can go weeks before solids need emptying. Cassette toilets sit somewhere in the middle.
How to Use and Maintain Each Type
Porta-Potty (Chemical)
To set it up, fill the top tank with fresh water and add a flush additive. Pour the chemical solution into the bottom waste tank before first use. When it’s full, unclip the waste tank, carry it to a designated dump point, empty, rinse, add fresh chemical, and reattach. Clean regularly to stop scale and residue from building up.
Cassette Toilet
Very similar to a porta-potty, but with the benefit of that external hatch. Open the hatch, slide the cassette out, wheel it to the dump station (many come with built-in handles and wheels), empty, rinse, and slide back in. Keep the seals lubricated with silicone spray to stop leaks.
Composting Toilet
Add a layer of coconut coir, sawdust, or similar medium in the solids container. After each use, turn the agitator handle (if fitted) to mix and aerate. Empty the liquids bottle frequently (every couple of days for two people is common). Solids can often last weeks before emptying, and by then they’re partially composted and easier to handle. Ventilation is key to keeping odour down, so always make sure the fan is working or you’re using filters.
Bucket Solution
Line the bucket with a compostable or heavy-duty bag. After use, tie the bag securely and dispose of it responsibly. Sprinkle sawdust, cat litter, or similar absorbent material in the bag if you want to reduce smell. It’s simple, but not exactly a long-term solution.
Quick Note on Responsible Disposal
When it comes to toilet waste, being responsible is just as important as choosing the right system in the first place. For chemical toilets, waste must always go into a proper motorhome or campsite disposal point, never into rivers, woodland, or roadside drains. The chemicals used to break down waste can be harmful to the environment, so they need to be treated in the right facilities.
With a composting toilet or bucket toilet, you have a few more options. In the UK, the solids are legally classed the same as dog waste, which means you can bag it securely and place it in a dog waste bin. Some people also empty compost toilet solids into a home compost pile, though it should only ever be used on ornamental plants, not food crops. Liquids can often be diluted and poured onto soil (well away from water sources), but it’s best practice to dispose of them down a regular toilet or waste disposal point when available.
As for burying waste, it’s generally discouraged in the UK because of how busy our outdoor spaces are and the risk of contamination, but in very remote locations abroad, the Leave No Trace guidelines sometimes allow burying human waste at least 15–20 cm deep and well away from water sources, campsites, or trails. If you’re travelling internationally, always check local rules because some countries have stricter laws than others.
The key point: never leave waste exposed and never dump it where it can harm wildlife, pollute water, or affect other people’s enjoyment of nature. Plan ahead, carry the right bags and chemicals, and treat disposal as part of being a responsible vanlifer.
Installation Basics
Porta-Potty
No real installation required, though many people build a small cradle or strap system to keep it from moving around while driving.
Cassette Toilet
This is more involved. You’ll need to decide on a location near a wall, cut a hole for the external hatch, and securely mount the toilet to the floor. Plumb in the flush water supply if your model requires it. Seal everything properly to prevent leaks.
Composting Toilet
These need a stable base and sometimes a venting system. Most are fixed to the floor with brackets. You’ll need to install a vent hose through the roof or wall, sometimes with a small 12V fan wired in. Make sure the liquid container is easy to reach for regular emptying.
Bucket Toilet
No installation, but again, you might want to build a small wooden box or frame so it feels more like a seat and less like, well, a bucket.
Extra Tips and Useful Information
- Plan for privacy: Even if you’re travelling solo, think about where your toilet will go. A curtain or sliding door can make a huge difference.
- Keep cleaning supplies handy: Baby wipes, disinfectant spray, and gloves are worth having in a dedicated box.
- Empty often, not when desperate: Don’t wait until your tank or container is completely full. It’s much easier and less messy to empty at 70–80%.
- Think about weight: Waste is heavy. Carrying a full cassette or tank across a campsite is no fun, so choose a size that suits your strength.
- Respect disposal rules: Always use proper dump stations or facilities. Never empty in nature or standard public toilets.
Conclusion
Choosing the right toilet for your campervan comes down to how you travel, how much space you can spare, and how much convenience you want. From budget bucket setups to eco-friendly composting toilets, there’s something for every style of vanlife.
At The Campervan Shop, we have a huge range of useful products for your campervan project. You can check out our range of toilets at the link below:
Shop Campervan Parts & Accessories | The Campervan Shop
Whichever option you pick, installing and using it properly makes the whole experience easier and a lot less smelly. Take the time to plan it out, and you’ll thank yourself the next time you don’t have to run through the rain at midnight in search of a loo.
